A Nightmare Rental Experience - Avoid NextCar at All Costs!…read moreLet me start by saying that I have rented cars from numerous major rental companies, and I have never experienced customer service this poor--or vehicles this average, at best. I used to be a frequent renter with NextCar about 4-5 years ago, spending thousands of dollars on rentals. However, after this latest experience, I can confidently say I will never be returning.
Shocking First Impression
I walked into the Wheaton, MD location and was greeted by the manager, who still remembered my name from years ago. Rather than going into a lengthy explanation, I simply mentioned that I had found better rental options with lower prices and deposits. It had been approximately four years since my last rental with NextCar, and I was shocked when the manager ran my license and claimed that I had an unpaid ticket in their system.
How had I never received any notice of this supposed ticket in four years? My address and phone number haven't changed, and I had never received a single call, email, text, or even a smoke signal from their office about this issue. Strangely enough, the manager couldn't even provide me with a copy of the ticket. Still, in an effort to be a responsible customer, I paid the $55 fee they demanded--despite the lack of evidence.
Unbelievable Service & Ridiculous Requests
Once I was issued a vehicle, I was informed four separate times that it had just been cleaned and that I should take it to be washed before returning it. Excuse me?! I am the customer, not the detailing staff. If the car needs additional cleaning, that's your responsibility--not mine.
As if that wasn't ridiculous enough, when I got into the car, I discovered that it had only 8 miles' worth of gas. When I pointed this out, the manager casually told me I would need to stop and refuel--on my dime, of course.
To top it all off, she then dared to tell me that since she gave me a 5% discount for being a longtime customer, I should buy her lunch because she was "extremely hungry." Excuse me?! After just paying:
$150 for a deposit
$55 for a four-year-old ticket
$75 per day for the rental
I was not about to pay for the manager's meal on top of everything else! I refused and then demanded a different vehicle with more gas. They gave me another car, but it was smaller than the SUV I had requested--yet I was still charged the same rate.
Unauthorized Credit Charge & Zero Accountability
Shortly after leaving the lot, I received a credit alert informing me that NextCar had placed a $900 charge on my credit report! Thinking it was an error, I checked my records--I hadn't rented from them in years and had no outstanding balance.
When I returned the car after my trip, I confronted the manager about the charge. Her response? "I have no idea." She checked their system and confirmed I owed nothing--not even the mysterious $55 ticket I had just paid!
I asked her to call the corporate office to investigate. Her response? "Naaah, I'm kinda busy. You can call."
So, I did. Corporate promised to look into it and fix their "glitch." It has been over a week, and I have not heard anything back.
Final Verdict: Stay Far, Far Away!
If you're looking for a rental car, go somewhere else. With NextCar, you risk:
Being charged random, unexplained fees
Having unauthorized charges added to your credit report
Dealing with rude, unprofessional staff
Getting subpar vehicles for premium prices
I now have to involve my attorney just to get this nonsense resolved. No one should have to go in for a rental car, pay their bill, and then find nearly $1,000 mysteriously applied to their credit report.
Unless you enjoy being overcharged, scammed, and having your credit compromised, stay far away from this so-called rental agency!
