Avis 299 Baht Per Day Car Rental Rip Off

[vegas]

I saw the Avis ad for 2XX baht per day (299 baht per day as it turns out) to rent a Vios. A good deal! 9,000 baht per month and I'll take it. Too good to be true of course, it turned out that this excluded Vat and insurance. So it was actually 467 baht per day excluding insurance. That means that insurance is 168 baht per day (excluding Vat), or 61,320 baht per year (excluding Vat). Quite a bit more than the 15,000 baht per year that my wife pays for her 1st class insurance on her Civic.

I often see 20-80% sales on all over Bangkok and like to ask the sales people to take me to the items that are 80% off. Mai me of course is the response.

I recall that there was supposed to be a consumer dept that you could call to report these sort of blatant rip offs, but last I heard (through Thai Visa I think) was that the number rang out and nobody ever answered. Does anybody remember the number? I have spare time on my hands and would love to dob in a few of these dodgy businesses.

[sibeymai]

Another great rip-off is Air Asia, as most other airlines are. Went to KL recently only for a couple of days. Booked on the web and paid the 30bt (I think) fee for a checked bag both ways. As it turned out I decided not to check my bag as I was only going for 3 days and took it carry on. I did have a set of golf clubs though. So I presented them as my 1 item of checked baggage that I had paid for. "Oh no" said the girl, "this is a sporting item. That will be 350 baht extra both ways." "But I've already paid for 1 piece of checked baggage" I said. "Sorry, but golf clubs don't count as checked baggage. That's 700 baht extra" she said happily. "Well, can I have a refund of my 60 baht which I'd paid for the checked baggage ?" (on principle). "Sorry sir, no refund."

So a fare which was advertised on the net at about 2,600bt return ended up costing 5,500bt with taxes, charges and levies, and then jacked up another 700 baht at the airport.

Sorry vegas, but Avis have a lot to learn from the airlines.

Edited July 20, 2008 by sibeymai

[Theyreallrubbish]

I saw the Avis ad for 2XX baht per day (299 baht per day as it turns out) to rent a Vios. A good deal! 9,000 baht per month and I'll take it. Too good to be true of course, it turned out that this excluded Vat and insurance. So it was actually 467 baht per day excluding insurance. That means that insurance is 168 baht per day (excluding Vat), or 61,320 baht per year (excluding Vat). Quite a bit more than the 15,000 baht per year that my wife pays for her 1st class insurance on her Civic.

I often see 20-80% sales on all over Bangkok and like to ask the sales people to take me to the items that are 80% off. Mai me of course is the response.

I recall that there was supposed to be a consumer dept that you could call to report these sort of blatant rip offs, but last I heard (through Thai Visa I think) was that the number rang out and nobody ever answered. Does anybody remember the number? I have spare time on my hands and would love to dob in a few of these dodgy businesses.

So the total price is about 650 Baht a day right?

I wouldn't compare insurance on a car owned by someone to the insurance needed by a rental agency. Owners are far more careful with their cars than renters and the rates reflect that

[mr_hippo]

Did you see the asterisk above the second 'x'? What do you think it was there for? What does 'Start from 2xx baht/day' means? So it turns out to be 299 Baht/day for 30 day rental + VAT and insurance - where is the rip-off?

Edited July 20, 2008 by mr_hippo

[vegas]

Did you see the asterisk above the second 'x'? What do you think it was there for? What does 'Start from 2xx baht/day' means? So it turns out to be 299 Baht/day for 30 day rental + VAT and insurance - where is the rip-off?

Yes, and terms and conditions are usually listed below. Which, in this case they weren't. I am sure that they could offer the car for free with an asterix! Does this mean that simply by adding an asterix a company has the right to advertise any rate they want?

Free flights to Australia*

*Above offer excludes seat, transit to and from Australia, tax and fuel surcharge, landing fees, air that you breathe..........

[vegas]

I saw the Avis ad for 2XX baht per day (299 baht per day as it turns out) to rent a Vios. A good deal! 9,000 baht per month and I'll take it. Too good to be true of course, it turned out that this excluded Vat and insurance. So it was actually 467 baht per day excluding insurance. That means that insurance is 168 baht per day (excluding Vat), or 61,320 baht per year (excluding Vat). Quite a bit more than the 15,000 baht per year that my wife pays for her 1st class insurance on her Civic.

I often see 20-80% sales on all over Bangkok and like to ask the sales people to take me to the items that are 80% off. Mai me of course is the response.

I recall that there was supposed to be a consumer dept that you could call to report these sort of blatant rip offs, but last I heard (through Thai Visa I think) was that the number rang out and nobody ever answered. Does anybody remember the number? I have spare time on my hands and would love to dob in a few of these dodgy businesses.

So the total price is about 650 Baht a day right?

I wouldn't compare insurance on a car owned by someone to the insurance needed by a rental agency. Owners are far more careful with their cars than renters and the rates reflect that

I think that Avis, with their volume could offer insurace at a rate cheaper than my wife pays.

[mikethevigoman]

Another great rip-off is Air Asia, as most other airlines are. Went to KL recently only for a couple of days. Booked on the web and paid the 30bt (I think) fee for a checked bag both ways. As it turned out I decided not to check my bag as I was only going for 3 days and took it carry on. I did have a set of golf clubs though. So I presented them as my 1 item of checked baggage that I had paid for. "Oh no" said the girl, "this is a sporting item. That will be 350 baht extra both ways." "But I've already paid for 1 piece of checked baggage" I said. "Sorry, but golf clubs don't count as checked baggage. That's 700 baht extra" she said happily. "Well, can I have a refund of my 60 baht which I'd paid for the checked baggage ?" (on principle). "Sorry sir, no refund."

So a fare which was advertised on the net at about 2,600bt return ended up costing 5,500bt with taxes, charges and levies, and then jacked up another 700 baht at the airport.

Sorry vegas, but Avis have a lot to learn from the airlines.

Why do they advertise these non existant prices, its impossible to go for the base price so why advertise it, i booked for 2 to to to phnom penh yesterday,starting price was 1900 baht each, end price was 14000 baht,.another one i hate is when buying a car they advertise the price then charge you a load for on the road.number plates etc, where do they think you are going to take it in the sea ! ,..p1sses me off !