Payless Car Rental Omdömen 407

I rented a car from Payless at Bucharest Otopeni Airport on 2 April 2026, arriving late at night.
Upon pickup, I was given a very old car with significant existing damage and wear. More importantly, the staff member, Mr. Car Travler, refused to accept my valid physical Visa credit card (Bank Norwegian, issued in my name and valid until 2028). He claimed it was a “virtual/digital bank product” and therefore not accepted for the security deposit.
This restriction is not mentioned anywhere on Payless’s website. Their official Payment Information page clearly states they accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and other major cards, with no reference to excluding cards from online or Scandinavian banks:
“The following are accepted forms of payment: Visa, MasterCard, American Express...”
paylesscar.com /en/customer-service/faq/global/requirements-for-renting
Because it was the middle of the night and we had no other options, I was pressured into purchasing a very expensive insurance policy that cost approximately four times the original rental price. I signed the contract under clear duress.
I later contacted Payless Romania to request a refund of the forced insurance, but they refused, stating the contract was signed and the insurance is non-refundable.
This whole experience was highly disappointing and felt unfair. The combination of an old, damaged vehicle, an undisclosed card policy, and aggressive upselling of expensive insurance left a very bad impression.
I would not recommend Payless Romania to anyone.

Moi ma meilleure amie nous sommes partis en Croatie pour 3 jours donc nous avons loué la voiture à partir du soir du premier jour nous étions très choqué de l'accueil horrible, ils ont même pas voulu faire le constat avant de prendre la voiture.
ce qui est normal de faire mais avant de prendre la voiture ,puis part la suit ils nous ont compliqué il nous a dit que l'assurance que nous avons pris via booking ne fonctionne pas.
Nous avons dû prendre une assurance en plus donc encore des frais d'avantage qui était de 184 euros et nous disait que cette assurance prend tout en charge,
au lieu de 38 € du coup nous avons annulé rapidement l'assurance sur Booking de 38 € plus au retour de la remise des clés et de la voiture ils ont voulu nous facturer 260 € car ils nous ont dit qu'on a eu des amendes de stationnement non mais sérieux des amendes de stationnement à 260 € en sachant que nous avons stationné une journée et qu'on Croatie une journée la police eux-mêmes on dit selon les endroits où vous stationner et là où j'étais c'était très euro 13,90 et lorsque je vais recevoir l'amende ce sera 13,90 plus un frais de 7 € nous nous sommes tellement pris la tête avec ces gens-là que en finalité nous avons payé 76 € au lieu de 260 €. Mais comme j'ai payé avec ma carte bancaire j'ai peur que par la suite et puisse encore me prélever de l'argent pour autre chose.
j'ai bien demandé un papier qui justifie que la voiture a été rendu en bon état et que nous devons plus rien payer ils nous ont donné un papier mais je ne sais même pas si ce papier justifie réellement cela car comme tout le monde le dit ils nous font signé sur leur tablette rapidement il ne veut même pas qu'on puisse prendre le temps de lire en plus la barrière de la langue n'est même pas car ils veulent tellement nous arnaquer, j'ai jamais vu ça de ma vie je ne comprends pas pourquoi ces personnes sont pas dénoncées et pourquoi la police ne fait pas quelque chose il y a tellement de plaintes de la part des clients et ce sont des personnes qui se font avoir lorsqu'une ne consulte pas les avis avant si j'aurais consulté les avis avant j'aurais jamais loué de voiture j'aurais préféré galérer c'est vraiment triste. Même donner un étoile j'ai pas envie si je pouvais les poursuivre en justice je le ferai mais je ferai tout mon nécessaire pour dénoncer .

TLDR this company may not provide you a receipt for your rental, so do not rent through them if traveling for business or on government orders as you will not be able to file for reimbursement.

I was forced to book through payless a few weeks ago as they offered the lowest price for a government rate. After completing my rental and returning the car, I was not given any receipt. After seeing that I didn't get an emailed receipt either, I submitted a request online and called the company. They customer service rep told me that he sent the receipt and I should receive it in 30 minutes. I did not. After a full week of calling customer service multiple times and leaving support requests online, I still have not received the receipt. I even gave them three different email addresses to use. They finally responded to my initial customer service request left on their website only to say that I should have received the receipt by email (I still have not).

The last time I called customer service they told me that if I cared so much I should have driven 3 hours to the nearest Payless counter to request a receipt there.

Unbelievable incompetent, and belligerent customer service that gaslights their customers instead of helping them.

Zero concern for customers. Manager just did nothing while the line was 2 hours long. This is on Kauai. They know the airport schedule. No excuse for no staff. Couple people had some kind of reservation issue and the manager should have stepped up. Instead he just let the time drag on. 30 minutes while people are waiting 2 hours. Do not rent from these guys

Through Expedia I rented a car to be picked up at the San Diego car rental building. I paid in-full in advance.

We showed up to get the car and they're closed. The airport was still open and thousand more people were landing. I heard over the transportation bus radio that they had three more busloads of people on the way and many more flights were due to land. A number of people were standing around all having the same experience. They paid but no car, leaving many people in desperate circumstances. so we uber to the hotel and back the next morning. Turns out they have no cars. They won't even attempt find me one or give me a refund and essentially told me to F***-off.

Eventually, I found a car rental place off the premises for double the price and got an old beat up car to use.

They told me to take it up with Expedia. Expedia uses only AI for customer interaction and it does not recognize the word "refund". That's makes them worthless to me.

Fortunately, I call my Discover card and got a human. This young woman was sympathetic and efficient in dealing with this issue. Kudos to Discover

One person working on Sunday one of the busiest days! 25 minutes per rental contract which means I waited 1.5 hours to get a mediocre cheap car. Never again!!!

One of the most unprofessional car rental experiences I’ve ever had. This company lures customers in with cheap prices, but then hits you with outrageous charges afterward.
I rented a car on February 27 with a return date of March 1. I returned the vehicle early on March 1 as agreed. However, when I checked my credit card statement, I saw a charge of over $600 claiming I didn’t return the car until March 3 and that I was six hours late.
I’m trying to figure out how I could possibly be in Texas and Georgia at the same time. I returned the car as scheduled and had already flown back to Texas.
To make matters worse, they also charged me for refueling the vehicle even though I filled the tank the night before returning it. The gas station was less than 10 miles from the airport where the car was returned.
I have reached out to the company for help and have received very little assistance. The only response I received was from someone named Tony, and the issue still hasn’t been resolved.
This has been one of the worst rental experiences I’ve ever had. I would strongly advise others to carefully review their charges and documentation if renting from this company.

Mir wurde bei der Abholung im Flughafen von Banja Luka (Bosnien) mitgeteilt, dass ich 300 Euro Kaution zahlen muss. Mir wurde aber eine zusätzliche Versicherung im Vertrag untergejubelt (Premium cover insurance promo). Das Geld habe ich nie wieder gesehen. Versuchte es über AVIS Kundenservice (Payless gehört zu AVIS). Wurde zweimal an andere Stelle verwiesen. Die letzte E-Mail Adresse hat es dann nicht gegeben.

Avoid Payless Car Rental at all costs.

I had a very disappointing experience at Dubrovnik Airport and would strongly advise others to be extremely cautious.

Despite providing proof that I already had separate insurance coverage through Zurich (arranged via Booking), I was charged for additional insurance. The process felt rushed and unclear, and I later realised I had effectively been sold duplicate cover.

My advice:
Do not sign anything until they print every document in full. Take your time. Read every line carefully. Question everything. Do not feel pressured at the desk.

In my experience, the process relied heavily on upselling and lack of clarity. It left me feeling misled and frustrated.

This was a first-hand experience and, unfortunately, I will not be using them again.

If you’re considering this company, I would recommend going with a more established and transparent rental provider to avoid unnecessary stress at the start of your trip.

Never again.

Pongo un uno porque es imposible poner un cero.
Te obligan a contratar seguros después de ya haber cogido el coche, no te responden las llamadas, las personas que trabajan ahí son unas completas incompetentes y desagradables, TE CUELGAN SIN DARTE UNA SOLUCIÓN.
UNA AUTÉNTICA VERGÜENZA

This was plainly a straight up scam.
The location for pickup was different than ALL the other pickup services at the airport. We unfortunately forgot this after traveling
(which I think is understandable). We texted and called them several times at 2 or 3 diff. numbers but there was no response. The only message we got was to say that our car would be ready in TWO HOURS and we received that AFTER we left the place for another agency.
When we finally figured out their address (which was wrong) and got a taxi there (and got ripped off on that ride!) they made us wait and wait and wait for no apparent reason only to tell us that the insurance would be an extra 1200USD!!!!!! I selected the insurance when I made the reservation and showed them that PLUS my personal insurance but nope! THANKFULLY there was a guy from another independent Mexican agency (Esteban at ETC Car rental- USE HIM- great guy!) who helped us out and gave us a great deal! And then I rerented a car from
him because I elected to stay longer. So, your little scamming girl running that agency COST YOU TWO RENTALS TOTALING OVER 1800USD.... Needless to say, that WAS NOT the way to welcome one to Mexico and I was UTTERLY LIVID!
TAKE YOUR NAME OFF OF THEIR AGENCY as I am about to TEAR THEM UP ON EVERY SINGLE RATING MECHANISM I CAN FIND.

Double charged on taxes and fees from a Priceline rental completely prepaid.

Die haben mir Kaution für das Auto auch nach einem Monat nicht zurück überwiesen. Total unseriös und sehr ärgerlich. Außerdem sind auch nicht erreichbar oder wollen die mit Kunden nicht kontaktieren. Man sollte die vor Gericht stellen

This franchise location is a complete scam. After talking with Payless corporate their insurance is optional. We have our normal Allstate coverage and purchased more travel insurance to be safe. After arriving we were intentionally deceived by the sales rep stating they wouldn't accept either insurance coverage and then threatened us to be stuck there with no vehicle unless I purchased their insurance. I reluctantly agreed so my wife and I wouldn't be stranded. The sales rep again lied stating the lowest insurance costs us $151.99 which was 3x the original price we originally paid. I only learned of this scam after I got back stateside and had the ability to further investigate their claims. I just received an email from the manager Alma Toro stating he has audio and video recording of what transpired. Convenient how he pointed out me signing the rental agreement without the context of my ignorance in assuming they were acting on good faith in their business practice. They were intentionally deceitful in upselling me unneeded coverage (again we were already twice insured) at a higher coverage costs in which the rep told me that was the cheapest coverage available. Basically if you like to waste money, be lied to, and have no accountability on who you do business with they're great. But should you want an honest service avoid this franchise scam

Payless Car Rental at SEATAC airport incorrectly charged me $149 for insurance that I rejected at the counter. My wife was with me and concurs with my version of events. Payless claims that I "signed off" on insurance so tough luck, to which I have responded with the following observations.

Either:

1. The clerk misheard me and made a mistake.
2. The clerk heard me correctly and made a mistake.
3. It doesn't matter. The clerk meant to scam me.
4. Payless lacks a check process to ensure this type of “miscommunication” does not occur (e.g., double checking extra charges with the customer; verbally walking customers through the meaning of each separate initial or signature; etc…)

Payless has responded to my complaint saying that I "signed" the rental document, to which I say "I responded to the sections the counter clerk identified and assumed my wishes had been correctly recorded".

This company is deliberately deceptive and abuses customers according to publicly available reviews and social media sites. Their overall Yelp score is 1.5. The BBB concur that Payless has deceptive practices.

We rented a vehicle from Payless Romania (Otopeni Airport) for 16 days.

Unfortunately, due to a family bereavement, we had to return the car 11 days earlier than planned.

No refund or partial adjustment was granted for the unused rental period.

We were not clearly informed at pick-up that returning the vehicle early would result in losing all remaining rental days without any possibility of adjustment.

Customers should carefully review the rental conditions in advance and be aware that no flexibility appears to be applied, even in exceptional circumstances.

Avoid at all Costs

Unfortunately, a very disappointing experience from start to finish.
The vehicle provided was not as advertised – older, poorly maintained, with visible wear and even signs of rust, which is simply unacceptable for a rental service. Several issues were identified at collection, some of which had to be “fixed on the spot”, which already tells you the vehicle was not ready to go.
There was also excessive waiting time, poor organisation, and a general lack of professionalism throughout the process. I am a driver with over 20 years’ experience, so suggestions that basic vehicle handling caused these issues are frankly unreasonable.
We raised our concerns properly, in writing, with photos and videos provided, and requested fair compensation under basic consumer protection principles. Despite multiple emails, our last correspondence was ignored completely.
This isn’t about ego or opinion — it’s about facts, standards, and accountability. I would not recommend Payless to anyone who values reliability, transparency, and professional service.

Was soll das mit dem Preis????
18 Tage für 379€ ????
Habt ihr sie nicht mehr ALLE???
DA BLEIBE ICH LIEBER BEI AUTOREISEN 🤮🤮🤮

Expérience horrible. Payless a annulé ma réservation de voiture 24h avant que je prenne mon vol vers Lima sous prétexte d'overbooking. Il ne restait plus aucune voiture dans les 25 concessionnaires que nous avons appelés avant le départ et pendant l'escale. Nous avons atterri à l'aéroport de Lima, sans voiture et sans plan B. Vous dire le stress. Expedia nous a offert une voiture...à 6 700 us alors que nous avions payé 255$ pour la location d'une semaine. Nous sommes convaincus que Payless a décidé d'annuler notre réservation faite à petit prix un mois plus tôt pour louer la voiture plus cher comme nous étions en pleine période de vacances. Pas d'explication, pas d'excuses et aucun service de remplacement. À quoi ça sert de réserver si la compagnie peut en tout temps annuler pour faire plus de $$$?

I was going to Phx for Christmas to see my family and bring my 101-year-old mothers ashes (she died in Sept). I rented a car just to get from the airport to my family 11 miles away, never used the car until I retuned it to the airport. I then was charged for animal hair (no animals were involved, and spilled liquids, of which I had none. $125.00! ) I went back and forth with them to no avail. They did NOT provide pics of said animal hair, nor liquid. So I wrote them this diatribe.... Please read and add any comments .Dear Payless,

Thank you for your condolences about my 101‑year‑old mother — a kind sentiment that, unfortunately, does nothing to improve the accuracy of your assessment.

At this point, it’s clear that renting from Payless requires preparation on par with handling unstable nuclear waste. Should I ever attempt this again, I will arrive fully equipped to meet your… creative expectations — though at 71 years old, performing this level of Herculean labor may be a tad unrealistic: 1. A dustbuster powerful enough to vacuum myself, my luggage, and the surrounding atmosphere, in case a rebellious dust particle dares to exist within your line of sight.
2.A Costco‑sized roll of Saran Wrap so I can fully encase myself — leaving a breathing hole, of course, since dropping dead in your parking lot would create an actual biohazard, which I’m sure would result in an additional fee.

3.Industrial‑strength shrink‑wrap to mummify the entire interior of the vehicle. This will require a blow dryer, which means I’ll need to locate an electrical outlet in your garage — assuming one exists and isn’t considered a “liquid spill” risk.

4. A hazmat suit, just in case my human presence is deemed “contamination.”

5.A forensic UV flashlight to document the car before and after, since your team seems capable of detecting liquids that do not exist in this dimension or any adjacent ones.

6.A portable dehumidifier to remove even the idea of moisture.

As you can see, these preparations require time, equipment, and a level of absurdity I am not willing to commit to — especially at my age. Please keep that in mind before expecting my future business.

Sincerely, Patricia —and may all your rentals in 2026 be Smoke, Hair, Liquid, Bio‑Hazard, and Imagination‑Free, since mine apparently failed your standards