441 Thrift Stores/U Haul Unethical Deceptive Scammer Leesburg Florida

UPDATE:  After completing my rental with this ripoff artist, I received a survey in an e-mail from U Haul corporate.  I advised them in no uncertain terms that I would never rent from U Haul again based upon the actions of this franchisee, Mr. Stapleton and his 441 Thrift Store.  U Haul apparently forced him to refund the wrongfully applied fuel surcharge, although Mr. Stapleton only reufnded part of it at first and had the nerve to leave a whiny voice mail about how I could deal with his "attorney" from now on.  I filed another complaint with U Haul corporate about the lack of a full refund and several days later the full refund was credited to my account.

STAY AWAY FROM U HAUL/441 THRIFT STORE IN LEESBURG FLORIDA.  DO NOT RENT FROM THIS GUY STAPLETON OR PATRONIZE HIS STORE.  HE WILL RIP YOU OFF AND WILL RESIST REFUNDING YOU WHEN YOU CALL HIM ON IT, EVEN AFTER YOU COMPLAIN TO U HAUL CORPORATE. 

I did some digging around about the owner of the 441 Thrift Store/U-Haul and his name is Mark  Richard Stapleton.  He's the guy I dealt with that put the fuel surcharge on my credit card despite the U Haul being returned with the same amount of fuel it was sent out with.  Apparently Mark Richard Stapleton, DOB 10/4/1959, has been arrested multiple times while living in the city of Leesburg, including for felony warrants from the State of Massachusettes for 2 counts of forgery, 2 counts of uttering foreged documents and a misdemeanor theft charge in 1997.  He apparently ran as the warrant was issued in 1998 and he wasn't apprended on the warrant until 2011.  This is the type of person you are dealing with if you shop or rent a truck from this guy. 

What are you this guy's brother or something?  Or are you just a troll who likes to stir up trouble?  FYI, I do have a picture of the gas gauge reading WITH the odometer, which was noted on the rental agreement (at least this moron got that part right).  The picture notes that the transmission is in drive, which means the truck is running and therefore the gas gauge reading is accurate.  I tried to share this with that crook, but he didn't want to listen, so we'll settle it in court once I see that fuel surcharge being tacked on to my credit card.  Oh, and that would be the same card that would have a charge for a gasoline purchase for that truck. Oh, and the guy that was with me and watched me pump the gas into the truck will be happy to testify for me as well.  This scumbag is going to learn a very valuable lesson. 

How come when you got in the truck and noticed the difference in the fuel did you not go back inside to the rental place and have them confirm that it was only half full?  This would have been the 100% way to guarantee it was taken care of.

How come if you didn't want to go back in did you not take a picture of the fuel gauge AND odometer at the same time?  Clocks can be changed...odometers can not.  If the milage matched the miles out AND the gage showed half-full that would have gone a lot farther.  After all you could have driven the truck for 3 hours, used the gas, reset the time and taken a picture.

Then of course the big question...at what fuel level did you return the truck at?  You say it was the same amount, so do you have proof of purchase of the gas you had to refil?