Travel - Car Rental Agencies - Thrifty Car Rental pre-paid fuel

Subject: "Pre-PAid Fuel" - Thrifty Car Rental

From: Bill Petersen Email User

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5/2/2001 1:40:01 PM Dear Business: a consumer posted the following e-message at Complaints.com. Please respond directly to the consumer, using the consumer's name and e-mail address (as per the From: field above). You may also wish to respond publicly on the Complaints.com site. Just locate this e-message posted in your business's conference and click on the "Reply to" link. (Note: a user registration is required before posting e-messages to the Complaints.com site.)

_____________________ On 4/25/01 I arrived at Nashville Airport for a convention. I travel once a year for business. I decided to rent a car so as to visit local attractions. I rented from Thrifty. The sales agent asked me if I wanted the pre-paid fuel option. I asked what that was. He explained that when I returned the car Thrifty would fill it for $1.45 a gallon as opposed to the $1.60/gallon local price.

I said "sure" I returned my car three days later. I did not use the vehicle as much as I thought and only went 21 miles total. The car was returned with a full tank of gas. I went to the Thrifty counter at the airport and received my final charges. As I was heading to my gate I noticed a charge for $23.20 on my statement for "Pre-paid fuel"? I called to the counter and he explained that I choose that option and had prepaid for a tank of gas. I said yes but I only went 20 miles and the tank is full. He did say he would remove the charge but still did not explain the program in any detail after I had asked questions.

Today I spoke with "Customer Relations" with Thrifty to find out more about this charge. It seems that Thrifty nationwide offers this as an option. What this charge is, if it is explained properly (and if it was NOBODY would take it) is that you have just pre-paid for a tank of gas. It doesn't matter if you went 5 miles or 500 miles, whether your tank is 7/8 full or 1/2 full you have just paid for a full tank of gas. This is OUTRAGEOUS! I would like to know how many thousands of people have paid this charge without ever noticing it or understanding the charge. As it was explained to me it meant that Thrifty would top off the tank upon return for $1.45/gallon making it seem like I was saving $.15/gallon.

This charge is being promoted fraudulently and there is know way for the Corporate office to monitor what sales agents say at the desk. Thrifty's excuse was that the program was not explained properly! This program should be eliminated immediately and this company should be forced to refund to anyone and everyone that overpaid for this option.

Bill Petersen