car rental warning

Question

Hi all -

Just wanted to share a shakedown i experienced at carwiz in broward - a shuttle away from fort lauderdale airport - reserved via Priceline. WARNING: do NOT USE EVER.

I've been renting cars for decades using direct and 3rd party means and never have i had to pay a "senior driver fee" nor was my own insurance inadequate to cover. needless to say any company can come up with any restrictions and rules but then they - and the 3rd party - need to be upfront, transparent, and documented before the rental contract is signed and paid for . Nothing like this happened so i was caught by a long list of fees, in a time crunch at the rental office. I was expected at a family event an hour and a half out of Broward county so couldn't even go back to the a p for an alternative. As a result i had to take service and the scam. the final bill included outrageous and hefty insurance fees (my coverage was not deemed "adequate" - first time in my life, add ons like a brake charge, senior fee (what?), etc) until my compact car deal cost me 3 times what i contracted for. Priceline was useless and should not be used because they won't assist or stand by the customer on any level. I managed to wangle a slightly larger car (107,000 mile toyota) and toll fees from the company. but priceline didn't return the inital reservation cost and carwiz ended up with hundreds of dollars in a bonanza. I was out a ton of money because i was forced by personal circumstances to use the car. I have already call the fla a g and received pertinent advice about whom to contact to lodge complaints. may not help but at least both companies will be called in to question.

save yourselves. forego priceline and disreputable companies like car wiz and save yourselves a fortune of grief and money.

This was an unfortunate first for me - hope others can benefit from the negative experience.

travelmom

Answer

Thank you for sharing your detailed experience with Carwiz in Broward and Priceline. It is unfortunate to hear about the hidden fees and lack of transparency that you encountered. Your warning is very valuable for others planning car rentals in the area.

Key points from your experience include:

You were hit with unexpected fees including a "senior driver fee," additional insurance charges despite having adequate coverage, a brake charge, and other add-ons.
The rental cost ended up being approximately three times the price you initially booked due to these surprise fees.
Priceline did not assist or advocate for you during this incident, nor did they refund the initial reservation cost.
Carwiz benefited financially from these extra fees, leaving you in a difficult position with limited alternatives due to time constraints.

You also noted steps taken to address the situation:

You contacted the Florida Attorney General for guidance on lodging complaints.
You documented the experience to help others avoid similar situations.

Advice to other travelers based on your experience:

Avoid using Carwiz, particularly if booked through third-party services like Priceline.
Always confirm all potential fees upfront, including age-related surcharges, insurance requirements, and any additional service fees.
Consider booking directly with reputable, well-known car rental companies at or near the airport, where policies and fees are typically more transparent.
Allow extra time when renting off-site or from shuttle-based rental services, as resolving issues can take significant time.

Overall, your experience serves as a cautionary tale for travelers in Broward County and elsewhere in Florida. It highlights the importance of thoroughly reading rental agreements, confirming coverage and fees ahead of time, and using trusted rental companies to avoid costly surprises.

car rental warning

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