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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!whuxlb!pyuxll!eisx!npoiv!npois!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!cbosgd!res
From: res@cbosgd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: RE: Truck Rental Problems (ittvax!dipalma)
Message-ID: <251@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Aug-83 18:10:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.251
Posted: Mon Aug 29 18:10:34 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 30-Aug-83 20:24:36 EDT
References: <521@ihuxl.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Columbus
Lines: 28

I used Jartran this February to make a local move. When I tried
to put the rental on my VISA, they insisted that I sign
a blank VISA voucher. Now, hotels often ask to run off a voucher
using my card at check-in, but I have never had anyone
ask me to sign one with no amount filled in. They claimed I had to sign
to get the truck and that they wouldn't know the exact amount until I
returned it. Needless to say, I decided to put down the deposit -- and
handle the rest of the deal -- entirely with cash.

In all fairness, though, I must add that I put off reserving the
truck until the last minute and Jartran was the only company that
had the truck I needed at a fair price.

I don't think it is fair to compare Truck Rentals with air lines.
Granted, air lines do bump people, but there are strict procedures
that they must follow to get you to your destination and compensate you
in this sort of situation. I believe if you are delayed more than 4 hours
because of an overbooking, that the airline must refund your ticket price
and get you to your destination free. This is such an incentive not to
bump that airlines usually try to recruit volunteers by offering
significant cash incentives before actually booting someone against their
will. I would think that when a company insists that a down payment be
made to reserve a piece of equipment that the onus is on the company to
ensure that that item is available. Perhaps a set of rules similar
to the airline's should be used for determining compensation in such
a situation.
-- 
				- Robert Stampfli (cbosgd!res)