Having written on the issue of internet fraud for a decade now, I have to say FOX is one of the most blatantly fraudulent companies I've run upon. Having had the misfortune of using them myself, I have experienced their underhanding flip/flop trickery first hand.
FOX makes the most of the various online booking resources that most people rely on when scheduling a trip. FOX leads customers to believe that they are far cheaper than the competition, and their advertised rates show this. Fox is always the lowest rate when searched on Expedia, but don't believe it.
What they fail to mention is that all of the taxes and airport fee's are removed (hidden) from their advertised price. Your lead to believe that you have paid in full, yet your hit with often hundreds in additional fee's at the counter. If you balk at this and say you wish to cancel, then you lose what you have already paid online.
It would be like booking an airline ticket on Expedia.com, paying the rate you were shown, issued a voucher to hand to the airline when you get to the airport and being told "Oh, this is only for the base rate, you still owe another $400 in taxes and fee's".
Now I think we all can agree that no airline does that, and I can assure you, none of the big name car rental companies do this either (Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, etc.) as I've used all of them.
FOX is running a flim flam scam, and they aren't shy about it. They will blame the misunderstanding on you, or the third party booking company. The fact is, the misunderstanding was intentional, they mislead you to get your business. They will also demand a $300 cash deposit when you pick up your car, and no one I've ever used does that.
They will also charged you a $40 USD "admin" fee each and every time you cross a toll bridge, and this can add hundreds to your bill quickly. They will badger you to buy insurance you do not need (as your own full coverage policy covers rental cars used under 30 days), and they will try their best to convince you that the economy car you reserved, is so tiny and powerless, it likely won't get out of the garage.
If you rent from them, plan on paying double what your quoted, and if you fall for the insurance, upgrade, and toll fee part of the scam, add another thousand to that figure. Then just pray they don't claim you scratched the car.
Avoid this company like the plague.
DO NOT RENT A CAR HERE!!
Debbie G., Excelsior, MN
CAUTION!!! DO NOT RENT A CAR HERE!! IT WILL COST YOU A FORTUNE!! Our experience was a nightmare. After waiting in line for over an hour, receiving a damaged car which we had to return & stand in line again, receiving a temporary extremely small car until they could find us a new car, coming back to exchange cars for the 3rd time and standing in line, here's the kicker...they charged our insurance company for the damaged car they gave us and accused us of causing the damage so our insurance would pay for it. Pretty slick if you ask me. Of course, we're fighting it, but this company is should be shut down. Any other dealership is better.
I would give this place ZERO stars if I could
Lisa S., Lincoln, CA
I would give this place ZERO stars if I could. Don't be sucked in by the cheap price. When we rented the car from them we specifically asked if their shuttle service would take us to our hotel upon return of the rental car. The guy asked which hotel (2 miles away), we told him, and he said "yeah, no problem" We then asked a second time..."are you sure" he said yes.
When we returned the car the same guy was working. Looked us right in the eye and said "I never said that" There were other customers standing around who had been waiting for their vehicle for over an hour. The shuttle driver sat outside, with the motor running the whole time we were there. Wouldn't take us. Called their customer service number only to be put on hold for 45 mins. Thankfully our hotel sent a shuttle to get us. NEVER EVER AGAIN.
Never. Ever. EVER. Again
Sean B., San Jose, CA
Never. Ever. EVER. Again. I can't remember the last time I've been treated this way by an employee at a business where I was spending my money.
I pull up to return the car... I'm getting my things out of the trunk... the lot attendant comes up and is getting information off of a sticker on the window, and asks me for the copy of my contract. I say "it's in there" and continue to remove my belongings from the trunk. He says "it's not, I looked". In a hurry, I look in the door pocket, in the glovebox, and don't see it. I say, politely I might add, "I'm sorry, I don't know where it is..." and expect the normal response, which has happened to me probably 20 times in the past, which is where they punch a few buttons on their handheld computer and print out my receipt and off we go.
Except I look up, and the guy is standing there, mad-dogging me. Staring right at me. He says "I NEED it." I reply "Well, I don't know where it is, so what do we have to do?" He says "How were you driving it without the contract in the car?! You NEED to keep it with you, if you don't have it you can't drive the car. You're responsible for all damages, I can't check it in without that!"
First of all, the tone was that of a frazzled elementary school teacher talking down to one of her students. Secondly, the volume was way too aggressive. Thirdly, I'm dressed like a businessman in slacks and a tie and just brought back their car, on time, full of gas, and by the way, there wasn't a scratch on the thing. It was unacceptable that this guy would speak to me this way on about three different levels.
So I look in the glovebox, look in the door, and nothing... just not there. So I tell the guy "Well, it's missing, I don't know why, I didn't take it out, but it's not there... so what do we have to do now?" He scowls and says "Fine, you have to pay for any damages then, it's not MY problem" and turns his back to me to fill out the paperwork.
At this point I'm practically in a rage. I've never been into a fight in my entire life, but I felt myself choking back a whole lot of really aggressive things I wanted to say. Instead, I take a deep breath, as he inspects the car while shaking his head and scoffing... pause to think for a second, look under the seat, and find the effing contract. Pull it out, hand it to him without saying a word. At this point I was so close to flying off the handle that it was best if I didn't talk to him.
He says "Oh, good. Okay". No apologies, no nothing. Just checks the car in as I walk in toward the counter. The female behind me returning her car gives me a sympathetic look, as if to say "What's wrong with that guy" as he turns to her, and barks at her "If you're returning it, bring it HERE!" and points... "NOT over there!" Mind you, she and I were the only two customers anywhere in sight and this is how he treats the two of us.
So, if you're reading this, Fox managers... I'm a faculty member at one university and a staff member at another. I'm very professional, polite, and respectful and I assure you that I did absolutely nothing to prompt this behavior, it was all him. I fly into and out of the Burbank airport four times a month, minimum... and I'll NEVER use Fox again because of this employee's bad attitude and apparent ability to get away with talking to customers that way. And if you even care, this was 2/5/12 and I returned the car at 8pm. It was the guy outside receiving the returns, not the one inside at the counter (who was fine) or the shuttle driver (who was actually very nice).
If I wanted to be barked at by a drill Sargent, I'd have joined the armed forces. Totally unbelievable and beyond unacceptable.
DO NOT RENT FROM FOX CAR RENTAL!!!
Paulina H., Pasadena, CA
DO NOT RENT FROM FOX CAR RENTAL!!! AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE...PLEASE READ THIS, DONT LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU. I don't know where to begin to complain about Fox Rental Cars Road Side assistance. Before we picked up the car, we specifically told them we were going long distance and to make sure the wheels were fine and operable.
They assured us that everything was perfect. On our way to Sacramento today within the first 2 hours the front driver side wheel completely blew out and we were only left with a rim to pull to the overpass. that was a very dangerous situation because we could of spun out of control or hit others on the freeway so we were definitely jolted and frightened. We were lucky to pull over immediately and try to get help.
With a car full of women and children, we were very scared and called Fox Road Side assistance. To our dismay, the call center appeared to only have one agent KIM assisting their customers in dire need. We were on hold for 15 minutes before she picked up the phone. We were eagerly trying to tell her our problem and get help but the urgency was apparently not significant enough for her. Not only did she gave us an attitude over the phone, her blatant disregard for our concerns and urgency was appalling. she continually put us on hold on several occasions purposely because she had no way of helping us.
We were in the middle of no where, with this unexpected circumstance, of course we didnt know where we were. But she kept harping is for the exact location. Based on our iPhone we gave her our location and still she said that wasnt enough and that FOX was outdated, they don't have tracking systems like AAA to find where we were. So she hung up on us after giving us an attitude for asking for what apparently is supposed to be her /FOX job to rescue us.
We had to call back again and again since she hung up on us. And didn't get back on the phone for another 30 minutes. All in all we were on the phone for over an hour arguing with her as she was extremely rude. At this point, we called customer service and got a rep named Alicia. She wasn't much help either as she told her to call 911!! Really!!! Needless to say after an hour and half later with no success. We tried road side assistance phone number again. And KIM picked up the call again with even more of an attitude said we will send someone. HUNG UP ON ME " and that was it.
GET THIS, FOX ROADSIDE NEVER SHOWED UP! We had to personally call AAA to come to our rescue in the middle of nowhere. THANK GOD FOR AAA AND THEIR AMAZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. We were so greatful for their help and assistance.
We decided to call Burbank center and manager to tell them about the situation and car. The manager said he was busy and will call back according the the assistant and we never heard from him. APPALLING AND AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE! NEVER AGAIN WILL WE RENT FROM FOX RENTAL AND WE ARE DEFINITELY FILING A COMPLAINT WITH CORPORATE FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR SERVICE TO OTHERS!
"my total cost was more then triple what they quoted me"
steve f., Philadelphia, PA
SCAM. That seems like the most accurate one word summary for this place. It should be avoided at all costs.
I am amazed any business can be so dishonest and misleading. My total cost was more then triple what they quoted me. I told them that I had purchased insurance separately yet I had no choice to pay for their insurance as well, but wasn't aware of that until I was handed a receipt.
Just don't go here.
"incredibly shady this place was"
Hailey Z., Glendale, CA
I totally forgot about this place up until I started looking at at my past reviews on here. I completely forgot to update my status with this place upon complaining to the people that are higher up with this business....
I probably did forget to update because ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENED! But should I even be surprised? Upon reading the other reviews on here, it really made me sad that people were subjected to what we had to go through a year ago. In any case, my husband had to go down there to have a face to face talk with the manager here.
When you're not happy about the shady crap that people do to you and your a business, the consumer has every right to voice their opinions. My husband pretty much spent the entire day waiting in the lobby for this manager to show up. He also had to tell me that while he was there waiting to speak to this guy, someone had come in saying that they left their wallet in one of the cars, he got the wallet back and, of course, there was money missing.
I know it's easy to say that there was missing money to try to get some for free, but knowing how incredibly shady this place was, I'm pretty sure that money was stolen. He also could hear them whispering about it and laughing. I'm pretty sure that the lunch that was provided for everyone at that time was provided by the poor man who said his money was stolen. High five to you, Fox Rent a Car. You assholes.
It took about 6 hours for this manager to get here. My husband felt as though they kept him as far away as possible for as long as possible thinking that my husband would leave and forget about it. Well, not us. Sadly, the complaint lead to nowhere, my husband got his cash back because in no way shape or form was he going to leave there without any kind of justice.
I then wasted my time calling the corporate office (I now am even wondering if the "corporate office" was even legit, for all I know it's someones landline and their job is to just put you on hold until you don't want to hold anymore) to complain, which really lead nowhere. It was just being put on hold for literally 45 minutes at a time then being picked up again and being asked how I can be helped.
I told the last person that asked me that that I was waiting to speak to someone that I can complain to. I really got to not even speak my mind at that point. Sadly, I got frustrated and hung up, which is what I know they wanted me to do. To the person below that said Raymond was wonderful, please. You can't see behind the facade I guess. The only thing that he is helpful with is trying to see how much of a sucker you are so he can get as much from you as possible. But, I'm glad he didn't take advantage of you like he has the rest of us....
Please, if I can offer anyone any help whatsoever, PLEASE read this and read the other reviews and STAY AWAY. Get that extra money and go to Enterprise. I have done business with them every single time since this unfortunate event and they are a great, reputable company that is not shady by any means. I seriously hope this place goes out of business. There is no need for crime like the crimes that this business gets away with. I just hope that my review, as well as the others, will help at least one person skip the misery that the rest of us have had to endure with this place.
Shady, hidden fees
Shady, hidden fees. Booked online with http://Cheaptickets.com, their rate quote was $166 for three days. After taxes and fees, my rental car came to $258 which was prepaid. When I returned the car 3 hours earlier than my reservations were even for, which was 10pm, they charged me an ADDITIONAL $85 for an additional day.
I'm in the process of disputing the charge. What a sham! I couldn't be more pissed off right now. That's more than two times what I was quoted.
$400 hold on my checking account
Courtney M., Wheeling, WV
Unfortunately, I am a responsible but underage (under 25 years old) driver. I work in Nashville and LA and thought I'd give Fox a try. Mistake. The cars are nice, but not all that nice when the shuttle to pick you up from the Burbank Airport only makes its way around once every 40 mins. The young man at the desk gave me a free upgrade for my troubles (to the type of car I had reserved in the first place - yeah, seriously).
My rental was for 3 days but my schedule changes quite suddenly and in light of that, I needed to extend my rental. The website clearly states that if you keep the car past your return date - you get charged. It does not say that if you extend the rental by calling you get charged daily anyway. I extended the car long enough to pick up another from a more reputable company because I can't pay $30 per day for an economy car through Fox.
Not to mention that when I picked up the car they had one employee working, a large line of people that followed the payment instructions and were turned away or downgraded and one employee walking around like Cool Hand Luke while men and women struggled to carry their bags to their cars.
Anyway - I presented a credit card and wanted to pay with my debit card... that's when I told that if I wanted to use my debit card only they'd check my credit which would have to wait until everyone was waited on, give my car away since I'd be last in line and they'd put a $400 hold on my checking account.
I've rented Alamo, Enterprise, etc. Pay the extra money and have a nice time.
I was livid, and I definitely will NOT be back
Allie D., San Jose, CA
Oh man, I don't even know where the heck to begin! I was told that Fox car rentals is definitely the cheapest place you can go. There's definitely a reason why it's so cheap; they do not provide good quality service!
I booked a car (keep in mind it was the cheapest one I could find) online through their website, and the total came out to be $63. That was a great price to me, but wrong, when I landed and was shuttled to pick up our car, the guy helping me said I actually checked the wrong dates and was under charged online. I believed him, and boy was I stupid to do so.
The total came out to be $87, so I was ok with that, but when I returned the car I was charged even more and it was $103! I finally came home and rechecked my receipt, and I didn't check the wrong dates, I was completely right.
I spent 4 hours on the phone with Fox car rental, being hung up on, placed on hold, then hung up on, was transferred numerous times, until I was finally fed up. The first lady that hung up on me actually got me on the phone the 4th time when I called back. She said she couldn't find our reservation and that Fox car rental couldn't honor the rate from their OWN online website! I was livid, and I definitely will NOT be back to do business with them!
Worst Company Ever
D J., Danville, CA
Worst company ever. Terrible customer service. You better triple read your agreement and make sure you understand every detail as these folks are looking to add extras which will be charged upon your rental return.
Also, spend a solid 20 minutes looking over the car for any dents,.. they will charge you! Avoid when possible.
Worst Place Ever
Pope Valley, CA
This is the worst place ever. $300 deposit on car. it gets back in 4 weeks!!!!
