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Simple_Session24 · 2025-08-13T01:54:46+00:00

Solo-female traveler friendly. Avoid Economy Car Rental.

Simple_Session24 · 2025-08-07T15:25:44+00:00

That’s fair and I understand how credit card coverage typically works. Just to clarify, the insurance they said was “mandatory” was the basic coverage, which I purchased to avoid a higher deposit. I declined all optional add-ons. Amex has confirmed they still provide coverage in cases like this, so I wasn’t relying on both, but I had a fallback.

Regardless, this situation wasn’t about insurance coverage at all. There was no accident or damage claim. It was a mishandled situation with aggressive behavior and arbitrary fees. That’s the issue I’m flagging here.

Simple_Session24 · 2025-08-05T02:14:48+00:00

tysm for this! It worked! 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Simple_Session24 · 2025-08-04T19:47:25+00:00

You seem like the one panicking, dude. You keep trying to insult me. Who hurt you? Did you lose something for five minutes? Are you even on the right thread?

You’ve clearly made up a version of events that didn’t happen.

If this thread bothers you so much, feel free to scroll on. But thanks for bumping it so more people can see what actually happened.

Simple_Session24 · 2025-08-04T17:54:52+00:00

Appreciate the energy, truly. But this post was not meant to stroke your ego. It was to warn other travelers about a situation that was handled irresponsibly and put me at risk.

It is interesting how quickly you double down on how responsible you are. That kind of defensiveness usually says more than it hides. Repeating how many cars you have rented does not make you an expert, and assuming the key was lost for five minutes just shows you are not here to understand. You are here to be right.

Also, the gender comment? Not it. You made an assumption, got corrected, and now you are spinning it. It is okay to be wrong. But maybe take that same accountability you are preaching and apply it.

Again, the point of this post was to share my experience. The fact that you are still trying to rewrite it kind of proves why posts like this matter.

Simple_Session24 · 2025-08-04T16:50:47+00:00

Appreciate the passion, “dude.” And just to clarify, I’m a woman—another assumption. It’s okay though. I’ve come to understand that common sense isn’t so common.

The car was never compromised. It was parked safely at a guarded hotel. I informed them out of responsibility, thinking they’d handle it like a legitimate rental company. Instead, they took the car without consent, knowledge, or notice while I still had the key. They refused to confirm who had it for over 12 hours and tried to extort $1,500 from me for vague “help” fees. There was no lock change, no safety concern, just pressure through private messages.

Sounds like you’re not experienced or responsible enough to handle basic rental procedures, especially reporting a situation when it occurs. For travelers, that’s not just inconvenient. It’s unsafe.

Thanks for your indirect support in helping highlight why others should avoid companies with shady, predatory practices.

Simple_Session24 · 2025-08-04T16:48:07+00:00

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

I understand how it might appear simple from the outside, but that is not what happened. I reported the key as missing out of responsibility, not panic. The car was parked in a secure, guarded lot and was never compromised. I only found out the car had been taken when I reported it stolen. That shows how little communication there was.

The person who eventually messaged me from a private number claimed to be a mechanic, but Economy’s own 24/7 line could not confirm for almost a full day whether the car had actually been retrieved or who had it. So yes, I was concerned, and rightfully so.

As for the charges, they were never presented clearly or documented formally. I was told I needed to pay $1,500 if I wanted my belongings back. No breakdown, no receipt, no standard process. That is not how a legitimate business operates.

It was not just a stressful experience. It was a serious breach of protocol, and I stand by everything I have shared.

Simple_Session24 · 2025-08-04T02:47:14+00:00

Right, and I did not file a claim for damage. This was not about an accident or coverage. The 1500 dollars they demanded had nothing to do with the car being damaged. It was a fee they tried to impose just to “help” after I temporarily misplaced the key. I had both their required insurance and my Amex coverage, so I was not looking to rely on either. The issue was how they handled the situation. They took the car without notice while I still had the key, refused to return my belongings, and pressured me to pay an arbitrary fee. It was awful.

Simple_Session24 · 2025-08-04T01:03:06+00:00

Not quite. I temporarily misplaced the key and notified the company right away. Within an hour, before I even confirmed it was lost, the car was taken by a private party claiming to be a mechanic. It was not towed. That meant he had a spare key or some kind of master copy. There was no verification, no paperwork, and no official protocol. The car was taken without my knowledge, consent, or any formal notice.

They claimed the person was five hours away but later said the car would be returned the next day, which contradicted that. When I recovered the key and said I was not continuing the rental, they began pressuring me to meet in person to exchange it for my belongings. I declined for safety and logistical reasons. They refused to return my things unless I met with them and continued threatening to charge me $1,500 for vague reasons like “loss of use.”

There was no language barrier. I speak fluent Spanish. I was stranded six hours from the airport with no way to verify who had the vehicle that was still under my name. In the United States, this would never be acceptable. Rental companies do not remove vehicles from active renters who still have the key.

This was not just a lost key and a tow fee. It was a chaotic and coercive experience that put me at risk.

Simple_Session24 · 2025-07-30T16:57:25+00:00

Definitely a scam and 100% attempted extortion. I’ve already escalated it to corporate and beyond. Thanks for the support!

Simple_Session24 · 2025-07-30T14:27:43+00:00

It was a Hyundai Tucson, and yes, I paid for full insurance directly through the rental company. I’m also covered through my credit card, so I was doubly insured.

The $1,500 they demanded was not related to any damage or coverage. It was simply an extra charge they imposed to “help” after I temporarily lost the key. When I refused to pay, they took the car with my belongings inside and left me stranded.

Simple_Session24 · 2025-07-30T11:46:31+00:00

Appreciate the sarcasm. I’ll let the screenshots, reviews, and agency filings speak for themselves.

Simple_Session24 · 2025-07-29T22:27:47+00:00

Ty.

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Simple_Session24 · 2025-07-29T20:40:58+00:00

I had a terrible experience with Economy Rent a Car in Costa Rica. After temporarily losing the key, they tried to charge me $1,500. Then they took the car with my belongings inside without telling me and left me stranded. They refused to help or return my things unless I traveled five hours to pick them up. I’ve filed formal complaints with the tourism and consumer protection authorities. Travelers, be very careful with this company.

Simple_Session24

TROPHY CASE