Ooh, the plot has thickened. I do not like the sound of this TST at all! I agree that it is sneakily named that so customers are likely to assume it's a tax.

Hmm, I have stopped caring about the money aspect of this and am more disturbed by the misinformation I keep getting. So there are other locations in TX--that explanation doesn't fly. But I can't deal with the main corporate office for Thrifty because they don't have access to the Texas records--they told me I needed to speak with them locally.

"they told me I needed to speak with them locally."

That's because - based on what I read online last night - it's the local franchise that is adding on the extra charges.

Corporate should do something and it's a shame they aren't. It's the local franchise owner that is scamming you and it seems that corporate doesn't care. Read the lawsuit info again.

"So there are other locations in TX--that explanation doesn't fly."
I hope you see that it's the Austin franchise that is lying to you - and not Hotwire.

Would it be worth contacting The Haggler at the New York Times? He seems well-suited to putting pressure on corporate...

I do see that now, Starrs. I'm still frustrated that their quotes aren't accurate, though--whoever's fault that is and I think both sides have a responsibility to help with that problem.

And I owe all of you a virtual cup of coffee--called Austin again and spoke with a manager, not a desk agent. The TST was promptly refunded --not even question asked about it. The CFC stays --understandable since that's a charge from the airport.

The whole rental car thing is getting to be a whole lot of work. Next Saturday we are renting a car in Seattle for 8 days. I worked every angle, and every discount. I'm getting an intermediate for a TOTAL with Budget for $231 (thank you, Costco). That's because we're taking the Light Rail into town and picking it up and returning it there. The absolute cheapest I could come up with picking it up at the airport (even with the same discounts) was more than $200 higher. Seattle has tons of special fees and taxes on their airport rentals -- I learned that 5 years ago there!

NeoPatrick, thank goodness for Light Rail! With the opening of the Light Rail link from the airport to downtown, and the movement of the car rental place to actually off airport anyway, it pays to pick the car up downtown whenever possible.

The whole rental car thing is getting to be a whole lot of work. >

Yes Patrick - I have found it to be the most work when trying to get a discount! As I only rented a car 1X in Dallas before I was not aware of the high fees (I don't remember them anyway) but this time I was taken aback and need a rental again there in a few weeks. I will use Amex discounts through reward points but it does totally stink to think you scored a car for 20.00 a day only to have the taxes and fees almost just as much!

"and the movement of the car rental place to actually off airport anyway. . ."

Interesting. I didn't even know that part! Last time I had two Fodorite friends pick me up at the airport and then next day I picked up my rental car downtown.

Momdd, it may be worth it to take a taxi or uber to your location and renting a car nearby. You'll skip all the airport fees. And of course, look for TST.

Schlegal1: I am so pleased that you were able to sort the TST out with a manager. Your persistence was rewarded but I am sure stressful.

I agree that it is unfortunate that you were treated so rudely when you spoke with someone from Hotwire.

Agree 100% with the comment that the car rental is getting to be a huge challenge. I wish now when I completed the Fodor survey that I had requested more information on car rentals.

Sandy

hummmm... Starrs that might be an excellent suggestion - going to look into it!

adding - if you have ever rented a car at DFW it is a pain anyway - shuttle bus that seems like it takes you miles away anyway...

But DFW is the best airport for dropping off and picking up folks. It's easy peasy. It's a pain to be the passenger trying to switch terminals and get rental cars, but a breeze to drop people off and pick them up. I used to live near the airport and did it a lot for friends. Give the taxi to your location a try. You'll probably be there in the same amount of time it would take to rent a car. Then rent off-site and save all that $. Worth a try.

And now there is also a $4.70 a day fee for fleet recovery that even Schlegal didn't have added to his bill?

Patrick—schlegal DOES have the $4.70 per day:

Surcharge $4.70 per day $23.50 (schlegal1 on Aug 21, 14 at 4:22pm)

I'd be prone to question anything that is just called a "surcharge" and ask what it's for!

In this case, it seems to be the same as the fleet recovery fee. From what I can tell, rental agencies and/or franchisees charge such a fee in order to recover (1) the cost of replacing cars when they need to be replaced and/or (2) the cost of licensing and registration. Either way, that fee ought to be built into their base price.

schlegal—Too bad you don't have the agent's "TST is the 'Trip Saver Tax'" in writing. I'm sure the AG's office would love that one, as only governmental entities can levy taxes (which the TST obviously is NOT)!

FWIW, I came across this in my searching:

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Gener.../Section32E3~4

MGL Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 32E3/4 says (with my emphasis added)

A rental company may include separately stated surcharges, fees or charges in a rental agreement, which may include, but shall not be limited to, vehicle license cost recovery fees, airport access fees, airport concession fees, convention center surcharges and all applicable taxes; provided, however, that: (i) these surcharges, fees or charges shall not be included in the base cost of the vehicle rental; (ii) these surcharges, fees or charges shall be disclosed in a manner that is readily noticable in the rental agreement; and (iii) the rental company shall include a statement in any price advertisement it makes in the commonwealth about the existence of these surcharges, fees or charges that a consumer must pay and which may be separately stated on a rental transaction.

If a rental company includes a vehicle license cost recovery fee as a separately stated charge in a rental transaction, the amount of the fee shall represent the rental company’s good faith estimate of the daily charge necessary for the rental company to recover its actual total annual costs to license, title, register, plate, inspect or pay excise tax costs on its rental fleet in the commonwealth. If the total amount of the vehicle license cost recovery fees collected by a rental company pursuant to this section in a calendar year exceeds the rental company’s actual costs to license, title, register, plate, inspect or pay excise tax costs on its rental fleet in the commonwealth for that calendar year, the rental company shall: (i) retain the excess amount; and (ii) adjust the estimated average per vehicle charge to recover the costs to license, title, register, plate, inspect or pay excise tax for the following calendar year by a corresponding amount.

This section shall not prohibit a rental company from adjusting the vehicle license cost recovery fee during a calendar year as it determines to be necessary.


So this means at the least that either of the following is true, and maybe both are:

(1) An advertisement for a car rental that is made available to a person physically present in Massachusetts must disclose all added fees and taxes (regardless of where the rental will occur?);

(2) An advertisement for a car rental that is transacted in Massachusetts (e.g., at Logan Airport in Boston) must disclose all added fees and taxes.

I'm not sure which of those is the correct interpretation, though.


All of us might want to check and see if similar laws apply to our home states and/or states where we want to rent cars.

It would be good to know if such laws apply to services like Hotwire. Seems like they would, or at least should.

MORE TO THE POINT FOR SCHLEGAL RIGHT NOW

The Texas Business and Commerce Code, Title 5, Subtitle B, Chapter 91, Subchapter A, says

Sec. 91.055. MANDATORY CHARGE.

(a) A rental company that includes a mandatory charge in a rental agreement shall prominently display and fully disclose the charge:

(1) separately on the face of the agreement; and

(2) in all of the rental company's price advertising, price quotes, price offers, and price displays, including displays in computerized reservation systems.

Now I'm not a lawyer, but this seems to be saying that Thrifty is obligated to disclose—and it would seem Hotwire is obligated to disclose, although they are not a "rental company" per se—all mandatory charges in their price quotes.

(Note that "mandatory charge" means a charge for an item or service provided in connection with a rental transaction, other than a charge imposed by law:
(A) that is in addition to the base rental rate; and
(B) that the renter may not avoid or decline.


Here are the charges schlegal said were not disclosedL

Then there is a part called "Charge Summary" that has the unexpected charges:
CFC (Customer Facility Charge) $5.95 daily $29.75 (So that's the airport's fee, not a Texas fee as I was advised by Thrifty)
TST $4.99 daily $24.95
According to Thrifty those are additional taxes charged


SO

If CFC is indeed a mandatory charge, then Thrifty (and also Hotwire) is required to disclose it in the quoted price. So SOMEBODY messed up here (and apparently routinely messes up) and needs to be held accountable for it.

TST obviously is NOT a mandatory charge, despite what Thrifty told schlegal on at least three separate occasions, per the posts on this thread (once at the time of rental, and twice on callbacks). If it really were mandatory, they would have to disclose it. But since it apparently is not, they need to be told to (1) stop calling it mandatory, and (2) stop calling it a tax, because it most certainly isn't (and, ideally, stop adding it automatically to renter's bills without telling them).

Another reason to refer all of this to the AG's office, so others will not be taken advantage of.

OK, that's probably enough out of me for now!