Enterprise Rent-A-Car review: Many issues with my rental.

I spent A TON of time searching for the right car, (in the right price range), for me. Knowing that I would also have to pay the $300 deposit on top of my rental price. I found the right car. I made a reservation. Just like I have done many times in the past.

When I got there, the car I reserved, was NOT AVAILABLE. At that time I didn't have time to wait around for issues to be resolved. I had many people depending on us to get where we were going by a specific time. They told me that ALL THEY HAD was a minivan. I grew up in a family of 7 that used a minivan. And I did not want a minivan for various reasons. But that was now the ONLY choice I was given. Fine, I was forced to take a vehicle I did not want, AT A LUXURY PRICE.

When they gave me the white minivan it was EXTREMELY dirty. Covered in black goo and bugs. And the gas was so low that the GAS LIGHT INDICATOR ON, on the dash board. I had NO CHOICE but to take this car. It was so dirty the first thing I had to do was clean the windshield. One tiny squirt and the fluid was gone. Big surprise there was no fluid in the car. I had to buy fluid at the store to fill it myself for the trip. So I had to fill the fluids, fill the gas, and wash the car myself before I left, (so I didn't look ghetto when I arrived at my destination). That caused a massive amount of stress for me to drive this car (with an empty gas light glaring at me), to the nearest gas station PRAYING THE WHOLE WAY THERE, that the car would not run out of gas before I reached a refueling station. Also there were scratches and dings that were invisible on the car due to it's dirty condition. Were they hiding these by not washing it? Are they going to try to charge me for those dings and scratches that were already there, (but invisible upon first inspection)? Probably so.

Did they charge me the price of reservation I made? Was this a free upgrade? "NO"! They charged me the luxury car price, and I had NO CHOICE but to accept that new, (very high), price.

I was a Third Party Investigator for accidents, with the law firm Sullins, Johnston, Roerbach and Magers (SJRM) for years. So I know that when someone is in an accident, my job was to find out who was at fault for the accident. I would first research all the driver's phones to see if anyone was talking, texting, or READING A TEXT while they drove. And if any driver was on their phones (or even READING a text), at the time of the accident. THEY WERE INSTANTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT. So when I drive I turn off ALL of my devices. And I let my passenger use their phone to navigate using the Maps app. I have investigated hundreds of thousands, of accidents, DEATHS and medical injuries that those people sustained from those accidents. My life and safety is not worth a call or a text. So I turned mine off, like any GOOD CITIZEN would.

After I drove home I turned my phone on saw a missed call and texts from Enterprise, NOT ONLY reminding me that I need to return the car THE NEXT DAY, (as if I didn't already know that). I had already spoken with a man that said I could call if I needed more time with the rental. But I don't need extra days, so there was no reason to speak with them. I found it unsettling that they called and text while I was driving home. If a dumb citizen that texts and drives, answered those text, and that creates an accident. Enterprise would not be at fault. The driver would. So I believe that the call and those texts from enterprise, were not only unnecessary, but dangerous. That is a practice that Enterprise should stop.

Also, I do NOT use credit cards. I am a big believer in, (If I don't have the cash to spend I don't spend it.) But they gave me a HUGE hassle and made me bring various documents to prove my debit card was my debit card. I found it absurd that they wanted me to use someone else's money rather than my own. I had my own full coverage insurance. So me taking the time to dig out multiple documents HOPING they would accept them was a waste of my time.

This was the third or forth time that Enterprise has had a different car upon my arrival, than the car I reserved. Once I had to bring the car back because it didn't even have cruise control on the car and for a long trip that is a MUST. But then I had to wait about 2 hours to get a car that was worthy of the change. But it was still not the car I reserved. Before they never charged me the price of the upgrade. It was a free upgrade, so I didn't feel the need to complain. But now I see this is their regular order of business. And this time they charged me for the upgrade. It was NOT COOL, that I was forced to get that or nothing. Hertz has never done that to me. What is the point, in making a reservation, if they change my reservation every time?