Chile Forum

MarkF wrote:I've been researching rental cars lately. Dollar Rental seems to have the best rate for a compact/economy car after taking into account the cost of insurance, and the inability of other companies to waive the collision/damage insurance that your Visa or Amex card covers when you pay for the rental with the card.

Just an update. I don't think I'd use Dollar Rental Car again. They have no office at the Santiago airport. My fault for not noticing that, and anticipating what it might mean.

The real problem was returning the car. The guy who gave me the car at the airport said it was better for them to pickup the car at the hotel because it's closer to their Vitacura office. They were supposed to pick it up today at 8:00AM (confirmed on the phone yesterday). By 10:00AM, and being given three more definite times between 8 and 10, which they missed, I left the hotel for Maipu (with the car that was supposed to have been turned in at 8:00AM).

On the phone, they acted like they were doing *me* a favor. So, I told them I'd take it to airport right now. Then they said "no, it's better for us to pick it up in Maipu." (The same thing the said a week ago about the hotel.). But, they couldn't tell me when.

So, I'm sitting here in Maipu with a car that was supposed to have been returned 4 hours ago, not knowing when (or if) they'll pick it up. And, they're blaming me for making this so difficult for them (even though they've said twice they prefer to do it this way). I guess I'll wait until 7PM and take it to the airport, park it, and lock the keys inside.

The thing that's really annoying about this (and causes me to warn people about doing business with Dollar Rental Car) is that this wasn't a simple misunderstanding, or the typical "8 in the morning means 8:30." It's been completely unprofessional, with them being unable to accept responsibility for telling me things. Every conversation I've had with them, it's like I'm causing problems for them. And, it's unreasonable for me to expect them to really be there at 8 AM (or one of the other 3 times they told me, and then didn't arrive).

The excuses have been incredible. They told me it's because they don't have an office at the airport. Any reasonable person would stop to think, "it's your choice to not have an office *and* rent to people arriving at the airport." But, the real kicker was when they acted like they were doing me a favor to pick up the car at the hotel, and then said (in the same breath) it's better for them to pick up the car in Maipu.

Anyway, I wouldn't recommend Dollar Rental Car. Their behavior with me bordered on dishonesty in their business dealings.

Mark