Caution picking car from Europcar at Stazione Termini
#21
"...if I also dispute the charge through my credit card, the rental agency would no longer deal with Autoeurope..."
Something else I wouldn't have known. One person's "rant" is another's information. We shall disregard the former.
Something else I wouldn't have known. One person's "rant" is another's information. We shall disregard the former.
#22
Join Date: Jun 2013
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'experienced traveller' Who gives the definition of that? If a traveller was offered a free upgrade 10 times in 20 years, and then was offered an upgrade without it being disclosed to be an extra cost, and say the traveller was now 75 and not quite as on the ball as she was when she was 25...would you then say this traveller is making a blatant mistake?
I think we all make mistakes sometimes, no matter how experienced we are. And not all people reading Fodor's are experienced travellers; that may be why they're reading Fodor's at all, to learn from others' experiences and mistakes...
I think we all make mistakes sometimes, no matter how experienced we are. And not all people reading Fodor's are experienced travellers; that may be why they're reading Fodor's at all, to learn from others' experiences and mistakes...
#23
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An "experienced" traveler doesn't show up at a car rental desk in Italy "in a hurry." I've never encountered a 75 year old person in a hurry, for anything.
An experienced traveler doesn't "assume" anything at a car rental desk, no matter their age or how many times she's been lucky in the past. Counter agents make mistakes all the time. A mistake at a car rental counter can cost someone hundreds of dollars. An agent can say "free" and accidentally not mark it. Many people accept the upgrade and are happy to pay the extra cost. Upgrades are a common practice.
"we have always received excellent service from this location"
A location is nothing more than an address. The employees change constantly, no matter what location you visit. It is individuals who provide good customer service. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't. Experienced travelers know this.
"I didn't realize they gave me a blank copy until a few days later."
It's almost impossible to imagine someone walking away from a car rental counter in Italy and not examining their copy of the signed contract before leaving the counter. It's also impossible to imagine a car rental agent not noticing that the printer failed or the ink is seriously low. Of course, if a "scam" exists, then we're supposed to believe that all of this was intentional and the OP was successfully duped.
Mistakes are for learning. The OP is now more experienced than ever.
An experienced traveler doesn't "assume" anything at a car rental desk, no matter their age or how many times she's been lucky in the past. Counter agents make mistakes all the time. A mistake at a car rental counter can cost someone hundreds of dollars. An agent can say "free" and accidentally not mark it. Many people accept the upgrade and are happy to pay the extra cost. Upgrades are a common practice.
"we have always received excellent service from this location"
A location is nothing more than an address. The employees change constantly, no matter what location you visit. It is individuals who provide good customer service. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't. Experienced travelers know this.
"I didn't realize they gave me a blank copy until a few days later."
It's almost impossible to imagine someone walking away from a car rental counter in Italy and not examining their copy of the signed contract before leaving the counter. It's also impossible to imagine a car rental agent not noticing that the printer failed or the ink is seriously low. Of course, if a "scam" exists, then we're supposed to believe that all of this was intentional and the OP was successfully duped.
Mistakes are for learning. The OP is now more experienced than ever.
#24
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I love perfect people that NEVER make a mistake, never have anything go wrong. Well I hope your track record continues.
I just posted on another thread about having my wallet lifted here in Paris and I did it to remind people to not be complacent and not to be careless.
People think it will never happen to them, and fortunately it doesn't happen to most, but yes it CAN happen.
It's embarrassing, like how could I have been so stupid, VERY inconvenient, and more.
I just posted on another thread about having my wallet lifted here in Paris and I did it to remind people to not be complacent and not to be careless.
People think it will never happen to them, and fortunately it doesn't happen to most, but yes it CAN happen.
It's embarrassing, like how could I have been so stupid, VERY inconvenient, and more.
#26
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<An "experienced" traveler doesn't show up at a car rental desk in Italy "in a hurry." >
This has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever read here, and I've read some beauts.
If you have discovered a way to control space and time such that you are never, ever delayed, by all means, share it with us. If you haven't, I have a different suggestion for you.
<It's embarrassing, like how could I have been so stupid, VERY inconvenient, and more.>
It IS embarrassing, but it shouldn't be. Blaming yourself for being the victim of a crime is pointless. Blaming victims of crime is crummy.
This has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever read here, and I've read some beauts.
If you have discovered a way to control space and time such that you are never, ever delayed, by all means, share it with us. If you haven't, I have a different suggestion for you.
<It's embarrassing, like how could I have been so stupid, VERY inconvenient, and more.>
It IS embarrassing, but it shouldn't be. Blaming yourself for being the victim of a crime is pointless. Blaming victims of crime is crummy.
#32
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"If you have discovered a way to control space and time such that you are never, ever delayed, by all means, share it with us. If you haven't, I have a different suggestion for you."
Well gosh, golly, gee. The possibility of delays is precisely my point. I can't believe it flew over your head and you missed it, Newbe.
An "experienced" traveler knows the realities of delays in Italy. She has built delay possibilities into her travel itinerary. Because of delays, she never wants to assume anything at the car rental counter. She knows that car rental lines in Italy are often 4 to 6 people deep, and you can never predict how much time it will take to complete the process. Italian counter agents move at one pace, it's called la dolce vita. No one and nothing can hurry them. Hundreds of posts on the internet for many years complain about "taking over an hour to get our car."
Experienced travelers know that signing a legal contract involving a car and one's life is a serious matter. Of all the things to hurry through, this is not one of them.
Some people treat a car rental transaction the way they would treat renting a tricycle at a park. Some people think the work is done months earlier because they secured a pre-pay with Autoeurope. No need to pay attention at the counter because I'm a pre-pay. These people are not experienced travelers to Italy.
The more I read this thread, the more I think the OP is definitely liable for the cost of her upgrade. If I were the credit card company or Autoeurope reading this thread, that's what I would conclude.
"This has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever read here, and I've read some beauts."
Thank you for your rudeness. Perhaps a mirror is in order, because you have some serious history here writing a few "beauts."
Well gosh, golly, gee. The possibility of delays is precisely my point. I can't believe it flew over your head and you missed it, Newbe.
An "experienced" traveler knows the realities of delays in Italy. She has built delay possibilities into her travel itinerary. Because of delays, she never wants to assume anything at the car rental counter. She knows that car rental lines in Italy are often 4 to 6 people deep, and you can never predict how much time it will take to complete the process. Italian counter agents move at one pace, it's called la dolce vita. No one and nothing can hurry them. Hundreds of posts on the internet for many years complain about "taking over an hour to get our car."
Experienced travelers know that signing a legal contract involving a car and one's life is a serious matter. Of all the things to hurry through, this is not one of them.
Some people treat a car rental transaction the way they would treat renting a tricycle at a park. Some people think the work is done months earlier because they secured a pre-pay with Autoeurope. No need to pay attention at the counter because I'm a pre-pay. These people are not experienced travelers to Italy.
The more I read this thread, the more I think the OP is definitely liable for the cost of her upgrade. If I were the credit card company or Autoeurope reading this thread, that's what I would conclude.
"This has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever read here, and I've read some beauts."
Thank you for your rudeness. Perhaps a mirror is in order, because you have some serious history here writing a few "beauts."
#33
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Good afternoon everyone,
Ten minutes ago I received an email from Autoeurope indicating Europcar has agreed to refund the upgrade charge, which caused me to submit this post. The message stated Autoeurope successfully negotiated a full refund and it will appear on my credit card in a day or two.
Avete un buona giornata a tutti...
buon viaggio,
Ten minutes ago I received an email from Autoeurope indicating Europcar has agreed to refund the upgrade charge, which caused me to submit this post. The message stated Autoeurope successfully negotiated a full refund and it will appear on my credit card in a day or two.
Avete un buona giornata a tutti...
buon viaggio,
#36
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This morning I checked my credit card account and Europcar refunded every penny of the unwanted upgrade charge. Autoeurope's customer service was successful in negotiating with Europcar.
After using Europcar through Autoeurope for years and years this was the first time anything like this happened to us.
Way to go Autoeurope!
Buon viaggio,
After using Europcar through Autoeurope for years and years this was the first time anything like this happened to us.
Way to go Autoeurope!
Buon viaggio,
#38
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Good news!
<Some people treat a car rental transaction the way they would treat renting a tricycle at a park. >
I defer to your expertise, bvh, as I have never rented a tricycle anywhere.
<The more I read this thread, the more I think the OP is definitely liable for the cost of her upgrade. If I were the credit card company or Autoeurope reading this thread, that's what I would conclude.>
Good thing you're not, then!
<Some people treat a car rental transaction the way they would treat renting a tricycle at a park. >
I defer to your expertise, bvh, as I have never rented a tricycle anywhere.
<The more I read this thread, the more I think the OP is definitely liable for the cost of her upgrade. If I were the credit card company or Autoeurope reading this thread, that's what I would conclude.>
Good thing you're not, then!
#39
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<The more I read this thread, the more I think the OP is definitely liable for the cost of her upgrade.>
Her is actually he and I thought the post was written in a gender neutral manner. Someone above also mentioned the OP was 75 years old...actually I'm 70. All of this from a simple post...
As my Calabrese father would say concerning this situation and full refund, "C'e' niente di male con buona fortuna." "There is nothing wrong with good luck."
Buon viaggio,
Her is actually he and I thought the post was written in a gender neutral manner. Someone above also mentioned the OP was 75 years old...actually I'm 70. All of this from a simple post...
As my Calabrese father would say concerning this situation and full refund, "C'e' niente di male con buona fortuna." "There is nothing wrong with good luck."
Buon viaggio,
#40
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Congratulations, rbc, hope I didn't offend you, I was throwing out a hypothetical situation, and after posting realized you might think I was referring to you being 75, which of course, I had no idea of your age.