Simple. Let's call it the Nickle & Dime Club.We are all excited and in a hurry for our rental cars. Big mistake we let our guard down. Then when we bring back the car under pressure to board our flight we get Nickle & Dime on the condition of our rental.[ before condition and after condition on our stay.]
So let's unite and take four pictures of the car before we ride off. Front,Back, Two Sides. Guess what they will see that we are keeping a record. So join the club and when you beat the unfair charges report back to this blog. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/smashpc.gif" alt="" />

Not every rental agency does the "nickle and dime" dance, although the pictures are not a bad idea. Especially if you are unfamiliar with the rental agency you are dealing with.

I have only had it pulled one time on me and it was an agency with a name familiar here in the states. Never again.

Alain (TripleA) or Lesley (Kenny's) has never tried to nickle/dime us so pics would not even be in my plans

never had that experience with Unity! We always ask for an older model car that's been "broken in" (not in the crime way) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> and has racked up some mileage. I don't ever want to be the first dinger in a new car.

It has been my policy to walk around the car with the rental agent before taking off - I do this in the US as well.

Travel Car Rental has never nickel and dimed us. However, Paradise Car Rental ripped us off and we had to take it up with the credit car company.

We do the walk around when we rent from Hertz and before we see the ding or scratch the attendant has already marked it on our form. They have even marked stuff we would have missed.

Nineteen rentals with Unity and never had that happen.

I have never had it happen to me but I have heard the horror stories. We always used thrifty in the past and people have some strong feelings on them. Last year we went with Alain at triple a and it was a great experience. He even had his guy pick us up at the airport with a beer for me since we had talked about that in emails.

I've long had a habit of photographing rental cars. Not so much with the "broken in" cars in SXM however.

Funny, in LA they have so many cars in their fleets that you could bring a car back with an axe embedded in the hood and they wouldn't even blink.

I have rented from Unity for years and in years past I have rented with AAA - neither have ever said anything - well, except when I actually had damaged the car - Michael offered a fair resolution which I accepted. Myra (I think that's her name) at AAA actually told me that the missing hubcap was missing when we rented - I could not remember and thought I may have done it - so she was the opposite of trying to get more money from me.

Empress has always been awesome! We even rent a mustang convertible, never an issue. Empress is good for me. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

enterprise can nickel and dime you in the us. hertz much less so.

The us is different. Can't compare he two.

Anyone have a bad experience with Summerset car rental?

Wow, Claude still around? Drove the same rental car from him about 8 years in a row. Never had an issue with them. Low price.

SXM??? Wendell

I have a better idea: find a rental company you are comfortable with, and then build a trust-based relationship with that company over time. Personally, I would never insult the person we deal with by taking such photos in his presence. He trusts me not to beat up his equipment, and I trust him to be fair on his side of the deal. This approach works ... try it. If you don't know who to try, there are several rental companies that get consistently great reviews on this discussion board.

Thank you, Alaskan. My sentiments exactly.

When the day happens that I feel the need to take these measures, that will be the day I know it's time to fine another agency to do business with. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I have been renting from Hertz since 1995, when they came to my rescue after Budget was unable to provide the car I had reserved with them months earlier. In all this time, Hertz has been absolutely great. I have not ever had the experience alluded to in this post.

I check the car when I pick it up; they check it when I return it. No damages; no problems. Maybe I pay a little more with Hertz. I don't care. Its worth the peace of mind knowing that I am dealing with a professional, reputable outfit. Besides, any time I am willing to tear myself away from Orient Bay (where we stay) for an hour I can have the car washed at no cost, too.

We've never been nickeled and dimed by Unity in all the multiple years we've rented from them. In the US where I rent cars frequently, I have an iPhone app for rental car pics and never fail to take the pictures. More than once they have tried to bill me for "damages" - even when they've marked them as damaged before I accepted the car - and a picture stops them in their tracks.

I don't know about Alain, but you are right about Lesley!! I never seen him on a retrun trip, always just parked the vehicle at the airport and headed inside for our flight. Never a problem.

Agreed! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

AAA/Alain is the best re: small dents and scratches. First hand experienced MANY times

In the early years of visiting SXM we thought we'd be safe with the known---Thrifty, Hertz, etc then we found out they weren't the same companies related to the states so we were concerned. When there was a rash of stolen backup light assemblies at one particular company and hotel video caught them in the act, it was the rental company themselves doing it. We joined this forum, found Leslie, a sponsor and have used him ever since.

Sorry you had to deal with that kind of crap. We rent from Automax. Car is delivered to airport, Louis takes my wife's bag and we head to the car in the parking lot. Sign one paper, Louis loads the car and we are off.
No problems. No nonsense when returning the car and most important, no surprises.

BobandJeana

We only do the pics if we are doing an after hours or off location drop. I walk around with the camera on video and always have it if necessary.

Same here. Alain and Myra are great people.

I see taking photos of the car as protection for both the renter and rental agency. We don't all have a personal relationship with the agencies.

Personally, we have never done so, but can't see why any reputable rental person would mind you taking pictures of the car.

Same here Marybeth. We also have used Unity for years and as a result, trust him enough to bypass the damage inspection stuff. That being said, having spent over 30 years traveling across the US renting cars mostly job related, it was my number one priority making sure every ding and dent is documented prior to taking the car.

We have rented from Tropicana and never had a problem. I do walk around with them and we jointly inspect the car prior to leaving. Good idea to use the cell phone for pictures.

I have never had an issue with anybody on SXM, zero. I would note that I have rented from Sens Unique, Route 66, Valley, one I do not remember the name but they closed, and mostly Unity over the years. I trust Unity more than the others and yes I am a regular there. I was not always a regular with them, but did not have any issues while building that relationship.

I have been in an accident, not my fault, was not an issue and wish it was that little hassle when I am with my own car in the US. I have had a couple other small issues, again, no problem.

So I am kind of surprised by this thread. I would also note that I have status with a couple US Based major rental companies and I would not consider ever renting from one of them in the Carib where it is not really the same.

I like the local small companies that do not jump under the umbrella of some giant just to gain name recognition at a cost.

Cheers,
Todd

I always rent from Lesley. Never a problem. Already have my reservation for April. Trust him implicitly.

Hard to argue with the common sense of taking the pictures. I would comment on your reference to "personal relationship," however, that (just my experience and sense of things) that with guys like Alain, Lesley, and Michael (just names I know), you can get the benefit of that "personal relationship" on your first rental if you approach it in that way. I have said it before and continue to believe that you can get a rental car on SXM at cheaper prices with better service that anywhere else in the world - I really do not know how some of these guys do it.

We have used Unity for years and the service has been extraordinary including giving us his personal car when our remote refused to work and meeting us at 6AM when we had to catch the 8AM AA flight to Miami. We have never been uncomfortable with Mike's business ethics.

What are all of your thoughts on Liability insurance and costs?

Liability is a must, as US insurance companies do not provide coverage on SXM. The $5 day charge is piece of mind coverage......

We always take the liability and decline the CDW, which is covered by our credit card. The liability is not expensive and very important.

Thanks so much. This is what i assumed for liability coverage.