(With thanks to Al Franken)
I’m talking about rental car companies, insurance companies, and anyone or any company that sugar-coats anything unsavory and packages it as a “deal.” Rental car companies, much like insurance companies, have you coming and going (ironic as that statement may be). I rented a car yesterday so daughter could get about while I’m out of the country in a few weeks. Only….she can’t drive it. No no no… the accident that wasn’t her fault that put my car out of commission? It’s put her out of a set of wheels entirely.
She isn’t 21. Rental car companies generally think the 19 year old girls are a huge risk (not the 57-year-old men who hit her car). Oh, if she had the insurance in her name (which would cost a mere $3K annually just for her, just for liability – HA!) and if she had a major credit card in her name (easier to do, but no freakin’ way!), she could drive it. Not rent it, no no. Just drive it. So I must now consider how to get her mobile while I’m not around. Friends are still at school. Other friends work, too, and cannot shuttle her. We live in the freakin’ suburbs, which means there’s no public transportation. The suburbs are some suspended form of Hell reserved for people who think they’ll always have a car handy. No sidewalks, no stores close by, no sense of community beyond waving to neighbors in passing. But that’s another story, and another reason why I’m ready to head back to the country or deep into a city where neighborhoods still exist…
Rental car companies – legalized robbery in the form of arbitrary rules that they blame on their insurers, which is most likely true. Insurers base all their underwriting decisions on probability of risk. She’s 19. That means she’s not to be trusted with their insurance coverage. However, can they not allow for exceptions – even exceptions parents would be willing to fork over extra for, given that the child in question has a job and a real need for a car?
Alas, my project is due and I can’t think about this now. I have a dull headache caused either by stress or that too-sugary margarita I had last evening – can’t say. Neither one is good for me. That’s what comes from trying to live a little at the end of a lousy day. My Jetta may be hauled off for good, destined to be parts for some undeserving soul. That car’s in fantastic shape (beyond the obvious dork-induced accident damage), and it fits me. Best car I’ve ever owned. Odd how I’m clinging to this car. I was always so anxious to get a new car before, but this one, well, it’s been good to me.
One positive note – I have in my hands a much-overdue check from the company that was giving me the obvious run-around. I don’t know if my attorney/sister got in touch, but it was the very next day after I’d sent her the information and she’d promised to send a legal response that the phone call came with the promise my check was mailed. Until yesterday, I thought, “Yea, right.” (which is, by the way, the only time two positives make a negative) I’m happy to say it’s here. I’m be thrilled in about 14 days after it clears both accounts. At least some scams are easy to spot and easier to correct.
Do you have either Rent-a-Wreck or Thrifty in your area? I’ve had good luck with both of them when the other companies screwed me along similar lines.
My first thought was Zipcar, but I guess they don’t have that in the suburbs. When I was in a teenager in the suburbs of Seattle, it was hell not having a car. My mother insisted on driving me places, but she was often late and I could tell she was frustrated with having to shuttle me around because she didn’t trust me with her car.
Thanks, gals. I just tried all three. Rent-a-Wreck doesn’t have a location close to me, nor does Zipcar. Thrifty has the same stupid age requirement. :((
This just happened to a friend of mine, she’s 19, someone rear ended her, and she faught and faught and said she needed a car to get to work, and they finally allowed her to rent it. They had to draft separate contracts with the insurance company, so it is possible!
I hope you can find a way to get them to do it!