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Report: #774552

Complaint Review: Hotwire.com - Internet

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Carol — Brandon Florida United States of America
  • Author Not Confirmed What's this?
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  • Hotwire.com Internet United States of America

Hotwaire.com legally steals your money and you get nothing for itt, Internet

*Author of original report: Rights to Steal

*Consumer Comment: rights

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I made a rental car reservation with Hotwire.com on 9/8/11 at 12:15 am to take place on 9/22-10/2/11 in St. Louis, MO. I received Alamo confirmation and Hotwire Itinerary. I was charged $219.61 from my debit account. At 2:00 pm on the same day (9/8/11) I realized I wasn't going to need the car, so I called to cancel the reservation, believing that it a consumer has a right to cancel within 24 hours. They rudely refused to discuss a refund or even a credit. Telling me that Alamo is already paid and have my reservations.

I called Alamo and they have no record of my reservation and told me I had to take it up with Hotwire, because they had the money and they wouldn't get paid until I picked up the car. How can this be legal to take your money and give you nothing for it? If I didn't give them enough notice I could understand, but it was only 14 hours since my purchase and I am not going to be receiving anything for the amount of $219.61. I feel this is poor customer service to basically take money for services not rendered. 

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 09/08/2011 05:12 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/hotwirecom/internet/hotwairecom-legally-steals-your-money-and-you-get-nothing-for-itt-internet-774552. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
1Author
1Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#2 Author of original report

Rights to Steal

AUTHOR: ckorow - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, September 09, 2011

The reason I stated that Hotwire can "Legally Steal" is the reason this IS a ripoff. The fact that I was so upset that I failed to notice how bad I spelled out the headline is as embarrassing as the fact that I let them "Legally Steal" from me. If you pay for something, you should get something. Any reputable company will weigh each reason for refund request and decide whether it is qualified for refund or not. Even if the sale is final. To never give the customer at least 24 hours to change their mind or lose the money, is BAD BUSINESS. I never noticed any option to protect myself from being victimized. At midnight, I admit I might not have taken the hours it would take to read all your legal copy; for that I am at fault. I honestly thought that a consumer had a legal right to cancel a purchase within 3 days. And if it is within 24 hours, any company would make a refund, if they had any reputation they cared to protect. It is obvious that Hotwire.com does not care about their reputation, and blatantly obvious they don't care about their customers.

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#1 Consumer Comment

rights

AUTHOR: Ashley - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, September 09, 2011

First of all, no consumer has a "right" to a refund within 24 hours. The only rights you have are the ones you agreed upon when you made the purpose. When you purchased the rental from hotwire, you agreed to their terms and conditions. One of those, taken straight from their website is:


"


Can I cancel or change my reservation if my plans change?


Hotwire Hot Rate rentals are final and cannot be cancelled, refunded, changed, exchanged or transferred. Your account will be charged for the total price shown, regardless of whether the reservation is used. This is how agencies better manage their unsold rental cars, and that's a big reason why we can offer you great travel deals.


On the other hand, regular-rate reservations may be cancelled without penalty. To cancel your reservation, log in to your Hotwire account, and click, "My Account."  All Hotwire customers must agree to the Hotwire Terms of Use.


Worried emergencies might change your plans? Consider purchasing Trip Protection, a low-cost insurance program that provides trip cancellation/interruption coverage. Protect yourself against medical emergencies, strikes, natural disasters and weather emergencies. You can purchase Trip Protection at any time up until your check-in date. Learn more about Access America and Trip Protection.


 


So they state, in plain english, that there are no refunds on car rentals. They didn't rip you off, they are just enforcing the agreement you made with them.

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