Booking cars with Expedia

[N860CR]

Just seeing if anyone else has had any experience with this.

I've recently completed numerous car hire bookings made via Expedia with a few different providers (Hertz, Avis and Budget) in South Africa.

At the time of booking, i've been given a confirmation that says $xx_.xx AUD with a note that says "you will pay xx_x.xx ZAR at pickup".

On each occasion, the charged amount does not match the quoted ZAR price. I've gotten in touch with Expedia and they tell me that "the AUD amount is converted by Hertz/Avis/Budget at collection and converted back to ZAR". Except on each occasion, this hasn't matched either. On every occasion, the rate has been higher than the quoted amount. Despite this being pointed out, it is not sinking in.

Expedia customer service takes terrible to a new level and we're now at the point where they are just ignoring me.

Does anyone have any experience in dealing with them? The online agent rates are generally quite a bit cheaper than booking directly with the car hire company, however it would be nice to know exactly what rate I am paying when I book it.

 

[ftm]

The Expedia rates are always what is booked and in our experience, is what is charged. Because they're paid direct to the car hire company if you accept insurance, go over the kilometres etc the rate will change. So if the rate is different, it is most likely the car hire company, not Expedia.

 

[N860CR]

There’s no extras being taken so it’s just the base rate that is changing.

The problem is that Expedia seem to have no idea what I’m actually supposed to pay. In one phone call I got;

- AUD is converted to ZAR at pickup time
- ZAR rate on the booking is correct
- The company will bill you in AUD

I assume the second should be correct, however it’s not working that way.

 

[N860CR]

Got a fourth version today... online booking for $308.55 or 3167ZAR.

I spoke with Expedia and said they’ve spoken to budget (new booking) and the rate will be $1197 and the “quoted rate is the base rate and the vendor will decide the final price”.

Also spoke at length with a manager who said “no the rate should definitely be just what the ZAR rate on the booking is”, and at the same time the FB team sent me a message stating “we can assure you that the rate will be the AUD rate converted to ZAR at the time of pickup”.

A joke.

 

[ftm]

You can pull up the booking on the car company website and you'll see the rate details as well. The AUD amount is approximate and you'll always be charged locally for car hire. The ZAR amount won't vary after you book, unless you change something with the contract at pick up.

 

[ozjuice]

Best way is to pay on booking

 

[N860CR]

You can pull up the booking on the car company website and you'll see the rate details as well. The AUD amount is approximate and you'll always be charged locally for car hire. The ZAR amount won't vary after you book, unless you change something with the contract at pick up.

Generally it doesn’t, but I’ve had a few instances now where Hertz have slightly increased the rate upon pickup.

Regardless, after being stuffed around at length by Expedia, they’ve told me the final position is that the rate is advertised at the conversion rate upon booking and at pickup the merchant converts it again to local currency.

It’s probably pretty high risk booking through them, as if the car rental co were to adjust the rate (which they do), Expedia will not help you.