Booked with Empress May 22 for three weeks $384.78. Finally booked airfare in July so husband followed up 7/4 with Empress to cornfirn all reservations we had.we were told they had been hacked"system issues for 2 weeks and repeated disconnection and a quote of $623.14". On 7/12 I called and spoke with Praveen and was told this was the price and please cornfirm to hold the reservation . I did since it was in line with last years price of $726.42 but he was giving me a discounted price by $ 57. For my trouble. Last night My message informed that I did not take out any insurance (which last year 3 weeks had liability included ) and the price would b $5. a day for liability (no deductible )and $ 10. A day with $1000. deductible CDW whatever that is. Anyone else going thru this... Check your reservations for peace of mind if you were booked in that time frame!

What type of car are you trying to rent and when is your trip?

CDW is collision and most credit cards cover this.

I am a bit confused, you booked flights and car rental now but when are you actually going to SXM? Prices sound like they may be ok for High season but not for Low season.
I may be wrong but I think CDW is Collision Damage Waiver, which you sign so that your credit card company (check to be sure) will cover any damage to your car and should cost you 0. I have seen Liability coverage range from $5 to $12/day, dependent upon car rental company and $ coverage.

Hyundai I 10. Feb 10 / March 4.

I recently booked with Empress for an upcoming trip, I did get a confirmation email, also saying I didn't choose insurance. I let them know I would be paying with my Am Ex which will cover the CDW and will gladly pay the $5 day liability.

Low season rates with most company's are $140 per week plus liability and taxes. Use your cc for collision. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

bb,

At first I thought you were talking about a low season rental but in reading your follow-up, and noting you're in the higher weeks of the 'high season' your quote sounds reasonable to me. Not great, but certainly reasonable for the time frame, assuming the car is a typical small one.

We also use the premium Amex coverage for our rentals but one thing I would suggest, assuming you will use your cc for the CDW, check with your cc company on the length of their coverage. Most cards cover a thirty day rental but I have one that is only good for a maximum two week rental.
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Pretty sure AMEX and other credit cards only provide coverage for damage to the rental car. I'd hate to have an accident anywhere outside the U.S. and be on the hook for damage to people and property without liability insurance. We're basically at the mercy of the rental agencies and what bugs me is that most don't tell you what's included when they quote you a fee for the car.

You've given me pause to rethink this and contact AMEX because I thought the roughly $25.00 premium per rental was for liability. Thanks for nudging me into doing something I'd meant to do for a while.

Thanks for the nudge. In checking with the carrier I discovered my particular Amex does not offer this benefit and it did NOT cover liability in the first place. Should have checked on this a while back but all these companies have been changing credit cards - Costco and Jet Blue in particular - so now I know.

all vendors, including myself, hate Amex. they take forever to pay and their processing charge is twice visa/MC

Being Costco addicts, we checked the Costco/Citibank card that replaced Costco/AMEX that we always used in SXM and learned that it has a 3% fee for foreign purchases. You are right it is difficult to keep up with the competing cc benefit changes.