When I found SIXT car rental I was ecstatic. It seemed like the perfect company. Short lines, great rates, courteous salespeople. However after using them two more times I have decided I will never ever use them again. Specifically I flew to Florida for 3 days in May of this year because an elderly aunt was suicidal and in need of help. I had to extend my stay and did so once for 3 more days over the phone with no trouble. However when my three-day stay turned into 3 weeks they refused to allow me to extend it a second time without driving all the way to the place that I rented it from which I explain to them was A 4 hour round-trip Drive. I spoke to at least four different people at the Tampa office and the Orlando office and they transferred me to the Fort Lauderdale office as well and everyone I spoke to said it was their company policy that you can only extend one time over the phone and every last one of them refused to let me renew the car. They insisted that I bring it back in order to renew it. I of course refused and spoke to a manager who said he would put notes on the account that I was keeping the car for 3 weeks. Every day for the remainder of my stay I was harassed by a phone call threatening me with legal action if I did not return the car. When I pressed these people they told me yes there were notes on the account that I was keeping the car. I finally returned the car after 3 weeks as I told them I would and they gave me no trouble but when I got home there was a legal notice in the mail accusing me of stealing their car and demanding that I return it. I decided to give them a second chance when I went to France 3 weeks ago. I had set my rental for 2 p.m. pick up. As is common in many InterContinental flights we were delayed and I showed up at the counter at 4:15 p.m. the gentleman informed me that they only hold cars for two hours past the pickup time and since I was 15 minutes late they no longer had my car. I was Furious and told him I would never rent from them again. After some argument he did get me the same rate but this strict adherence to ridiculous and inflexible policies is the reason that I will never use SIXT car rental again
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5381 posts
I’ve used Sixt dozens of times and have always been very happy with their cars and service. That said, I’ve never been late for a pick up, wanted to extend for much longer period of time than agreed, or become outwardly furious about anything.
Posted by
OP
U.S.A.
44 posts
What a sad little comment.
Posted by
OP
U.S.A.
44 posts
And sounds a bit pedantic and judgemental.
Posted by
Green Bay
20072 posts
Sorry, but I too have never had a problem with Sixt.
Posted by
Land of La
8660 posts
You vented, then snarky. Please move on.
Posted by
New Zealand
51 posts
Did you read and agree to their terms and conditions before you rented from them?
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4842 posts
You freely admit to violating their return policy but blame them ? I think they showed remarkable restraint in not having the car seized and the police called.
They provide you with a car even though you showed up hours late and threw a tantrum, and you again blame them? Frankly I'm surprised you weren't banned by the company after that first stunt.
We've used Sixt before and have never had a complaint with the service provided.
Posted by
1221 posts
When my husband had a family emergency on the other side of the country earlier this month, Hertz had zero problems or issues with him extending day by day until the situation was finished. They even switched him from daily to a cheaper weekly rate when the extension hit day 7 after original pick-up date. It helped in a tough situation, and made us likely to use them again, even if they are slightly more expensive than the competition.
The true measure of a business is often not when things are going well but how they handle it when a situation goes pear-shaped, and it sounds like a tale of two different corporate philosophies here.
My good thoughts to your family and their pain
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11174 posts
I had set my rental for 2 p.m. pick up. As is common in many InterContinental flights we were delayed and I showed up at the counter at 4:15 p.m
How is it their problem you were late?
If it is 'common' to be late why not schedule your pick up time on a late arrival, and if you show up "early", there is no problem.
I suspect Sixt will be happy to not have to deal with you, and welcome your boycott
Posted by
Portsmouth
5257 posts
I used to always use Sixt, never once had a problem with them but then again I was never late and never threw a tantrum.
The only reason I rarely use them now is because a few years ago they dramatically increased their prices for no obvious reason.
There seems to be a running theme with people criticising car rental companies and throwing their weight around. I'm suspecting the attitude displayed by the staff is in direct response to that of the customer.
On our recent trip to Florida I went to collect the car I had booked from Miami Airport. Once in line at the Budget desk we were informed that Budget and their partners Avis etc, were running out of large vehicles and if we had booked one then expect not to receive it. Despite this problem they were still accepting bookings. When it was my turn the woman at the counter was clearly pissed off (I would be too), they didn't have the car that I booked (or one similar) but I didn't launch into a tirade against her, I didn't moan or demand the type of car that I booked, I wasn't furious, I didn't argue I simply accepted the fact that it was out of her control, it wasn't her responsibility and there was no point getting angry about something I could do nothing about. I was given a small SUV which was adequate for our requirements. I was lucky as the parking lot was pretty much empty with the only vehicles left being premium sports models. I suspect those behind me didn't receive a car at all.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32735 posts
What a sad little comment.
I agree with you about your self-analysis having thought it through after writing it.
If you are now embarrassed by what you wrote, turtlebebert01, why not edit your post to indicate that you understand that these problems were of your own making.
Posted by
carlisle, pa., usa
311 posts
Nigel, I love your voice of reason.
Posted by
1221 posts
May those of you being so nasty to the OP never have to go through the kind of family crisis they experienced.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5257 posts
May those of you being so nasty to the OP never have to go through the kind of family crisis they experienced.
Let's just hope you don't work in front of the public and for whom many will vent their frustration and anger on you despite things not being your fault or within your control.
No-one's being nasty to the OP. I suspect the poor person(s) on the Sixt desk received far worse and let's not forget with posts such as "a sad little comment" the OP does nothing to encourage anything other than dismissive replies.