Phoenix International Airport – Mr Richard Forth

Over the last 10 years I have regularly travelled to the USA. When I go I rent a car via one of the on-line suppliers which over the period usually means Net Flights. Over the time the honesty of the various agencies has been questionable in that the first tank of fuel never?goes as far as subsequent ones. The worse was a car whose fuel gauge took 95 miles to move off full when I filled-up but only 10 when I picked it up ‘full’. I am afraid I returned the complement!

In the main all cars have worked and the only times I have returned a car was because of a faulty gauge on one – showed empty after 50 miles – and the other when the tag [licence plate] ran out during my rental!! Both were done quickly and to my advantage. ie I got a full?tank back.

However, in July I rented a car from Thrifty in Phoenix which while I drove it was a little skittish to say the least. This normally means the tracking is off and that was?the case – car would not move in a straight line when I took my hands off the wheel. But, on the penultimate day I parked with the wheels askew and upon returning noticed the 2 front tyres were bald on?the outer half of each. [I have photos which includes one of the rear ones. The 4th was nearly new!] When the car was returned I made quite a fuss at the depot and was told ‘we are checking all cars at the moment to see whether the tyres need changing!’ I suppose that is why I had 1 new one on the car! I pointed out that this should be done after each rental for safety reasons.

The Thrifty manager promised to look into it! I contacted Netflights on my return and all the details were immediately lost even though I had its automated reply. Over the next 3 months I have tried to get its help but to no avail. Netflights customer service is quite disinterested because luckily I was not injured!!!!!! It thinks that $100 was quite enough when I?considered the?free rental.

I also tried to see what the legal position is in Arizona and it was here?that I received a shock. The police told me that I WAS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE and so should have checked it before leaving the airport. Thrifty/Dollar refuses to accept any form of responsibility and after 3 months refunded me the rental price – something a hotel would have done on the spot – and gave me $100 for goodwill. Finally, it hoped I would continue to be a customer!!!!!!!!!!!! Netflights have more sensibly suggested I?should not rent Thrifty/Dollar cars again as I am clearly unhappy.

Travellers to the USA need to be told that along with the attempts to charge extra taxes – which you should always claim back through your supplier – the irritating queues and hard-sell of unneeded insurance there is an extra. When you arrive tired at the rental garage you need to give the car a full check over which will entail scrambling around on a dirty floor, in the dark perhaps?with a torch [flashlight in America!]. The daily BA flight to Phoenix arrives at 18:45 during the winter which after you have cleared immigration and customs means that you will arrive at the ‘remote car emporium’ [you need to see it and the customers pay an extra for it] after 8pm MT which is 3am the following morning GMT. If you are a little tired please make sure you check it over the next morning but of course that presupposes you arrived at your hotel uninjured.

A first rate service to be sure!!!!

Please find a way to tell people of the dangers to your health offered by these 2 firms and potential extra cost if the police should stop you. Price is not everything because along with dangerous cars you will get a basic model of a car no-one would touch normally [hand winders for the windows and no central locking].?The mpg will be awful. The low price does not though mean oddly that the car will be old.

Next month I am trying Alamo at Phoenix and hope that I have less ‘fun’ for my extra ?25?

Over the last 10 years I have regularly travelled to the USA. When I go I rent a car via one of the on-line suppliers which over the period usually means Net Flights. Over the time the honesty of the various agencies has been questionable in that the first tank of fuel never?goes as far as subsequent ones. The worse was a car whose fuel gauge took 95 miles to move off full when I filled-up but only 10 when I picked it up ‘full’. I am afraid I returned the complement!

In the main all cars have worked and the only times I have returned a car was because of a faulty gauge on one – showed empty after 50 miles – and the other when the tag [licence plate] ran out during my rental!! Both were done quickly and to my advantage. ie I got a full?tank back.

However, in July I rented a car from Thrifty in Phoenix which while I drove it was a little skittish to say the least. This normally means the tracking is off and that was?the case – car would not move in a straight line when I took my hands off the wheel. But, on the penultimate day I parked with the wheels askew and upon returning noticed the 2 front tyres were bald on?the outer half of each. [I have photos which includes one of the rear ones. The 4th was nearly new!] When the car was returned I made quite a fuss at the depot and was told ‘we are checking all cars at the moment to see whether the tyres need changing!’ I suppose that is why I had 1 new one on the car! I pointed out that this should be done after each rental for safety reasons.

The Thrifty manager promised to look into it! I contacted Netflights on my return and all the details were immediately lost even though I had its automated reply. Over the next 3 months I have tried to get its help but to no avail. Netflights customer service is quite disinterested because luckily I was not injured!!!!!! It thinks that $100 was quite enough when I?considered the?free rental.

I also tried to see what the legal position is in Arizona and it was here?that I received a shock. The police told me that I WAS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE and so should have checked it before leaving the airport. Thrifty/Dollar refuses to accept any form of responsibility and after 3 months refunded me the rental price – something a hotel would have done on the spot – and gave me $100 for goodwill. Finally, it hoped I would continue to be a customer!!!!!!!!!!!! Netflights have more sensibly suggested I?should not rent Thrifty/Dollar cars again as I am clearly unhappy.

Travellers to the USA need to be told that along with the attempts to charge extra taxes – which you should always claim back through your supplier – the irritating queues and hard-sell of unneeded insurance there is an extra. When you arrive tired at the rental garage you need to give the car a full check over which will entail scrambling around on a dirty floor, in the dark perhaps?with a torch [flashlight in America!]. The daily BA flight to Phoenix arrives at 18:45 during the winter which after you have cleared immigration and customs means that you will arrive at the ‘remote car emporium’ [you need to see it and the customers pay an extra for it] after 8pm MT which is 3am the following morning GMT. If you are a little tired please make sure you check it over the next morning but of course that presupposes you arrived at your hotel uninjured.

A first rate service to be sure!!!!

Please find a way to tell people of the dangers to your health offered by these 2 firms and potential extra cost if the police should stop you. Price is not everything because along with dangerous cars you will get a basic model of a car no-one would touch normally [hand winders for the windows and no central locking].?The mpg will be awful. The low price does not though mean oddly that the car will be old.

Next month I am trying Alamo at Phoenix and hope that I have less ‘fun’ for my extra ?25

My Ratings Total N/A

How satisfied were you with the collection process of the vehicle? 1=Poor 5=Excellent

0

How satisfied were you with the vehicle standard? 1=Poor 5=Excellent

0

How satisfied were you with the service you received from the staff? 1=Poor 5=Excellent

0

How satisfied were you with the price you paid? 1=Poor 5=Excellent

0

How would you rate the over all experience? 1=Poor 5=Excellent

0

Would you use this supplier again?

Maybe

Car Rental Company: Net Flights with Thrifty

Pick Up Location: Pheonix International Airport

Vehicle Received: Intermediate

Date of Collection: July 2009

Age of Lead Driver: 55+

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