BBB warns of F-rated car rental company

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The Better Business Bureau has issued a nationwide warning about Payless Car Rental after receiving more than 830 complaints in the past three years.

Payless, a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, currently has an F rating with BBB.

BBB issues nationwide warning about Payless Car Rental

Read more: How to get a $5 car rental

In May, the organization sent a letter to the attorneys general of four states — California, Florida, New Jersey and Oklahoma — asking them to investigate Payless’ business practices.

Here are some of the allegations against Payless Car Rental: 

  • Sales representatives misrepresented the necessity of optional insurance
  • Unnecessary charges for special equipment, optional insurance and deposits that were never reimbursed
  • Failure to honor the rental price reflected online at the time of booking

ABC News reports that a proposed class-action lawsuit filed against Payless accuses the company of charging renters for add-ons like insurance, roadside assistance and fuel options that they specifically declined.

One man told ABC that his bill went from $217 to $528 because of optional services he didn’t want in the first place.

“BBB has attempted to address the pattern of complaints with Payless on several occasions over the past three years,” said Amie Mitchell, president and CEO of BBB Tulsa, which handled the complaints. “The most recent attempt was on March 29, 2017, in a letter sent by certified mail. The business failed to respond. Because consumers are still coming to us with the same complaints, week after week, we felt we had no choice but to turn this matter over to law enforcement.”

Money expert Clark Howard wants you to know that the people who work behind the rental counter are under enormous pressure to sell you various add-ons and many of them work for commissions.

Verbally declining those extras is not enough! Read the contract carefully before you sign and initial.

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Read more: Use Clark’s secret weapon to avoid surprise car rental fees

Rent a car without emptying your wallet

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