Advantage Rent A Car Car Rental Company

Price Paid:  $335.00 from Phoenix Arizona

Year / Model Reviewed:
2009 Honda Civic

Strengths:
car was ok

Weaknesses:
The company excels at hidden charges and forgetting to explain additional charges.
Customer service not well trained to be customer friendly. Getting the run around should be expected.

Summary:
My wife and I were traveling to Phoenix for the annual VFW National convention since my wife is a post commander and a Desert Shield vet, she was invited by the National VFW commander to attend. We rented a compact car through Priceline and the quote online ws $144.00, so I reserved the car. When we picked up the vehicle, we stated that we did not need insurance, but was charged for it anyway. We rented the car for 5 days, and with additional charges it added up to $335.38. Two days later I had a charge from them in my bank acount of $526.38, which when we went back to find out about this we were told it was a security deposit. We also tried to tell them we didn't ask for insurance, and all they said was that it was in the contract I signed. It sure is convenient that the small print explaining the additional charges are on the back page of the contract. And, nowhere in the contract does it state anything about the deposit. Their employees seem to be well trained to deceive customers about additional charges, and the online websites to reserve their vehicles does not go into any detail to mention these charges. BEWARE of this company, if you need to rent from them, make DARN sure you read and UNDERSTAND all the charges they will get you on!!! Ask as many questions as possible and get the right answers you want before you sign that contract!!!! When we complained about the charges we were told we would have to talk to the floor manager and was sent downstairs where we picked up the car. Once down there we were told the manager was not on duty at that time and we would be called back about it. This was in the morning - we did not get a call until after 8 pm. Then the manager left a voice mail, did not identify herself and said that we could discuss it when we returned the car. "Surprise" There was no manager there at that time either. Just three clerks with a dozen people in line. Could we wait? No..we had a plane to catch...TELL EVERYONE>>>DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!!!!

Similar Products Used:
Have very often rented a car with other agencies - atleast once a year - the worst experience EVER!!!!!

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $453.00 from Advantage Rental LAS

Year / Model Reviewed:
2009 jeep

Strengths:
none

Weaknesses:
Management, customer service, UNSAFE VEHICLES, Deceptive practices

Summary:
rented once from Advantage Rental Car in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Airport- thinking it was a good deal - I rented online through Orbitz. Don't make the same mistake I made. Renting from Advantage in Las Vegas ruined, RUINED, my vacation in Death Valley. Go reputable.
Arrived LAS Monday evening ;
Picked up the Advantage rental car; on file for 1 week at $253.
Told the clerk I was going to dv and wanted a safe vehicle; is the suv 4wd?
The clerk (angela?) suggested I take the jeep. Wrangler(?). I went out to look it over; spoke w.the manager out side who assured me it was safe and smooth; Paid extra $15 perday; plus extra for insurance; (I find out later the insurance doesn't cover tires or windshields. WHAT?)
Stayed in LV overnight; drove to DVon Tuesday; short hike later in the afternoon /eve. my friend who flew in from NY I intended to show them the park.
Arrived at the Furnace Creek Ranch ;
Planned big hikes on Wed & Thursday in areas around DV ; the park is huge; drives are long; approaches to hikes are long walks up washes to get to actual trails;
While driving south; one we had a flat; tire; the spare tire had little to no air in it; soft to the touch; and I noticed large plugs - repairs on both the spare tire and the left tire; We had to ask for assistance from a traveler with a compression on their motor home; filled the spare; the jack wasn't tall enough to put the tire back on; so had to shim the jack with flat rocks to gain height. I no longer felt this was a safe vehicle. If advantage sent out a vehicle, a jeep, with 2 large noticeable plugs in the tires and a spare tire without air; what else was not being done..
Got the tire back on ; after a length dirty time; aborted our Wednesday hike and went back to furnace creek chevron; the attendant/mechanic said the tire was flaking in side ; I called Advantage for their directive on how they would prefer I proceed. First, the service station was to replace the 2 tires; the station did not have the proper size tires in stock; Next the idea was to drive to Parumph either that night or early the next day to have the tires replaced; I was speaking w. Doug, who at this point was accommodating; I also spoke w. Diane. .. The proper tires were not available at Big O in Parumph; Doug then said that a replacement car would be coming up to DV that night, Wednesday. With most of the day gone and a compromised vehicle w. no spare tire, we took a modest short hike in the evening. far short of the day long hike we had anticipated. Doug said he would phone that evening w. a message as to the outcome of his plans w. diane.. He may very well have called, but there were no messages waiting for us at the front desk nor on my room telephone.
Wednesday evening there was no vehicle. Finally after 9pm I phoned advantage again. This time spoke w. a woman; who called Doug - the woman relayed to me that the car would be there at 7 the next morning Thursday.
Thursday I woke up early .. sat outside so as not disturb my sleeping travel companion. The car did not arrive. I phoned Advantage. Doug was not irritated with my concerns. I told him my trip was 'ruined'.. adversely affected by having to manage the jeep.. and both full days of my vacation were now being spent on managing this vehicle. He contradicted me saying w. irritation the 'your trip isn't ruined.. the car left at 7:30 this morning.. it will be there in an hour and half " . 1.1/2 hours later at 9 am. No vehicle. From then on I was making calls to your offices ; calling Karen McChesney.. Doug. Angela.. and most of that time was spent on hold .The phone bill from the hotel is $38. Steve arrived at noon. With a dodge nitro. He said he left at 8am. It took Steve 4 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Death Valley that morning. The car had ¼ tank of gas.
By the time we got out it was well after 1pm. Filled the gas tank ($40) We amended our plans again. Choosing a lesser hike in zabriske pt. loop.. as we got a late start. We were caught out as the sun was setting . so we ran up the wash / river bed to get back before dark. My friend fell, severely twisting an ankle, scrapes to the knee, hands and arm; and bruising a rib making breathing deeply uncomfortable. Had we gotten to the trail at a reasonable hour in the morning, we wouldn't have had to run back to the car.
I returned the car to LAS the next day Thursday the attendant, james, did a lot to make me feel like a valued customer. As did Daphney(?) who was the managing attendant .. the car had over ½ tank of gas.

Do I need to say more?
I expect the amount of the rental to be fully refunded. Fully. Additionally, I request Advantage to refund the $38 in telephone charges from the hotel to your assistance phone lines.
I have made numerous phone calls to their offices and not received a call back nor any credits
In sum: Advantage is a fly by night operation. Destined to fail. STEER CLEAR OF ADVANTAGE RENTAL CAR IN LAS VEGAS!

Price Paid:  $0.00

Strengths:
None.

Weaknesses:
Liars. Cheaters. Swindlers.

Summary:
On Orbitz, Advantage offered far and away the best price. But when I got to Cancun, they said the car I rented wasn't available, so (unlike reputable companies like Hertz and Avis) they'd charge me for an upgrade (since "it isn't [our] fault"). Then, there was "mandatory" insurance I had to buy (I couldn't rely on my credit card's insurance.) In all, they want three times more than I had expected to pay. I heard them giving the same story to two other families.

I refused, went back to the airport, and was lucky enough to get a car from Avis. STAY AWAY FROM ADVANTAGE!!

Similar Products Used:
Avis, Budget, National.

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $0.00

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Management, management management

Summary:
Mgr. suggested an upgrade that was on special. It was late at night when we accepted the car and drove off despite a strong smell in the car. The next morning we got in the car to go to breakfast and was now fully aware of its condition. It was the dirtiest vehicle I have ever been in. The floors were filty balck along with dirty dash, doors, seats. The vehicle had 60,000 miles on it and seemed like it had not been cleaned for the last 20,000. I called to complain and asked for someone from the agency to bring us a clean vehicle but was told they did not have the staff to do so. I asked if I broke down who would come out and was given a less than comforting response. Upon returning home, I called the corporate office who offered me $8 discount for my trouble and bad experience. I said they could keep it and use it towards training and maintenance supplies.

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $45.00

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Customer service and unsafe vehicles

Summary:
My first/last time renting from Advantage ... I arrived to Oahu, HI with my mom, wife, and infant son with me. First off, we needed a car seat for my son so we made sure to call in advance to make sure they had one for us. They said they have some but couldn't garauntee that it would still be there when we arrived and we couldn't have them save one for us for that particular time when we got there. So we decided to risk it and they did have one when we got there, but they never mettioned that it was going to be an extra $10/day. So not having much of a choice we agreed.

After a day of driving and exploring the island we were coming down the H2 highway and got a flat tire -- we didnt' hit anything and just thought it was an unfortunate turn of events, but made the best of it. There were no puncture holes or nails, no nothing, just a flat tire. It was the tire bead that blew out. They rented me and my family a car with a bad tire!!

So we replaced the tire with a spare and returned the car. We were thinking for our inconvenience we'd at least get an apology or something, but nothing. Just a stern face and an inceident form .. not even a 'have a good day' or 'thanks for renting with us' .. A few months later we get a bill for $170 from a collections place, Viking, that they turned it over too. They said they replaced the whole tire and sent me the bill for it. Those mailto:*@&$.

So I'm making my goal to spread the word about their unsafe vehicles and unfriendly service. I will never rent from this company again and I hope noboday else does either, unless you just want a POS car and no service along with it