Parking Fine in Miami USA - After returning rental car to published car park - Alamo

John Dough on 28/01/2015 - 13:46

Hi All,

Just a quick heads up. Having recently returned from a trip to America, I would like to highlight an interesting experience from Alamo rent a car.

Long story short we hired a car from Miami Airport in September for a few days.

I returned the vehicle to the Continental Hotel, in the car park that was described in both the rental return paperwork and the website when booked.

I returned the vehicle at 10am, I handed the keys to the counter assistant who assured me I had parked in the right spot (you could see the vehicle through the window, and I pointed it out) I then caught a taxi to the cruise ship terminal about 4 or 5 kays away and thought nothing more of it.

Couple of months later, I get a $35 parking ticket with late fee and notification that on the same day at 11am (when I was actually checked in to the cruise ship at that time, using faster to the front). I saw that Alamo had named me as the person responsible for the vehicle.

I sent them a email, and also sent an email to the parking people and explained the situation, and told them that I was incorrectly named as the person in charge of the vehicle as it was returned to the Company - Alamo.

I didn't hear back from Alamo, but the Parking people got back to me and said it's not their problem, please pay up or take it up with the rental co. I called them on Skype, costing me about $5 (yes I get discount cards!) and spoke to them. They agreed to waive the late fee due to me being overseas, and the fine was about $20 AUD. I didn't want any trouble when I am back in the states next so against all my principals, I paid the fine.

After this, I was pretty peeved at Alamo. How could they name me in charge of the vehicle after I had returned it. What happened if it was stolen? Written off? Would it still be my responsibility?

So I contacted Alamo head office and reported the story. They were apologetic, but said that they can't do anything as its up to the individual branch to take action. After 5 follow up emails and apologies from the help desk staff, they just keep with the same response - 'we have passed it on to the branch and we are awaiting their feedback'

I just wanted to share my story that if you use Alamo, this could happen to you. To be fair, I have rented cars with them for many years and never had this problem before.
I can't see a way to protect myself from it happening again either. Maybe only using Airport rental return?

If something major happened like damage after returning it, I really wonder how you would go with them proving that you didn't return it without the damage. My experience of claiming a simple refund on a parking fee that is clearly not mine to pay has been frustrating.

I still have not given up. It's the principal of the matter, not the money, but I am not holding my breath.

Anyone else had this sort of thing happen? How did you go?

Travel

Comments

  • 2pro4sho on 28/01/2015 - 14:11
    +3

    If the worst thing to go wrong in your holiday was a $20 fee then I think you've done very well. Take a breath, move on and focus on the wonderful memories you have just gained.

    • John Dough on 28/01/2015 - 15:22

      Yeah, I agree with you, but what if someone damaged the car and they sent me the bill?
      It's more about warning people about drop offs where an attendant doesn't check the vehicle, and what the fall out can be.

  • retiredfeline on 28/01/2015 - 14:16

    I think perhaps the most you can do is leave some feedback on social media to warn others of the problem with this branch. Sometimes nothing else can be done but move on. Many years ago I was charged by a US hotel for the full cost instead of half of a room that I shared with another conference participant because of some credit card slip mixup (this was the days before electronic transactions). I wrote to the hotel but was ignored.

    BTW, it's principle, not principal.

    • John Dough on 28/01/2015 - 15:26

      Thanks for the tip. Yep I hope this raises awareness.
      It's 20 bucks and I don't really care, I just thought if they can do that, what if it was worse.
      If someone stole the vehicle, they could have claimed I never dropped it off, or might have charged my credit card for another week or two rental before asking me where the car is.
      I'm not going to use them again unless it's from an airport or actual car hire centre - not a hotel drop off.

  • minty on 28/01/2015 - 14:46

    If something major happened like damage after returning it, I really wonder how you would go with them proving that you didn't return it without the damage.

    Rented from Hertz before, they check the car for damages before and after and you need to sign that you're in agreement?

  • xyron on 28/01/2015 - 16:59
    +1

    This is why I always use one of the 'majors' when renting in the US (Hertz primarily thanks to their free Gold Class membership), and ensure I have all the basic LDW/SLC options ticked.

    Traffic infringements in the US are a bit weird. Once I received a fine for parking in a loading zone in Miami which was like $30USD. On the back of the fine was a list of the maximum allowable fines for offences that varied from overstaying timed parking all the way up to not having number plates on your car (!) and the biggest fine was like $80 or something laughably low.

    When I tried to pay the fine a few weeks later, the Miami council department people had no record of the fine even existing. Like you though, I just made a payment and took a receipt number anyway, to avoid the possibility of having any troubles in the US in the future (although if I don't ever return to Florida, it'll still be too soon. What a hateful state).

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