Thrifty Rent A Car

The service was excellent, I was in and out in no time.

Great rate and got to pick a VW Jetta as. Standard size. Nice car.
They didn’t honor my quoted rate at first, but straightened it out politely.

Horrible customer service as well as car selection. We were told we would have a certain car and didn’t get that. Person checking us in had a horrible attitude. The line to leave the car lot was at minimal 15 cars long with only one attendant. From the time we walked in the door to the time we left the lot was about 40 – 60 minutes. We went with this company because it was cheaper however you get what you pay for. Never ever will be rent from them again. And Dollar is the same company so don’t book with them either. NEVER EVER again they shouldn’t even be in business.

As with others, I found the check in process very unprofessional. Manager Michelle needs to be fired.

Since the website set up by Thrifty Services will not allow me to answer more than one question on the survey (yet another area they have completely failed in), I felt the need to email this to the president of the company. And now I will share it with future consumers.
Customer Service: Excellent (before renting the vehicle)
Quality of vehicles: completely unsafe
Would I ever rent again: never would I put my life in danger like this again.
Would I ever recommend: lol. (Insert cuss word of choice here) no.
I do understand that with a cheap vehicle, problems are to be expected. But here is where Thrifty disappointed:
Upon walking to the lot to pick my vehicle, three out of the five compacts available would not turn on at all. (One due to a dead battery, two just made knocking noises. In case no one at the Detroit location is aware, knocking noises ARE NOT OK)
Upon finally choosing the vehicle that would both turn on and provide the trunk space necessary, I found out while entering a highway that if I needed to quickly brake, it was going to be out of the question.
A person driving in front of me on the entrance to the highway had slammed on their brakes (for what reason I’m not sure). Reacting quickly, I also attempted to step on my brakes so as to slow my car down. (You know, so I wouldn’t hit the car in front of me?) this is when I realized that the brakes were in DIRE need of replacement. (Because they didn’t work). Luckily for me (and quite frankly this entire company), I am able to QUICKLY react to emergency situations and was able to swerve out of the way just in time.
I pulled off to the side of the highway, and let the car coast to a stop. I attempted a few times to test out the brakes by going 5 – 7 mph on the side of the highway and noticed the brakes would only work if pressed no more than half way to the ground. However, if completely pressed to the ground, the brakes as I’ve said MULTIPLE times in this email, D I D N O T W O R K.
Upon returning the vehicle, I let the employee receiving it know what had happened. Her response? «Oh sometimes that happens»
!!! Excuse this entire company?!
Again, I understand that with a low price comes low quality with vehicles. But to put your customers lives in danger by not regularly inspecting the vehicles will one day empty not only the company’s pockets due to lawsuits, but will also leave hundreds if not thousands of people unemployed.
This company should pray to whatever God they want to pray to, and thank their God that I had the reflexes necessary to swerve out of the way. Or I would find a lawyer that would make this company my bitch.
Sincerely,
Count your blessings because I could have sued you for all of them had I been a mediocre driver.

UPDATE: I received a response regarding my concern. I like that Thrifty is paying attention.
Horrible check out process. The reps LIE about rental coverage and get angry with you when you decide not to purchase. This place is an absolute joke. I’ve rented cars here a few times, and each visit is just as bad as the previous. I suggest you go elsewhere.

I rent cars several times a year, and have never had an experience as truly awful as with this Thrifty location. I rented a car to take to the Toledo area for the funeral of a young family member. It was a difficult weekend, and the last thing I needed was trouble from a rental car company. It turned out that they had rented me a vehicle with a panel hanging down from the underside of the vehicle. It made occasional noise as I drove along the highway, but I couldn’t tell what it was even after pulling over and inspecting the vehicle. I assumed it was wind hitting against part of the car. It was not until I arrived in the Toledo area and inspected the car again that I noticed the panel. It was sticking out and forward, and looked like it would eventually catch in the asphalt in such a way as to cause an accident or damage to the vehicle. Not knowing what to do, I called Thrifty and alerted them to the issue. They offered to tow the vehicle back to the rental location, and I arranged for a ride back to the location later in the day to drop off the keys.
Just a few days later, I received a call from the company suggesting that the car had not been returned and threatening legal action. I called the company and explained that it had been returned and that I even got a ride to the location to drop off the keys and talk with the desk agent. They acknowledged their mistake and I assumed the matter was resolved.
Then, a few days later, I saw a charge on my credit card statement for a couple hundred dollars in addition to the rental fee. I was surprised because I had never received an invoice or receipt for this amount and still have not to this day. I called the company and they showed no remorse, sympathy or understanding for the situation. They said the charge was for the towing, and that even if it was a maintenance issue that resulted in the tow and that I had never been informed that I would be charged, I was responsible for the charge anyway.
I disputed the charge with the credit card company and appeared to succeed. However, I soon received a letter from Thrifty stating that because my credit card company had charged back the fees, they would turn the debt over to a collection agency if payment was not received within 15 days of the date of the letter. By the time I got the letter, a week had already passed. I e-​mailed three times and got no response. I called and was told that a mistake had been made, but the agent I talked to was unable to assist me in actually removing the charge. Now it is day 15 and their office is closed for the day after Thanksgiving.
I am appalled at the way they would treat a customer for something that was their own fault. I tried to do everything correctly to work through this situation with them, but received no cooperation. I have the feeling that this business is not really interested in customer service and will try to extract every dime they can from a customer whose credit card number they have on file.

This review is not just about Thrifty car rental at the Detroit airport.
First, the personnel and the basic service, the cars — all okay. But here’s my beef:
Michigan is a «no fault» insurance state.
Before leaving, we checked with our regular auto agent and asked if we needed to buy any extra insurance when renting. She said, «No, you are covered.»
Well, the agent launched into what seemed like a «hard a_​_​» up sale to buy insurance for $ 16 a day!
She kept saying, if you get in an accident, damage to the car will not be covered.
She gave a complex explanation of «no fault» state insurance rules.
It was like a shell game…
However, she drove it home so hard that I got scared enough that I purchased the extra insurance — not really knowing what exactly it was I was buying!
Someone needs change this — what a bad dream it was — and expensive.
If you are going to MI and you’re renting a car, I suggest you do some research and try to get to the truth — it may save you money.