Payless Car Rental

Pros: Low price
Cons: A paper rag isn't an appropriate replacement for a gas cap.

Drove to the gas station to fill up after checking out the car. The gas cap was missing and they replaced it with a paper rag. In case you don't know, a soiled rag can spontaneously burst into flames.

Soiled rag in place of a gas cap + Hot July day in Orlando FL + Half full tank of gas = Risk to Life and Limb.

Their response? The guy behind the counter stated that I checked out the car and failed to notice the gas cap was missing before I took out the car from the lot.

Heck, I figured a gas cap, engine, brakes, and stuff like was standard. I looked over the cosmetic attributes of the car and made notes. Who would ever think of checking for the gas cap?

Employees not concerned. I ended up driving around town until I found a store and bought one that kind of fit.

Horrible customer service almost killed me.

Pros: none
Cons: Bait and Switch tactics at its finest - beware.

I forgive once, but not twice. I have rented my last rental car from Payless and I advise you pay the extra couple of dollars to go elsewhere. Are the rates cheap, yes, however, it is too good to be true? Each time I have rented (mind you, I spaced the rental by 4+ years thinking things may have gotten better) I have been disappointed by the lack of customer service. I rented a compact, not economy car each time because the price is appealing. The car is BARE bones and dented. The first time I rented I was told "this car won't get you around - you need to upgrade". This time, I was given a car with dents and looked like it was driven through a war zone and was told "we don't car about the cars or the dents, why don't you upgrade if you want something better" and, for each SIMPLE upgrade, the price went up substantially.

Pros: None so far...
Cons: Terrible service...absolutely not worth your time/effort...

Feb15/08 11:00am (PST): Just got off the phone with a Payless rep at the LAX location. I called to confirm the reservation. She was rude and unaccomodating, as if I wasn't allowed to confirm the reservation. As this was supposed to be my first time renting from a non-major car rental company, I am convinced I should go to a more reputable company. If my phone call experience is indicative of the service I should be expecting, I'll take my money somewhere else.

Pros: airport pickup
Cons: Bait and Switch

At the Payless Car Rental counter in Orlando, FL we introduced ourselfs and our reservation was found, but the agent asks what rate did they give you. He said that is to low, after I produced a copy of the reservation print out, then he tried the bait and switch offering two cars one for $10 more per day the other for $19 more per day. We said no, than tries to sell insurance and we declined. Since we declined insurance he wants us to sign a $250 deposit on the car, we are renting the car with a AMEX credit card. And to add to insult he wants us to sign a blank amount credit slip for loss of service. At this point we requested they take us back to the airport and we rented from another car rental company.
Never seen any legit car rental company treat customers in such a flagrant and obvious bait and switch tactics. We payed 3 times more at the other rental company but got satisfaction of an good honest price.

Pros: Great price. Very fast return.
Cons: Took awhile to get car. It was CES week in Vegas.

My flight to Las Vegas was at 9:45 am. Booked on there website at 2:00 am. Got a mid-sized car for cheaper then the smallest car through a special at there website.

Pros: Price was half what majors were charging - before all the add ons anyway.
Cons: Bad condition for 50K miles outside and inside, including a check engine light.    

Payless San Diego has many of the same awful characteristics reported from their other branches.  The title lost much of its meaning once you get through the door - following your drop-off at shabby and understaffed location.  From what I experienced and overheard at pick-up and drop-off (had plenty of time to eavesdrop regardless of the day of the week and time of day), they are putting the squeeze on everyone to upgrade since your internet reservation model isn't available anyway, to buy additional insurance (to protect yourself against their fraudulent damage claims) and to make your car rental experience as close to what you'd experience buying something on the streets of Tijuana.  

Pros: Nobody inline at counter.
Cons: Had to pay extra for upgrade to a bigger vehicle.

I reserved a full size car and received a PT Cruiser. There website defines a full size car as a Ford Taurus or similar. I confronted the clerk but he said that is there full size cars.

Pros: The company was very efficient and helpful. The whole process was a breeze.
Cons: They did not have the car i wanted originally, but the upgrade was pretty insignificant

I recently took a trip down to Disney this past week and decided to rent from payless. I was very very weary at first seeing all the negative reviews, but all in all I was actually very satisfied. They gave you an option of returning the car empty, charging you for a full tank when you returned the car. The rate was about 1.40ish which is about the going rate so it made things convinient not having to worry about one more thing.

Pros: Price...maybe?  Although paying less in the beginning now means paying more for "charges".
Cons: bait and switch, long lines, sales tactics, false damage claims

The Orlando location of Payless Car Rental is the WORST place to rent a vehicle.  It is a very long story but I should have taken heed of all the other negative reviews prior to booking thru Expedia.

This has been an absolute ordeal since returning home.  Terrible sales tactics, false damage claim, etc. 

It is just NOT worth trying to save a buck or two on this company.  Do your research and book a car rental ANYWHERE else. 

Pros: car was ok/
Cons: rep ripped us

reserved a car at a fair price/ but when the rep ripped me
there was nothing fair about it. would not rent or refer anybody to this company, ripped in las vegas

Pros: Never have to use them again.
Cons: Given damaged vehicle, blamed for damages, charged $1000 for a 5 day rental

They gave us a small SUV with a broken transmission, which ruined 2 days of our 5 day vacation, terrible service waiting for a new car, rude and would not give refund, AND THEN a month later charge us $1000 for damages and claim we broke the car. We are responsible drivers with a perfect record here in the states. We are not party people who trash rentals and drive crazy on dirt roads. It was broken when we got it and now we are still fighting! All customer service people have been extremely rude.

Pros: Price.
Cons: "Customer Service"

One of the associates told me I was stupid and hung up on me.  Branch Manager could not have been worried with the situation and District Manager seemed even more annoyed by me.

These people SUCK!  Don't waste your time.  Customer DIS-service at it's best.

Pros: None.
Cons: Rude/Pushy staff

TERRIBLE experience from my recent rental in Florida.  You think you're getting a bargain until all sorts of extra charges appear in your bill that were not included in your on-line quote and that you never agreed to.  Rental agent was pushy and rude.  Car smelled strongly of smoke.  Car did not have an owner's manual included so good luck if there is anything you can't figure out with the car.  I would NEVER rent from them again and my experience renting with them was certainly the black mark on an otherwise wonderful weekend in the area.  Also don't forget about their inconvenient location, this will add an extra 30-45 minutes on each end of your trip waiting for the shuttle and then dealing with their inefficient check-out/check-in procedure.  Certainly not the bargain you think you're getting

Pros: Cheap
Cons: Rent here if yoiu want to rent a wreck.

There is no reason I'd ever rent from this company again!  It took 1 hour to get the airport shuttle and another hour to get the first car that had no gas.  The second car was a PT Cruiser and it hat the engine light on.  They tried to convince me it was OK to drive.  I had just spent $500 to fix our PT at home for the same problem which will lead to the A/C and or engine failing.  The thirde car was a wreck and the door seals fell out every time somebody used thhe rear seat.

They then added a $25+ un explained charge to my credit card statement on a car that was returned FULL!

I'll stick to Alamo and the other major companies from now on.

Pros: Good rate on the Internet
Cons: Doesn't deliver as promised
Tries to sell unneeded extras. 

We reserved a midsize car at the Las Vegas airport.  Checked in and had the usual drill, they wanted us to upgrade, insurance, loss of use, etc, we declined all.  After 20 minutes of haggling we settled on the PT Cruiser the agent offered us when we got to the counter..  We go out to get our car and the person hands us keys to a Suzuki Firenza.   The PT Cruiser was sitting right there.  We inquired about the PT and the lady says it isn't in the system, someone must have reserved it.  The Suzuki was old, dirty, lots of scratches everywhere.  It was late at night so we didn't press the issue.  We made sure to go over it with a fine tooth comb and listed all scratches, dents, etc. It was 114 in the shade, the air conditioner took 20 minutes to cool the car down. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.    I am still waiting to get some extra bill in the mail.