Dollar Car Rental - Poor Service

I have recently returned from Las Vegas where I rented a car from Dollar at the Excaliber Hotel. I pre paid in the UK after following the link from the VS website.

The first car I was given was full of rubbish (empty bottles, paper and a polystyrene cool box still half full of water) and covered in dirt so I returned it and was given another car. This was even dirtier.

Having wasted enough time messing about I decided to take the 2nd car. This also turned out to have cruise control that didnt work and called for an oil change every time the ignition was turned on.

They also couldnt find VS on their system so had trouble crediting my 1000 miles! [n]

Anyone else had a poor time with Dollar?

[buns]

I have never had problems that could not be resolved with Dollar when picking up at major airports. Like all major rental car companies, they have the flexibility to change or upgrade cars when there is an issue.

I think that such situations are not confined to Dollar. Small outstations located in Hotels are invariably run by one or two people who have a limited amount of cars to afford such flexibility. I cannot remember now who the rental company was, but once in Vegas I picked up a car from a Hotel location to be told I could find the car on the roof of the car park. It was at least 130 degrees inside and took a good half an hour with the air con full on to be able to cool it down[:0]

buns

Always been very pleased with Dollar from the airport locations (especially Macarran where I have always ended up with a decent free upgrade because the car class I booked wasn't on the forecourt when I got there and they couldn't be bothered to go and get one so gave me a free choice of what was there).

[Darren Wheeler]

No problems with Dallr here either. In fact I've found the hotel locations better as they have the time to check everything is OK where as the depots have a huge queue so want you out the door.

I love the sites that do free choice. You can pick the colour you want too (hate white).

[Neil]

The actual dealing with Dollar have been brilliant and they are now my preffered car rental choice.

I however am have trouble getting VS to credit me my miles for my last rental, even though I booked it through them, they can't find it[ii]

Like most posters here, I have never had any trouble with Dollar from airport locations. I did have a 40 min wait while picking up at the Luxor in Vegas, but this was down to the total lack of interest of the (hotel?) operative rather than Dollar.

I've had a few problems with dollar from orlando and miami but they are quick to fix issues.

1) Given a van in miami that someone had recently been sick in. Smell was terrible, but they did swap for another.
2) When picking up car in orlando I was told that they didnt think it was big enough for my family. I said I was happy with my car choice. They then said they'd do a very special price to upgrade. I said no. Turns out they didnt have my original request and where going to have upgrade me anyway.

[Darren Wheeler]

Originally posted by sickbag
I've had a few problems with dollar from orlando and miami but they are quick to fix issues.

1) Given a van in miami that someone had recently been sick in. Smell was terrible, but they did swap for another.
2) When picking up car in orlando I was told that they didnt think it was big enough for my family. I said I was happy with my car choice. They then said they'd do a very special price to upgrade. I said no. Turns out they didnt have my original request and where going to have upgrade me anyway.

2 is a standard ploy as the agents get commission on any upgrades they sell. I never accept it and always get the next size up.

We have had a problem with Dollar both at Sanford and Orlando, at Sanford they tried to make us upgrade to a bigger van, when we had paid for a bigger van than we needed. He then went on to say, we could upgrade to Air con in the rear !!. I asked for his manager and it was straigtened out. AT MCO, they tried to charge us for additional drivers, when we got home we realised they actually had, even after accepting they where incorrect.

I am hoping they are much better at Miami next month.

We picked up a Dollar car from Miami, two weeks ago, booked via Virgin. The queue was 1 hour 45 minutes - and the member of staff slow and disinterested. We returned the car on Sunday and waited another 20 minutes to give it back. The collection queue was just as long as when we picked up.

Really poor service, will never use them again.

Oh gosh, i hope not, we have a lengthy drive up to Orlando too !!!. Lets just hope that its quicker than 1hr 45 mins. I have heard the immigration is a nightmare, really not looking forward to it. Especially not trying to make a blind 12 year old walk as fast as his legs will carry him. Quite a task.

We average about 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hrs in immigration. We usually land in daylight and get to the car by dark. We too did the drive the same night to orlando. Wouldnt recommend it! This christmas we are going to stay the night in Miami. When the kids wake up at 4.00am (as they do everytime) we'll be on the road for 5 and hit orlando by a leisurely 10 am.

[mitchja]

What I suggest you do is as soon as you get though immigration, one of your party heads to the Dollar desk while the others wait for luggage. That way by the time you've collected your luggage your car should be ready and you should beat the rush.

Regards

Originally posted by mitchja
What I suggest you do is as soon as you get though immigration, one of your party heads to the Dollar desk while the others wait for luggage. That way by the time you've collected your luggage your car should be ready and you should beat the rush.

Regards

We did the very same thing (twice), with me being allocated to wait for the bags and then follow on the the car desk. What we didn't know was that there were 2 rental desks at MCO and I went to the wrong one. On both occasions. Followed a very anxious and frantic hour or so while we tried to find one another, culminating with a loud speaker request for me to go to certain point and stay put!

I refuse to use Dollar. I have found Avis Preferred to do exactly what I require (go to rental station, collect keys, and go). No hassles with upgrades, only hassles when you try to switch your insurance cover, which takes Avis ages to do and does not apply to any existing reservations (boy did it take me a while to find that out).

S.