Can I get a refund for this Priceline automobile rental?

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: I not too long ago booked a rental automobile with Greenback by means of Priceline. My automobile didn’t have a entrance or rear license plate, so I needed to convey it again to the rental location that night time.

The second automobile Greenback gave me was not the scale I reserved. It was too small to accommodate my passengers. The next day, I lastly received Greenback to agree to provide me the car I had booked, a midsize SUV.

A consultant informed me to convey my automobile again for one more trade. However as an alternative of exchanging the car, Greenback handled my trade like an early return. A consultant then informed me I must pay for one more reservation if I wished a automobile. A Priceline consultant promised I’d obtain a refund. However, Greenback mentioned I voluntarily returned the automobile, which is unfaithful.

I’ve been speaking to Greenback and Priceline for the final two weeks, trying to — on the very least — get a refund for the times I couldn’t use my rental. Each of them maintain telling me they don’t have my cash and that the opposite entity owes me a refund. I’ve tried disputing the cost with my financial institution, however haven’t obtained any assist.

— Vivian Everhart, Houston

ANSWER: You must have gotten the automobile you reserved from Greenback. As a substitute, they handed you the keys to a rental with out plates, after which canceled your subsequent reservation. Come on!

However, issues went incorrect on each side of the counter. While you choose up a rental, the very first thing it is best to do earlier than leaving the ability is to examine it fastidiously and take images. Had you executed so, you in all probability would have seen the lacking plates. Then, you wouldn’t have needed to return your first rental.

If the primary car needs to be changed for no matter motive, try to be positive the brand new automobile meets your specs earlier than you settle for it. When you had simply mentioned “no” to the second rental, you additionally may need prevented this downside.

It seems such as you had a pay as you go rental, which implies you had already paid Priceline for the three days you had been speculated to lease the car. So, if you returned the automobile, Greenback merely rented you a brand new one and saved the cash to your earlier automobile. Then, it seems prefer it tried to push the duty on Priceline to repair the issue. I believe everybody was a bit confused.

Priceline didn’t totally perceive your refund request. It tried to mediate your refund request with Greenback, however the automobile rental firm claimed it had given you the appropriate car. It had, initially. However, that automobile didn’t have plates. Priceline issued you a $25 present card to make up for the difficulty. However, you wished — and had been entitled to — a refund for the 2 misplaced days.

I publish the names, numbers and e-mail addresses of each the Priceline and Greenback executives on my shopper advocacy website at www.elliott.org/company-contacts/priceline/ and www.elliott.org/company-contacts/hertz/. A short, well mannered e-mail may need moved your refund into the quick lane.