Holiday Travel Hell Part 2: If you need anything from Expedia, scream at them for an hour

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This past Christmas eve, I had a trip planned from Alabama to texas. I booked a reservation for a rental car about a week ahead of time. The day of my reservation, I was supposed to arrive at 12:00 to pick up my car. When I got to the rental car agency at exactly noon like they said, they informed me that they were out of cars and my reservation had been made after they were altready out! But it was booked through the companies site and it said cars were available! Anyway, they informed me that another location of Enterprise had plenty of cars and they would transfer my reservation there. I drove 10 miles to that location and when I went inside, I was informed that they closed at noon and had no cars available. I explained why my reservation was transferred to them so they called another location. I was told that the only location that had any cars was inside the local airport and the only form of payment they take is Visa or Mastercard. I had planned on paying cash but had a Visa debit card I could use. I asked the attendant if that would work and he said as long as it has the Visa logo, its fine. So, I battled the holiday airport traffice, parking nightmare, etc. I finally made my way into the airport terminal to the Enterprise desk. The clerk said that they have plenty of cars and she just needed to see my license and major credit card. I handed her my visa debit card and she informed me that they do not take debit cards. Only major cards. By this time, I was fuming! My family was waiting on me in Texas and I had been running around all afternoon trying to get a car! I started crying. Partially out of fury and partially out of stress. The clerk developed soem pity and said ' I am not allowed to do this but this time, I will take your debit card". She ran my card, finished my paperwork and handed me my key. The clock said 4 P.M. I was FINALLY on my way after 4 hours of rental car hell!!!! I could go on to tell you about the miserable car they gave me ( Toyota Hybrid). It keps stalling out on me, wouldnt idle, etc.. but that would be a whole nother post! Just wanted to share my rental agency nightmare! My Christmas holiday did turn out nice. Just a little behind schedule..

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