Dollar Overcharging on Petrol

[Ferrari]

I returned my 7 seater minivan to Dollar last week. The guy who checks the car when you return it handed me my receipt. It had a charge of around $75 on it. I asked what was it for and he said 'gas' I had returned it a third full. A rip off you might think but what was worse was I had paid for my gas in advance and was supposed to return it empty. When I went to the Dollar desk they quickly corrected their 'mistake'. My experience of Dollar is that I find it necessary to double check every transaction with them as they seem to make 'mistakes' on a regular basis. I know for a fact that Dollar will charge you a minimum of $5 a gallon if you buy gas from them.

[Robert5988]

Apart from the 40-50c extra per gallon, they have another way of maximising their profit.

The car is supplied with a full tank and you are charged for the total capacity of the tank. The fuel gauge reads full but within 10 miles or so the needle is starting to drop.
When I fill it up I can go 60-80 miles before the needle moves from full.
So you are paying for 2-3 gallons of fuel you don’t receive; and there are invariably a couple of gallons left in the tank when you return the car.

Small beer really, but annoying.

[SunLover]

As John & others have said, choose the Gold Option when hiring from OV and all your concerns are covered.

You have a tank full of fuel included in the price you pay, and are fully insured.

We have been using Dollar in the USA for approximately 14 years now, and have never really had a major problem with them in that time.

Compared to most rates for USA car hire, the OV car hire charges are amazing value for money, and I for one wouldn't even consider looking elsewhere for my car hire needs.

[skippy]

We also take the gold insurance even though my husband is the main driver we do this because of the price of petrol and he is very good at driving a car on fumes[msnwink][msnsmile2]

[Katys Grandad]

If you want to get even with the car rental companies, rent cars in seperate weekly periods. If you go for say, 3 weeks, take it back empty and rent another after each week. You pay exactly the same amount of rental charges but get 3 full tanks of petrol instead of one!

I couldn't be bothered myself but I have heard of people doing it.

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote: Blott is quite right - I've just dug out various gas receipts from my last trip and the gas price is always quoted excluding sales tax (as is everything in the USA). I clearly see the sales tax being added on the receipts I have.


quote:
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Originally posted by PlayneCrazy

Blott - I hate to disagree with you but I only pay what it says on the pump at the gas station, not an extra 7%, and certainly not on 2.59 a gallon!

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[/quote]
Is there some confusion here?

The sales tax is added on top when you pay for a tank of fuel from the car rental company.

However the price displayed on a gas station pump is the price you pay. i.e. If the displayed price of fuel is $2 a gallon and you set the pump to give you $20 of gas it cuts off when 10 gallons of fuel are delivered(and the pump reads $20) and you pay $20 at the kiosk or your card is charged $20.(which is what PlayneCrazy said) Admittedly the pump price will include the sales tax.

That said you might get a receipt showing fuel $18.60 and sales tax $1.40. Total = $20.00

[PlayneCrazy]

Robert I know we are right - I just thought I better not argue as I have seen nasty ugly things happen here when uppity low post count members like me try to make a valid point.
I already got told to belt up by Snapper, thought I better not argue with floridadreamvillas, would be like suicide.


KatysGrandad has the right idea, a full tank every week for 12 quid, very good value. And it wouldn't have to go back to the airport to be swapped every week, just the local depot.

[marty]

i always book the dodge stratus with Dollar and pay for the tank of gas out there. The way i look at it is as i am the only driver if i took out the tank of Gas over here it would cost me about £40 for two weeks and i would still be the only driver. In florida Dollar would have to charge me $70 for the same amount of Gas. Incidentially I have never actually recieved a Stratus it is usually some thing like a Concorde, or as last year they gave us a Dodge Caravan as a free upgrade. Nice and roomy for just three of us![msnsmile2]

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

I'm sorry you feel like that and am somewhat bemused at your comments. I'm not sure why you would be "arguing" with me and why would it be "suicide".

Your comments about me and "low post count members" have really lost me. I treat all forum members equally and always have.

I've just re-read this thread and my comments in particular and cannot see anything I have said that might upset you. I'm confused!

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by PlayneCrazy
Robert I know we are right - I just thought I better not argue as I have seen nasty ugly things happen here when uppity low post count members like me try to make a valid point.
I already got told to belt up by Snapper, thought I better not argue with floridadreamvillas, would be like suicide.

[/quote]