Any additional compensation?

[Retired LTC USAR]

Rented a U-Haul for a one way rental for 28 March. Drove 2 hours to Ashland, KY only to find that the truck had not been returned. Waited till 3pm and still no truck. No other trucks either from U-Haul or other companies for a one-way rental. Left at 3pm to come back to Lexington.

Rescheduled truck for 1 April. Made the trip for a second time. Picked up truck, loaded truck and drove back to Lexington.

On both trips had to take time off from work, as well as my son and wife.. Extra gas, extra lunch, a lotttttttttttt of aggravation.

U-Haul only wants to credit me $50 which is their normal reimbursement for not meeting a rental date. The bill for the one day was a little over $300.

So what say you???? Am I entitled to extra compensation for the added expenses of having to make that trip for a second day?

If this were you, what kind of compensation would you expect?

Have talked to the Area Field Manager, who was of no help.

Called his boss twice today but no return call as of 5:30pm EST.

Thinking about small claims court, but not sure who to make the defendant.

Comments?

 

[shouldazagged]

A few heads on pikes might cheer me up.

It would be a start.

 

[427mach1]

It's been a while since I reserved and rented a U-haul but I seem to recall that the reservation and/or contract were very specific about this. Did you read the fine print when you reserved the truce? If so, what did it say?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

You might be able to sue them for your additional damages in small claims court. My experience says at best you will receive 50% of the real damages and have more expenses trying to do this. Cut your losses while you can! I don't understand why you risked it the second time? Ivan

 

[Johnmuratore]

Colonel
I would expect that the rental cost would be forgiven as compensation.
I don't know if the local sites are franchises or not, but if you can get to someone high enough on the food chain, you probably will be successful.

 

[LVSteve]

I'm binge watching Game of Thrones this week, so I'm flush with suitable punishments.

 

[427mach1]

From the U-haul website:

Is my reservation guaranteed?

Yes. Your U-Haul reservation is guaranteed!

When you make a reservation, we guarantee to provide you with the equipment size, location, and pickup time as agreed.

Should you not receive the equipment size, location, and pickup time you agreed to, U-Haul will compensate you $50.


I wish you luck but unless you get a sympathetic ear at U-haul or decide to sue, I think you are out of luck. Kind of like the Seinfeld episode where Jerry reserves a car and upon arrival, is told that they are out of cars........ I don't think you understand what a reservation is!

 

[Muss Muggins]

U-Haul only wants to credit me $50 which is their normal reimbursement for not meeting a rental date. The bill for the one day was a little over $300.

The normal for what you described (not meeting a date) is $50. That's what they pay. Since everybody who doesn't get a truck on the first day gets to make two trips, how is your situation different? Does the guy who travelled 1:59 for the same result get less? 3:00 gets more? What's the baseline? This is like deciding on the minimum wage. It's 7 something now. Why not $8? If $8 is good, why not $8.50? Is $15 too much? $14.50 okay? Clearly, you thought $300 was okay, because you did the deed. Why does everyone think their situation is special, and deserves consideration? Frankly, this is why stuff costs so much. Companies have been forced to pay out the nose when they aren't perfect.

 

[LostintheOzone]

U Haul has failed me in the past several times by not having a truck available for the date of the rental. You just roll with it. They have no control over renters returning their equipment on time. It's sort of like airlines overbooking seats and bumping passengers. They know the odds are good that rental will be there when you want it but just in case it isn't we owe you some money. It's a carp shoot.

 

[S&WIowegan]

They have problems getting trucks in on time, but they also really hate one-way rentals. I know that's what the business was founded on but one-ways are hard on the logistics. Possibly your truck went to a local renter.

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

You might be able to sue them for your additional damages in small claims court. My experience says at best you will receive 50% of the real damages and have more expenses trying to do this. Cut your losses while you can! I don't understand why you risked it the second time? Ivan

Because I had to move the furnishings from my MIL house (woh passed away in March) to my house.

 

[Coldshooter]

Rent one with a false ID and let someone set up a meth lab in it prior to turn in.

 

[Big Cholla]

It is worth a shot to take them to small claims court. If you get a sympathetic judge you very well might get a settlement. Even if you don't I believe you then have basis for a valid 'bad debt' claim on your next income tax reporting.

 

[Comrad]

 

[Marshwheeling]

The phrase that comes to mind is "contract of adhesion". U-Haul says they will reimburse you $50 for a no-show. You had no opportunity to negotiate that term, it was "take it or leave it". Yet your actual damages are well in excess of $50. A lot of judges' ears will perk up when they hear the above phrase. A lot of people have been surprised to find that their iron clad contracts are worth nothing if they haven't dealt fairly.

Small claims court costs very little. You risk half a day of your time. I'd say try it.

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

That would be a good start in this matter.

 

[JJEH]

If their company policy says that you'll get amount X in case of no show that's what you get. You agreed to that term by renting from them.

I'd file a formal complaint to HQ with time,date and the people you have already spoken with and what they said. It will take time and I honestly think that in best case you'll get a coupon for you next rental.

Is it a strong enough case for a small claims court? I can't tell.

But I understand where you coming from and this kinds stuff is just frustrating and make me angry as well.

 

[Onomea]

The phrase that comes to mind is "contract of adhesion". U-Haul says they will reimburse you $50 for a no-show. You had no opportunity to negotiate that term, it was "take it or leave it". Yet your actual damages are well in excess of $50. A lot of judges' ears will perk up when they hear the above phrase. A lot of people have been surprised to find that their iron clad contracts are worth nothing if they haven't dealt fairly.

Small claims court costs very little. You risk half a day of your time. I'd say try it.

Yo OP. This fellow is a lawyer, and smart. My advice is pay heed.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

The phrase that comes to mind is "contract of adhesion". U-Haul says they will reimburse you $50 for a no-show. You had no opportunity to negotiate that term, it was "take it or leave it". Yet your actual damages are well in excess of $50. A lot of judges' ears will perk up when they hear the above phrase. A lot of people have been surprised to find that their iron clad contracts are worth nothing if they haven't dealt fairly.

Small claims court costs very little. You risk half a day of your time. I'd say try it.

Good advice but the problem down here is that the judges who man the small claims court probably don't know what a contract of adhesion is Now traffic ticked they can handle but this contract stuff-they'll tell the litigants to go out in the hall and work it out.

 

[Jack Flash]

If you do go to small claims court, U-Haul may say that you should have phoned to confirm before driving all that way / spending all that money.

Personally I wouldn't bother going to court over this. I would think at today's prices, $50 should pretty much compensate you for the gas it took to drive for 4 hours. As for lunch, time off work, etc., I would be very surprised if a judge awards you that.

 

[DeadAye]

I always hope the truck isn't there. I can use the $50 for a brick of .22 (IF I could find one )
Then again if it weren't for a house in the way I could see the U-Haul place from here
I believe that you agreed to $50 compensation and got it.....

 

[Rintimtin]

I had a similar experince, not quite as expensive as yours. I think it really matters who you deal with, alot of uhaul places are operated by individual owners and it depends on them and the level of customer service they are willing to provide.

I will never try to rent a budget truck ever again. Horrible CS and the man lied to me about the truck being there.

 

[schgsd]

Fill some empty milk jugs full of water and set them out. Blow the snot out of them with your favorite weapon and smile.

Know your post here will ultimately cost U-Haul more than $300 in lost biz.