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View Full Version : What would you do? Car rental keys.



Wade Lippman
03-21-2015, 9:29 AM
I hate just getting one key. What if you lose it or leave it in the car?

Well I got 2 keys together on an unopenable keyring. Naturally I want to open it, so that my wife and I each have a key. I called the local number but got the company CS. He warned me that they were likely to penalize me for the damage, and suggested I call two local numbers. They didn't answer.

I emailed CS. They replied that I can't cut the ring open; they are permenatelyt attached so nothing is lost. Why is it worse to lose a key than to have both on one key ring. Because that is their policy.

I am not sure I have ever heard anything quite so stupid in my like. Except maybe a notice in the USAir magazine that the cabin might feel dry because the humidity is low. Geez, I was wondering why it felt dry!

Anyhow, what would you do?

Todd Burch
03-21-2015, 9:31 AM
Been there, done that. The ring is too big to fit into pants pockets. I cut the ring. Returned both. Nothing was said and I wasn't charged.

terry mccammon
03-21-2015, 9:37 AM
I rent Hertz all the time and routinely cut the ring. They have never said anything so far.

Steve Peterson
03-21-2015, 12:11 PM
I can't stand when they give you two gigantic keys with remotes tied together with cable. I understand that they are trying to keep both keys together so they can sell a car with 2 keys at some point.

So instead of storing the second key, they force every single renter to deal with the oversized bundle of keys. It is slightly more convenient for them and puts a burden on thousands of people that rent the car. Not great customer service if you ask me. Maybe it was tolerable years ago when keys were tiny, but some of the remote control keys are huge.

Steve

Kent A Bathurst
03-21-2015, 1:19 PM
I emailed CS. They replied that I can't cut the ring open.....

One of those instances where it is easier to apologize than ask permission.

Jim Matthews
03-21-2015, 3:28 PM
Cheaper to pay the 'cabling fee' than to call a locksmith in the middle of nowhere.

Just don't lose the one you have separated,
they're nearly $250 to replace, and reprogram.

Charles Wiggins
03-21-2015, 6:15 PM
Never run into that, but we usually use Enterprise.

Jim Becker
03-21-2015, 8:26 PM
Rental companies sell of these vehicles after they reach a certain age or mileage. The cost to replace the fobs that are on most vehicles these days is quite expensive...as much as $350 a piece...and they try to keep them together for that reason. They can't resell the car without both keys. Yup...a little counter-intuitive because both could be lost at the same time. But most rental keys also have "mail back" information on the tags, so that reduces the likelihood that they will be truly lost. Of course, it's very much inconvenient when a couple rents a car and only one can have "the keys" at a time... ;)

Wade Lippman
03-21-2015, 10:44 PM
Rental companies sell of these vehicles after they reach a certain age or mileage. The cost to replace the fobs that are on most vehicles these days is quite expensive...as much as $350 a piece...and they try to keep them together for that reason. They can't resell the car without both keys. Yup...a little counter-intuitive because both could be lost at the same time. But most rental keys also have "mail back" information on the tags, so that reduces the likelihood that they will be truly lost. Of course, it's very much inconvenient when a couple rents a car and only one can have "the keys" at a time... ;)

I guess that makes sense; screw the renter.
Funny thing is that I found a keyfob in the trunk; the ring had one fob and two keys.
No spare tire, but a keyfob.

Jim Becker
03-22-2015, 12:05 PM
Many newer vehicles do not come with a spare standard anymore...it's an extra cost option. ;)

That was an interesting find in the trunk. I wonder if that fob and keys were put there for a reason or just ended up there inadvertently... :)