FYI - if you need to rent a car avoid Thrifty - I reserved online with them - received my confirmation number AND a reminder email the day before we were due to pick up the car. When we got to the rental place the guy at the counter said they had no record of the reservation AND no cars. We were forced to pay a higher price with an Italian company.
Karen - I'm sorry this happened though this forum is more for answering questions than lodging complaints. However, be sure to complain to Thrifty since you did get a confirmation. And if you don't get satisfaction, post your story on Tripadvisor and other travel rating sites.
I hope you have sent copies of your records to the big Thrifty Company in the sky. If so, good. You might also want to send them to one of the newspaper trouble shooters. You did get scr..ed.