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Rental car nightmare? Why many are mad at Phoenix company

The ABC15 Investigators go undercover at a company literally kicking customers to the curb.

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Funkdawg - 11/13/2009 6:13 AM
Wow!! I may go down to the place just to witness some of this buffoonery in person.... The workers sound like grade A a$$hats!!!

Zombiegirl - 11/9/2009 10:21 PM
Back in 94 I rented a new Chevy Cavalier from Saban's and had a pretty decent experience. So when I wanted to rent an SUV for a friend's birthday and take a daytrip up to Payson, I went back because they were the only place in town who would rent to me (I was under 25 and w/o a major credit card at the time). I took my friend's boyfriend along w/ me to decide on which vehicle and split the cost. He had long hair and was dressed nice, so the man at Saban's thought he was gay and had no issue whatsoever calling him a "f*g" and to be honest it was so long ago I don't really recall the details, but it was a TERRIBLE experience this time. They basically said they didn't "trust us" taking one of their most expensive vehicles (Blazer) off the lot for 2 days. I couldn't believe it. I had just rented a car from them for nearly 3 weeks and went on the biggest road trip of my life, but they couldn't TRUST ME to take their Chevy Blazer to Payson for an overnight birthday trip?? It was absolutely terrible and I always wanted to complain to someone about it... wasn't going to pass it up when I saw your article online about them. I hope the BBB shuts them down because they don't deserve to be in business. Clearly, I am not the only person who has had a bad experience with these jerks. It's a wonder I had a really nice rental that first time. After reading these comments, sounds like they rent filthy cars and minivans all the time, and in really bad condition- thank God I made it home safe from my roadtrip of 6 states by myself. Thanks for the opportunity to vent. Oh, and ps- he cussed us out too, and only started to behave when some other customers walked into the office. Unreal! - K. Coombs

kckid88 - 11/9/2009 8:24 PM
My husband and I had rented a car from Saban's and specifically asked for unlimited mileage, yet when we returned the vehicle their copy had check marked just the opposite even though our copy showed this not to be the case. The company knew we were going to be putting on some miles when we initially rented the vehicle. When we returned the vehicle, they kept all our cash deposit and wanted several hundred more for the mileage. Without credit, we initially gave cash deposit as they are one that accepts cash deposits for those without credit cards. What should have only been maybe at most $150.00 for the day and a half turned into nearly $700.00. They may have kept our money from the deposit, which was still quite a sum of money. However, they didn't get anymore. When trying to discuss the situation we were threatened and badgered verbally throughout the ordeal. Also, when we first rented the vehicle, a young kid was there and we had assumed he was a worker, as he was behind the counter and running the needs as requested by the owner Al at that time. When we returned the vehicle and mentioned the fact that the other worker was there at the time of rental, Al says that was his son and he is not an employee. Right? Terrible business dealings. The car we did rent was also very dirty.

Gracious - 11/9/2009 7:54 PM
BRAVO ABC15 for exposing this fraudulent and irratic Saban's Rent A Car Company. Your investigative work was great and you have done the community a good service by exposing them. The owner of Saban's is a low life by knowingly jeopardizing the lives of people that not only rent their vehicles but the lives of EVERYONE on the roadway. I was going to rent a vehicle there this summer but didn't take the car as the brake indicator light was on, the car had balding tires, and they did something under the hood right before they tried to give it to us (possibly disconnecting something?). When I complained (East side office) they said I had to call Al. But they wouldn't let me use their phone. I had to borrow a friend's cell phone that was with me and then they said I couldn't call from inside the office. They made me go outside in 115 degree heat. My friend said that when I went outside the two offices called each other describing who I was and that I appeared harmless, the better to intimidate me. Al the manager cussed me out and threatened me when I told him the car was unsafe and he told me I couldn't get money back from him. Talk about rude! The people that operate and manage this company are poor excuses for a human. I didn't take the car as I will not put my life, my family's life and the life of everyone on the roadway with a car that is unsafe. They are liable for their unsafe cars. I can't think of anything dumber than what they are doing. Probably won't be too long before they get sued.

Ribeye - 11/9/2009 11:26 AM
3955, why would you or your brother rent from them a second time? Slow learners?

bb3955 - 11/8/2009 8:36 PM
My family and I rented a car from them in 1995 to go to California and as we were returning we got a flat tire on I-10. The company actually made us pay for the tire that went flat. When I rented a car from them in 1999 it was in bad shape. I can not remember my brother getting a good car from them any time he has rented from them.

CanOrAz - 11/8/2009 3:51 PM
monteralius; first of all, please allow me to thank both you and your husband for your service and sacrifice for our country. Then, please, allow me to suggest you take the time to file a small claims court suit against this business owner. I'm pretty sure you can do most of it online. I'm hoping now, with this investigation by ABC15, that the AG's office will be brought into this situation; but in the meantime, you need to get your money back (asap, if not sooner). I am so sorry that you and your family had to go through this - how disgusting this business owner is - and he needs to be stopped!

monteralius - 11/8/2009 3:34 PM
My husband and I are members of the United States Air Force and have been stationed here at Luke AFB for the last two years. We are from Virginia and weren't able to afford a trip home for the holidays last year. As a result, my parents and brother flew out for Thanksgiving last year and we decided to rent a car for the duration of their stay due to the fact that we only own a single cab truck for transportation. Unfortunately, we rented from Saban's because they were the cheapest we could find. The car that we got was a green Ford Taurus which was obviously on its last leg. When we got home with the car and realized there were problems, my father called Saban's to inform them of the vehicles condition. The reply we got from them was that we got a good deal on the rental because of the cars condition. So we brushed it aside and kept the car for the rental term. The car clearly had transmission problems because there were several incidents where the car wouldn't change gears while driving it. This happened to us while the entire family was in the car driving down Interstate 10! We could have been killed! Furthermore, when we finally returned the car on the date it was supposed to be back, the owner refused to give us back our several hundred dollar deposit! He required the deposit because my father was from out of state and said we would get it back upon returning the car. On top of this, they charged us for rental insurance despite the fact that our car insurance provider covers rentals. In the end we did not get our money back even after several attempts to call and reason with this business. Instead we got insults, cursed, and hung up on multiple times. After my parents left to go back home, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. There was no resolution and the Better Business Bureau did absolutely nothing, nor did the local police department. My family and I are still very upset over the matter.

CanOrAz - 11/8/2009 2:57 PM
It is definitely time for the Attorney General's office to get involved with this 'company'. Unsafe vehicles, fraudulent business practices, and all around bad behavior in what should be a heavily regulated industry. I wonder how quickly this scumbag owner would stop using those 'big man' four letter words if he was dealing with an investigator from the AG's office?

Lorida - 11/8/2009 2:36 PM
Spelling is not an excuse for not commenting, its the message that counts. Lorida



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