Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/68725
Your pocketbook Avoid rude rental car surprises - by Jason Alderman I 'm usually a pretty savvy travel- er, but a recent car rental mishap reminded me that even when you take every precaution, things still can go awry. While planning a family vacation to Panama, I searched online for rental cars. One lower-cost rental car agency I'd never used before offered a significantly lower rate than the others. Ignoring the little voice in my head, I decided to try them. Long story short: Although our flight was only one hour late, when I arrived bleary-eyed at the counter I was told that my car had already been given away – but I could upgrade to the next level for twice the price. After getting the runaround from the company's U.S.- based customer service department and learning that everyone else's rates had climbed equally high, I was basically stuck. That experience taught me three lessons: A reservation isn't neces- sarily a guarantee; when traveling abroad, use trusted vendors – espe- cially if it sounds too good to be true; and, we need better research information from travel columnists and message boards for rental tips, possible pitfalls and customer com- plaints. Several car rental methods are available • Book directly from a rental agency (usually cheaper online than by phone). • Comparison shop at websites like Priceline, Orbitz or Hotwire (although, I'll now be wary of buy- ing a "blind" rental where you don't learn the carrier's name until after you pay). • As part of a package including airfare and lodging. I usually open several browser tabs to compare rentals side by side. Rates change constantly, so today's price may be much lower (or high- er) than tomorrow's. Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney. • Book the best deal you can now and check back for lower rates. • Incorporate additional fees and taxes into your comparison – some- times they don't all show up until the "Total" page. • Look for discount codes from membership organizations like AAA, AARP and airline frequent flyer programs. • Consider picking up your car at a non-airport location where rates are usually – although not always – much lower. Consider these factors too • Airport shuttle convenience. • Fees for exceeding mileage allowances, alternate location return, late returns, or additional drivers. • Fuel refilling charges – you may do better refilling the car yourself. Use a website/phone app like GasBuddy to find cheaper gas in the area. • Surcharge for drivers under 25. Rental agencies offer their own col- lision, liability, theft and other insurance coverage. Conventional wisdom says to avoid this route if your own insurance plans – or ben- efits available from your credit card – provide similar coverage. However, before automatically rejecting agency coverage, ask your insurance company and credit card issuer whether you are fully cov- ered. Consider factors that may exclude coverage such as: • Renting longer than 30 days • Certain models excluded • Travel outside specified service areas • Whether or not you carry com- prehensive and collision coverage on your own car • Violating rental agreement terms (reckless driving, unauthorized drivers, etc.). Before you take possession, thor- oughly inspect the car for any pre- existing damage and note it on your contract; otherwise you could receive a hefty bill for someone else's minor scratches and dents. And, conduct a thorough walk- through when you return the car. Bottom line: Don't gamble your precious vacation on simply finding the cheapest deal. Sometimes you get what you pay for. Go to www.neamb.com/travel/ car-rental.htm for information about getting member-discounts for car rentals from Enterprise and Hertz. You'll also find there a great article about "Understanding car rental contracts." New NEA bookstore to open soon Y ou'll have access to… • More than 700,000 titles, including professional publi- cations and resource materials • NEA resources, research reports, and e-books that can be downloaded • NEA logo merchandise that shows off your support for your organization and occupation avail- able at low member prices • Merchandise for NEA's Read Across America events available at low member prices NEA will soon be opening a new online NEA BOOKSTORE that will provide all of the above and more. Watch for additional information about this exciting change at www.nea.org/booksand soon at www.neabookstore.org. 20 May/June 2012 DSEA ACTION! www.dsea.org