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Fact.

He’s threatened to eat some worms, too.

She could be sure of his eye color at that range?

Dick Swaab? Really? Brother of Dick Hertz? Sorry, couldn’t resist.

It isn’t clear if she decided to return it on Sunday of her own volition (and risk) rather than pay for an extra day and return it on a Monday when they were open and staffed. That is not the same thing as saying that Enterprise *demanded* she return it Sunday when they were closed.

She met the terms of the contract by returning it on Sunday, if that is what she agreed to do. I am not a lawyer, obviously, but having been in the business I can tell you that people are willing to assume risk because they assume nothing is going to happen to them.

I used to explain the weekly rate as getting cornflakes in a bigger box - you know, 20% more free? Yes, the rates can fluctuate wildly, usually seasonally. Longer rentals are cheaper (I don’t know why but think they do that in order to guarantee that a portion of the fleet stays rented); conversely, returning early may cause a default rate which will make a higher daily rate. Strangely, local rentals (returning at the same location) are cheaper than leaving it in another state, even though locals usually result in much higher, even extreme in your case, mileage and wear and tear on the car. It’s something I wondered about myself. You got a screaming deal, that’s for sure, but we always liked it when good customers made out.

Also, if you see a special rate on TV, you have to call that dedicated phone number set up for that purpose - the rental agent usually will not be able to match that at the counter because those promotions are generated by a different part of the corporation and are not local.

Happy renting!

It’s not both ways. The customer understands that until Enterprise comes into possession of the vehicle, it is her responsibility. If a customer signs a contract to that effect, should that signature be considered meaningless? I am truly sorry for the customer that this happened, if I haven’t said so.

You are mistaken in thinking that Enterprise will pay for the Mustang. Every other Enterprise renter will pay for it, via increased costs.

Technically we could not report the car stolen if a renter gave the keys to that person now driving it. And again, the customer is fully responsible - unauthorized drivers are considered a serious matter.

Basically, people need to fully understand their own auto insurance policy, be clear at the time of rental who will drive (spouse generally drives for free as do colleagues on business, but that may be contingent upon an established corporate account with said business and reserved under that business’s rate code. Additionally if on a business rate code your business may not cover damages sustained if you’re traveling off duty, say if you’re at a nightclub - check there too), and be sure to get a signature for damage both before and after returning the car. It’s just not wise to leave an unattended car after hours at an off-airport location.

We had our share of wonderful customers like yourself :) and it’s clear that your Enterprise agents rightly appreciate you. It was always nice to see favorite customers on the reservation list. You’re very well informed. Most people are not, usually because they don’t travel enough to be familiar with how the process works.

People would ask me at the counter “Does my insurance cover that?” because they don’t know their own policy. Credit cards may only cover up to a sedan, but not a specialty vehicle like a minivan, luxury, or SUV. You have to call your credit card’s customer service and ask these things. They may not cover theft, just collision, and may not have liability or may not cover it if another driver is driving at the time of the accident. They may reimburse you *after* you pay for the damages yourself so you could be expected to pay upfront. If you damage a car and your credit card covers it, do not change the method of payment upon return because that could be their wiggle room to deny payment. I’m just throwing these suggestions out here for the benefit of anyone who may be reading this - details which can prove important to know.

BTW I genuinely sympathize with those renters who have gotten billed for damages later - I don’t dispute that that has happened. But you are right, it’s always best to get a signed slip when possible. Our location was rigorous about doing a walkaround together with the customer before they left the lot, having them sign the damage sheet, and then do a walkaround upon return. I suggest that people do their own walkarounds if the location does not have that policy, and then bring the contract to the counter for the agent’s signature before leaving the lot.

We did not require them to do so, but we would inform them that they were fully responsible *regardless of fault*. I was not an aggressive seller, so if the customer snapped at me that I was “scamming them”, I would shrug and remind them that they were fully responsible. Regardless. Of. Fault.

Nine times out of ten, when I found damage doing a walk around inspection on return of the car, the customer would scream “I didn’t do it - it must have happened when it was parked somewhere. It’s not my fault. I’m not paying for that damage”. Mind, this was during operating hours - I never signed off on a contract but made the customer wait at the counter while I did the return inspection so no one ever got a “surprise” bill in the mail. And in some cases, perhaps the customer was right. But should the company eat that? No, that’s exactly what *regardless of fault* means. But people still expected the company to take the hit, even when the policy was clearly explained beforehand. (And for the record, I live in a blue state, hence my surprise at some of the anti-business comments here). Enterprise isn’t the renter’s mom lending her a car; it’s a business that exists to make money.

A common thing was to have a girl rent for her boyfriend who did not qualify. She would claim to be the only driver. Then he’d take off in the car (frequently with his new squeeze) and she’d report it “stolen” even though she gave him the keys and didn’t think she should be responsible for the damage he caused due to her foolishness and violation of the terms of rental. Should she be off the hook for that too? It’s a rhetorical question (and I’m making a broader point here) directed to FReepers at large here. Suffice it to say that if one of us owned a rental company with our own fleet paid for with own money, we’d probably feel very differently about the situation at hand.

I imagine Enterprise does not want to set a precedent by just rolling over because it will invite more thefts - the cost of which will ultimately be passed on to the customer, a point we should all keep in mind. I suspect they might want to work out a payment plan to minimize the publicity, but we are not being well served by having rental companies forgive customers of their responsibilities. My company was willing to work out payment plans, but if the customer let it go to collections, it would hurt their credit rating. Which, btw, is why people’s credit scores are checked now. The lost business from people who do not qualify has been proven to be less revenue lost than the savings in the reduction of uncollectibles.

Yes, and that’s the irony - my location was inner city and we discontinued after hours dropoff precisely because of thefts, and yet people would complain about the inconvenience. Whether it’s upselling (just like a waitress suggesting cocktails & dessert or a kid asking to supersize your fries) or recovering damages, it’s still a business that is being run to make money.

Rental agents are taught to upsell and get pressured on their numbers just like any sales job, so I would hope that people understand that the next time they are at the counter and give that person a break. To be sure, some can be dicks but others are just working stiffs doing as they’re told and trying to keep positive. Customer service of any stripe can be very stressful.

Depends on the state. I worked for a rental company (not Enterprise) and the renter’s insurance was primary. IOW liability reverted to the renter during the rental period and we informed the customer of that policy.

I confess that I am surprised at some of the comments here - the customer is responsible and that fact is stated as part of their selling instructions - and the it’s-not-my-fault attitude is really something I would expect from the left. I am not unsympathetic to this person by any means, btw. But I can tell you that no one who purchased our insurance ever regretted it when the car was damaged or totaled with no further cost to that customer. At my location we did not allow dropoffs after hours for the customers’ own protection but you would not believe the verbal abuse we endured because the customer could not be bothered to return to the airport fewer than ten miles away. Everyone says “I’ll take the risk” leaving it after hours, but you can be sure that if that risk resulted in a stolen car, they would be singing a different tune. Instead we were called inflexible when we were really doing the customer a favor. So if and when Enterprise changes their policy and does not allow after hours dropoff, people will start bitching about that next.

And the “job” he arranged for Monica was...?

“This is what Her Thighness did when I said, “Hil, get a grip on yourself!”

"I must say that parents in NYC are unbelievably smug and self-satisfied...."

Not just in NYC. Some smug and self-satisfied parents ASSume that couples without children just don't want them. Many married couples are trying to conceive and the "what are you two waiting for?" comments or "we've lapped you" attitudes are really obnoxious. That obviously isn't the slant of this article, but the new mommy in this article still sounds like a jerk, like those single celebrity moms with their designer babies.

But did they get a liquor license?

Sorry....couldn't resist.

"The Alley of Wishes?" "Windfalls?"

Cerise is a character in a book by Anne Perry, IIRC.

"I've actually heard some on the left imply that she is W's mistress."

Condi can tell any insinuating reporters that they're confusing Dubya with the Sink Emperor . All while giving them the Condi Death Stare.

I don't believe for a second that Rice is gay. I think she is very devoted to her work, and marriage just isn't a big priority for her. But after what I saw from the press last week, I have a pretty good idea how the leftist press will portray Rice's personal life.

Ahhhh, I see what you mean now. Well, time will tell. I wouldn't think it would be possible to top the "Aunt Jemima" and "mammy" slurs, but then the libs always seem to outdo themselves, don't they?

"Rice has never been married, nor has she ever had a long-term relationship that anyone is aware of. "

That is not quite true. There is a man (former football player IIRC) that she's been romantically linked to in the past, with whom Condi has attended State dinners. My sense is that she is driven and devoted to her work. I don't believe that she is gay, if that is what you are suggesting.