Car rental charges

On Mar 19, 5:37 pm, Steve wrote:
Just arranged a car rental, cost $223 plus these incidental charges
for a total of $302 -

30.00 customer facility charge
24.71 concession recovery fee
15.77 gvt service fee
14.00 tax recoupment
9.53 license recovery surcharge
4.76 county car rental fee

Seems like things are getting outta hand. Is this like the phony fees
on telephone company invoices?



At least they itemize for you.


--

For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life,
please press three.

...Alice Kahn

In article ,
Steve wrote:

Just arranged a car rental, cost $223 plus these incidental charges
for a total of $302 -

30.00 customer facility charge
24.71 concession recovery fee
15.77 gvt service fee
14.00 tax recoupment
9.53 license recovery surcharge
4.76 county car rental fee

Seems like things are getting outta hand. Is this like the phony fees
on telephone company invoices?

You didn't say where you rented that car and if the drop off is that
same as the pick up place. You might call the rental agency to discuss
those fees, particularly the first two. It is not unusual for local
governments to pile taxes onto rental car agencies to help pay for large
capital projects such as building a stadium, airport, etc, but that
doesn't explain those first two charges.

Well, you know whenever a city wants more money
they'll levy a new tax, increase an old tax, or float a
bond program. And, of course, the residents are
always told the car rental outfits and hotel visitors
will be paying the tab.

I guess this is an example.

But, I think I'd write to the rental agency, requesting
a detailed explanation. and, of course, reimbursement
for all charges not fully authorized.







"Steve" wrote in message
...
Just arranged a car rental, cost $223 plus these incidental charges
for a total of $302 -

30.00 customer facility charge
24.71 concession recovery fee
15.77 gvt service fee
14.00 tax recoupment
9.53 license recovery surcharge
4.76 county car rental fee

Seems like things are getting outta hand. Is this like the phony fees
on telephone company invoices?


--

For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of
life,
please press three.

...Alice Kahn

Steve wrote:

Seems like things are getting outta hand.

Yep.

Is this like the phony fees
on telephone company invoices?

Nope. It's politicians and citizens who think taxing non-residents is a painless
way of raising revenue. Started with sports arenas about a decade ago and has
grown to the point of absurdity.

The problem is, there doesn't appear to be any way to stop it. Local pols calim
that the taxes only affect visitors. Of course, almost every location is doing
it, so everybody gets clipped.

Just arranged a car rental, cost $223 plus these incidental charges
for a total of $302 -

30.00 customer facility charge
24.71 concession recovery fee
15.77 gvt service fee
14.00 tax recoupment
9.53 license recovery surcharge
4.76 county car rental fee

Seems like things are getting outta hand. Is this like the phony fees
on telephone company invoices?


--

For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life,
please press three.

....Alice Kahn

Steve wrote:
Seems like things are getting outta hand.
Is this like the phony fees
on telephone company invoices?

If pressed, the company can show you that those fees
do cover actual expenses incurred by the company for
such things as using space at the airport and local taxes.
Better to squeeze hapless travellers than local citizenry.
Rental companies like to quote you al fee of $10.00,
use that to add up the fees, and then bill you $100.00.
=R=

"Dave" wrote:
What ****es me off about car rental places is that they
always ask you if you want "STANDARD" insurance
coverage or something else (forget what they call it, and
it varies by company anyway). The catch is... snip

It like when you order a combo-meal at a fast-food joint
and they ask if you want curly fries instead of regular, or
a medium drink, without telling you that either is an extra
$ .25 (but at least you get somethig for your money). =R=

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Just arranged a car rental, cost $223 plus these incidental charges
for a total of $302 -

30.00 customer facility charge
24.71 concession recovery fee
15.77 gvt service fee
14.00 tax recoupment
9.53 license recovery surcharge
4.76 county car rental fee

Seems like things are getting outta hand. Is this like the phony fees
on telephone company invoices?


What ****es me off about car rental places is that they always ask you if
you want "STANDARD" insurance coverage or something else (forget what they
call it, and it varies by company anyway). The catch is, YOU NEED
NEITHER!!! They don't offer you the option to decline it, you have to know
to STATE that you are declining ALL insurance coverage, or you will get
ripped off.

It's annoying to have to fight NOT to get ripped off each and every time you
pick up a G-D rental car.

For the few consumers who still are not aware of this, just about all major
credit cards (a major *credit*, not debit card is REQUIRED to rent a car,
btw) have insurance (comes standard with the credit card account) that FULLY
covers rental cars. Many employers ALSO have insurance poicies that FULLY
cover rental cars. Many PRIVATE auto insurance policies ALSO FULLY cover
rental cars.

In other words, most consumers are double or TRIPLE-covered, as far as
insurance coverage for the rental car goes, before they even make the car
rental reservation! So if you buy any insurance coverage at all from a
rental car company, it is 100% pure profit for the rental car company. On
the off chance that you "total" the rental car, it is likely that the rental
car company's insurance will claim that you are covered under another policy
anyway (and they are RIGHT on that!), so it will never pay a penny, even IF
you file a claim against it. -Dave

As I understand it, on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:37:55 -0800, Steve
wrote:

Just arranged a car rental, cost $223 plus these incidental charges
for a total of $302 -

30.00 customer facility charge

???

24.71 concession recovery fee

???

15.77 gvt service fee

Could be a tax.

14.00 tax recoupment

A tax for collecting the other taxes?

9.53 license recovery surcharge

Did you misplace your license? :-)

4.76 county car rental fee


Most probably a county tax.

Seems like things are getting outta hand. Is this like the phony fees
on telephone company invoices?

A few look like taxes. The others... I haven't a clue.

--
Kent
Recuerdo del Fin Del Mundo!

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:00:36 -0400, "Rog'"
wrote:

"Dave" wrote:
What ****es me off about car rental places is that they
always ask you if you want "STANDARD" insurance
coverage or something else (forget what they call it, and
it varies by company anyway). The catch is... snip

It like when you order a combo-meal at a fast-food joint
and they ask if you want curly fries instead of regular, or
a medium drink, without telling you that either is an extra
$ .25 (but at least you get somethig for your money). =R=


Not quite. It would be like:

Combo meal $3.99
Sales tax $0.20
Franchise fee $0.49
Property tax recovery fee $0.49
County tax assessment recovery fee $0.19
Fuel surcharge $0.39
Water and sewer fee $0.29

Geez. Whatever happened to the time and tested business model: One
price that takes into account ALL your costs, and adds whatever profit
the market will allow?