Dollar Rent a Car has a new scheme to scam consumers. Dollar employees trick consumers into signing up for optional insurance even after consumers say they don’t want the extra insurance.
The scheme operates like this: Dollar does a high-pressure sell of their insurance without disclosing that most credit card companies, and most personal car insurance plans, offer insurance coverage of rentals. After consumers are forced to hear the upsell and after they verbally decline the coverage, the agents then direct consumers to a small pad where they are told to initial if they decline.
Here is how the trick works. The print on the small screen has a font size consumers can barely see. They are told hurriedly to sign several screens. Consumers assume that since they have told the agent they decline the insurance, that any signatures would reflect that. However, consumers have reported that what they are signing does not correspond to what the agents are telling them.
HA HA. Dollar gets the laugh when consumers return the car to find hundreds of dollars in insurance charges tacked on. When consumers howl, Dollar turns around and says that these consumers had in fact signed a screen saying they wanted the extra insurance. So what gives??
We want to know who is behind the bait and switch. Are employees changing screens? Has Dollar designed a system to entrap consumers? Whatever it is, Dollar takes in a huge profit stream from the racket and consumers feel ripped off.
Below are just a few comments from consumers.
“When I went to get the car, the clerk told me that I had paid in advance and listed the insurances I had and asked me to sign. I was about to sign, but then noted that there was 202 dollars extra costs. The clerk had added additional insurances without asking me. This is the same if I went to a grocery store and the cashier would secretly add expensive stuff to my bag and bill me.”
“They will ask you to sign your rental contract on a small screen which does not show you what they have forced upon you without your knowledge or asking, i.e. more insurance that you asked for.
They have found a way to extract unauthorized money out of me. Then, they claim that since I signed their scrolled down little digital check out, I have given them permission to charge me whatever they want to take. This is extortion and is illegal. “
“I declined the insurance coverage on the internet, as well as verbally in person 3x when picking up the car in Tampa, FL airport terminal. On the contract it was worded “LDW” (loss damage waiver) and I initialed it. When trying to remedy this situation with Dollar to obtain a credit, Dollar adamantly refused. “LDW” is a confusing term. Needless to say, and I initialed it while being prompted by Dollar personnel thinking I was waiving the insurance option (honest mistake). In the end, Dollar charged my credit card $434.40 total. $188.00 was the cost of the “LDW”. $139.99 was the charge for the car itself. “
“I reserved a Dollar Rental on the internet for 12/1/2011 in Orlando. As always, when I picked up the car at the airport, I told the agent repeatedly that I had USAA insurance and did not want additional coverage. This agent drew out the process by reading every option to which I answered no but he told me to hit the computer button “declining each option” which I did so, I thought. My reservation estimated cost was $286.62. When I returned the car, the bill was $543.68 and the receipt says I accepted additional coverage.”
“Rented a car from Dollar on 4/2/11 to 4/8/11 at Orlando Intl. Airport. Clerk at the desk asked if I wanted insurance to which I declined. He then rushed me through the POS screens telling me to keep hitting next until the signature appeared. I trusted him, which was a mistake. I later found a $179.18 charge on my credit card. “
Have you been a victim of this insurance scam? Tell us.
I experienced the same fraud in Hamburg, Germany when renting a car. Even after telling the liar behind the counter that my Amex would cover insurance, she said “No, Dollar cars cannot be covered by Amex and I would have to buy the insurance”. Fing liars at the desk and a fraudulent company supporting this. Fortunately, I am an executive in a rather large company and can at least protect my colleagues from ever renting a car from ths “company” again.
There will be a rule in our organization by end of the week, that Dollar is not a rental company that we will reimburse any more.
Let them continue their scam – websites like this will correct the market and help getting rid of dishonest liars like this company.
thank you so much for compiling the stories, i feel a bit better when their scam acts get more exposed