Watch-Out @ Payless Car Rental

When I went to pick up my car rental at Payless Car Rental, I knew they would try to get me to buy their car insurance, but I always decline. Then the prepay for fuel, I declined (why would I prepay for a full tank ,when I know I will be using less than a 1/2 tank). After he prints the contract, he goes over all the declines I made except for one he did not mention...ROAD-SERVICE. Before I signed off on this contract, I compared the dollar total and it was $20 more than my reservation total amount, I quickly asked about the difference in price, his reply was that this was an automatic charge for road service, I then replied that I DO NOT WANT IT, he replied that with the contract printed it is completed. I told him that it is not completed till I sign it so take it off, which he re-did the contract. I felt like telling him what kind of jerk he was but I did not. But I will say to who goes to Payless Car Rental... PAY attention to the jerk behind the counter or you will PAY extra.

Yeah, that happened to me last September. When I questioned it, the boothling told me that it was a mandatory charge. I told him that I didn't need it, since I had roadservice protection through my own insurance and through my cell phone service. He insisted that it was a mandatory charge so I paid it, but now I wish that I had insisted on talking to a manager.

I'm glad to hear that they removed the charge when you resisted.

Every car rental company tries to upsell. Some are just more heavy handed about it.

They try to get you every time you turn around. One time I noticed the gas gauge was way off the full mark. They tried to pass it off saying the gauge was broken. I called the 800 number to complain. They said to drive straight to the gas station, top off the tank and call them back. It took almost $13 to fill it up. They gave us a free day rental and took off the $13 on top of that. Always call the 800 number if you think they're tying to pull a fast one.

Ray

I went to Payless last year at the airport. I am certain they train, and make sure all their employees try to upcharge, and add on all the extras they possibly can.
I told them 3 times, that I DID NOT want the road service, or extra coverage, and they still tried to tack it on. When I returned the car, they tried to charge me $110 more.
I will never return to Payless, but they all try to upcharge, and sell you more, but Payless is the most aggressive car rentals at the airport.

After a particularly bad experience in Orlando and just as dreadful response from customer service regarding an email I sent them, I wrote off Payless for life.

I almost always go to Alamo now. I am a card member (free) and use the electronic sign in. No up sell to worry about.
My one experience with Payless was similar to the other stories. The clerk really pushed the insurance. i explained to her twice that I was completely covered by three different policies and she still went on about how they would put holds on my credit card. I told her go ahead. My limit is enough to buy the frikkin car outright. Will not go back.

Nugget, I feel the same way about Hertz that you do about Alamo.

I have had such consistently good experiences with Hertz that it's not worth the anxiety of dealing with another company.

I rented from Hertz in San Diego. It sucked.

I have a cousin in San Diego who can set you up next time you are there. It's not my cousin's spare car, but his neighbor's nephew's vehicle.