| Author |  Topic  | |
bobusfish
![]() 3 Posts
Joined: 27 Aug 2008
Status: offline |  Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 20:14:17  
| Hi,
I almost feel bad asking this question after reading many reviews, but:
I'm an American car fan and when I saw that Thrifty in Orlando hire the new Dodge Charger (or similar!!) I thought I'd give it a punt. Great rate on the Thrifty site, until you look at adding the CDW & LDW at $22 per day doubling (almost trebling for 8 days) the total hire price. So I Googled and found USCarhire.co.uk. The 'Gold Inclusive' rate was slightly lower than the base rate from Trifty for the same car class!
I'm a firm believer in 'If something seems too good to be true, it usually is'
So, before going ahead and booking, how are these rates possible? And also, given that there are no contact telephone numbers on the USCarehire site, what would I do if there were a problem upon arrival?
How can I be sure that everything IS included before I book via USCarehire?
Call me cynical if you like!
From the Thrifty Website (States this is optional and payable locally):
Loss Damage Waiver ($22.99 Per Day) > Learn more
Waives your financial responsibility for loss or damage to the vehicle in full or in part subject to the conditions in the rental agreement and the limitations imposed by law.
From the Learn More link:
Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)
You are absolutely liable for any loss or damage to the vehicle, even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown, whether due to theft, fire, hail, flood, collision, vandalism, or any other cause, subject to limitations imposed by the law where the vehicle is rented.
However, in the U.S., if you purchase the optional LDW Plan, we will waive your responsibility for loss or damage to the vehicle in full or in part (depending on the LDW plan you accept). LDW is not insurance.
LDW does not apply if: (1) you use the vehicle in violation of the rental agreement; (2) you fail to remove the keys, or close and lock all windows, doors and trunk, and the vehicle is stolen or vandalized; (3) you fail to notify us and the police immediately after the loss; and (4) you fail to pay the charges under the rental agreement; or (5) as allowed by state law.
If you do not purchase LDW and the vehicle is lost or damaged, your liability will not exceed the full value of the vehicle, plus:
Actual towing and storage charges;
Loss of use;
Diminution in value, regardless of whether the vehicle is repaired or not;
All rental charges through the date you report the incident if not returnable or the return date, whichever is later;
Any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by us as a result of the loss or damage to the vehicle;
A reasonable administrative fee, and
Pro-rata license plate fees, all as allowed by law.
Before deciding whether to purchase LDW, you may wish to determine whether your own automobile insurance or credit card agreement provides you coverage for rental vehicle damage or loss and determine the amount of the deductible under your own insurance coverage. The purchase of LDW is not mandatory. LDW is not insurance.
By signing the rental agreement, you agree to pay us any amount not covered by any insurance, credit, or charge card or other coverage you may have. However, your responsibility will not exceed those damages expressly permitted by the applicable law. |
Edited by - bobusfish on 27 Aug 2008 20:27:20 | | Report this post to a moderator |
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steph_goodrum
 United Kingdom
7177 Posts
Joined: 12 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 20:34:28
| UScarhire are the ones owned by this site and Roger, John and the team are excellent at customer service. In fact I phoned Roger at aroung midnight (before he moved to the States) from The Vineyard where we were staying as I suddenly realised that when we had travelled I hadnt printed off my voucher to take to collect the car the next day in Orlando after we'd flown from Boston. By the time we got the ferry over to the mainland the voucher was waiting in my inbox to print from an internet cafe so meant the flight was more relaxing as I had been panicking thinking wed have to pay twice.
We always go for their fully inclusive package as we are ocnfident that whatever they try and sell us (and to be fair they havent when we've been) we can say we are covered or we dont need it. You can certainly trust the team. |
Babblin Boo
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/92.aspx
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bobusfish
![]() 3 Posts
Joined: 27 Aug 2008
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 20:42:57
| Hi Steph,
Fast reply!!
I'm just concerened about the bit on the Thrifty website that says:
"You are absolutely liable for any loss or damage to the vehicle, even if someone else caused it or the cause is unknown, whether due to theft, fire, hail, flood, collision, vandalism, or any other cause, subject to limitations imposed by the law where the vehicle is rented."
...if you don't take out their LDW at $22 per day. It just seems odd that by booking via USCarhire its included (not to mention the free tank of fuel under the Gold option)
I guess I'm just looking for some kind of guarantee that I'll be covered before I book. I cant afford to pay for a Dodge Charger if it gets trashed on holiday! :-)
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Snapper
 United Kingdom
4373 Posts
Joined: 11 Apr 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 21:35:33
| Hello Cynical if you Like / Bob,
I think it's all based around the package that Roger/John offer, that they know what they are doing and how to operate a business efficiently, that they negotiate quite hard with the suppliers, and that they put a very large volume of business the way of Dollar, Alamo, etc. I've always suspected that behind the scenes there is something about how the package is made up as well, in that it isn't available to US residents.
For the LDW there is no need to worry. It's the same LDW if you book via USCarHire as it is if you book with the supplier directly. The LDW actually lists on the rental contract as it picks it up from the package that you buy.
There is more good news still, in that as well as the LDW insurance, tank of fuel and option to add extra drivers, you also get SLI insurance (supplementary liability). This too is an add-on (usually about $5/day) if you book direct.
It's a great package. All the villa owners here that I know personally use it, and wouldn't touch anything else. We also recommend it to anyone who asks for exactly those same reasons. |
Steve.
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/1418.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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sundowner
 United Kingdom
1285 Posts
Joined: 17 May 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 21:40:46
| I can vouch for John and Roger as I have used them every visit over the last few years. I too had my doubts that we would not have to pay a single penny more and be fully covered ..... how can they do that?
However, on our first booking their customer service was faultless when I had to email them (my fault as we thought we might need a bigger car at the last minute).They answered very quickly and sorted things out for us.
We were also very unfortunate to have a 'bump' when a young girl pulled out in front of us (another story but it turned out she lived around the corner from our villa). Anyway, that was when we found that everything was covered. We drove the car back to the airport, they changed it with no bother and gave us a bigger car and we have heard nothing since.
I spend hours going through all of the usual hire companies, and always come back here. In fact, when I called one of the companies, they told me they could never match an internet quote.
I am sure many, many more people would vouch for this company. |
Mary
www.villasflorida.com/florida-vacation-rental-3392.aspx
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caroline
 United Kingdom
6508 Posts
Joined: 29 Apr 2002
Status: offline | |
luckylady
 United Kingdom
4494 Posts
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
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blott
 United Kingdom
22287 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 22:30:14
| I think where it's confusing is that you're trying to compare Thrifty's website with what's available via an agent in a specially negotiated package - the two aren't compatible.
Roger's customer service is absolutely first class and he always goes the extra mile (sorry for the pun) in the highly unlikely event that there should be any problems.
We always use uscarhire for our own transportation whenever we go to Florida and can't fault the all inclusive insurance, the cars nor the service we've always received. We don't even bother to look anywhere else because there's nowhere else that compares with either the price or the service. |
Blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx
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KevinT
 United Kingdom
1643 Posts
Joined: 12 Sep 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 23:45:52
| Another endorsement from me too!! We also travel around twice a year to Orlando and regularly use UScarhire and have never had the slightest cause for complaint. Roger is extremely prompt with any emails and the whole transaction is smooth and easy.
ALL insurances you could need are included and the gold package is worth having just for the petrol alone (as paying for a tankful on collection of the car is almost twice as expensive as paying the difference between silver and gold packages)...and you get extra drivers included!
Go for it!......you certainly won't regret it!!  |
Kevin
http://www.onlinefloridavillas.com/Villas/1471.aspx |
Edited by - KevinT on 27 Aug 2008 23:47:16 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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andrewmckay5
 Canada
2395 Posts
Joined: 11 Feb 2004
Status: offline | |
ShirleyD
 United Kingdom
5550 Posts
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 00:38:59
| Hi Bob, welcome to the forum I have to add my endorsement as someone who has used uscarhire several times. I would like to add that customer services are brilliant. I recently had a problem where Dollar wouldn't allow us to have the return full option when we picked up the car, even though Roger had said it was available. I emailled Roger who sorted it out and got us a fuel refund within a week of our return.
Us carhre get great rates for us because of their huge turnover and this is not only due to the good prices, but because of their repeat business, thanks to the briliant customer services. |
Shirley
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-850.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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roger
 USA
4083 Posts
Joined: 21 Jan 2002
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canarypam
 United Kingdom
1115 Posts
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
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bobusfish
![]() 3 Posts
Joined: 27 Aug 2008
Status: offline | Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 17:15:03
| Well, thanks for all the reply's!
I'll certainly give it a go! As for my penchant towards a Dodge Charge from Thrifty, whats the likelyhood of one being allocated if I book via you guys?
Last year we got a Chrysler 300 Touring from Alamo; very nice!
Thanks again.
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