The following is basically how I complained to the Better Business Bureau:

I recently rented from Alamo rental car in MN on March 15th, 2009 and returned it the evening of March 22nd, 2009. I had no problems with the rental car nor was there any damage done to the rental car. I parked it in the return area for rental cars at the Duluth Airport where I rented the car. The return went without incident. To my surprise, I just received a letter dated April 7th, 2009 stating that there was some unspecified "damage" done to the car which they don't want to document until they receive payment. Their claim number 001332253-EXAM. The letter states that I am to send insurance information to an address in Tulsa, OK to their damage recovery department.

This is a scam letter. It could be the corporation scamming as I did not incur any damage to the vehicle.

It could be an employee scam as some of the details seem to be correct--dates, etc. which suggest someone had access to the database to come up with this.

It could be some kind of hacker scam which obtained information through Alamo's database. The reason I believe this is possible is that the logo on the letter looks not well defined, there is a typo in it and they are asking for information that Alamo probably has already. Also, there are recent complaints I've seen from other Alamo customers posted on the Internet who received this type of letter and then call the company to find there is no record of this complaint.

Further, the payment address for the damage recovery department is listed as one in Atlanta on the bottom of the letter and one in Tulsa (PO Box 22300, Tulsa, OK 74121-2300) on the return envelope.

So, if this is a scam being perpetrated by Alamo, I'm complaining about that to the BBB. If it's someone else--employee or hacker--everyone be aware that this is happening. It may not be Alamo's doing (outside of having bad data security).

Has anyone else seen this Alamo scam? (Ontario, CA airport) You return the rental car a little after 4:30 am- There are a line of cars- everyone is returnining their rental car. There is only an outside booth(everything else is closed)- with no Alamo personnel there or any indication it is "open". Other people returning cars say "there's no one here- you have to leave the keys in the drop box"- Meanwhile many are coming and going, returning their cars, with no representative in sight. You follow the directions on the drop box- leave the keys & contract.
A month later, you receive your credit card statement with a fee for an extra day. When you call them they claim there was a representative there from 4:30 am and that you returned it the following day!
Seems like a lucrative way of getting extra fees! Anyone else seen this?
ps
I'm contesting the credit card charge-

We rented a car in May of 08 and paid in full. I was charged in July for Transfer Liability Fee and again in October for a parking fee, admin fee and a toll fee. How did they get authorization? Total thieves!

National/Alamo worst customer service, rudest management. I accidentally missed my turnoff at SFO and wound up in their lot instead of Budget. They wouldn't let me out of the lot because it was against policy. The kid at the booth told me to drive the wrong way down a one way street to get out of the way and wouldn't open the gate for me to leave. He wouldn't get the manager. He then left the booth with his back pack leaving me there. I went to get the manager and he wouldn't open the gate either. I had to get the Budget manager on another floor myself. Ridiculous.

Watch out for this car rental. I rented a car for one day from this location and was deliever the car where the guy ran around the car and hand me the rental papers and told me "Your good to go" and ran off. Upon returning the car the next day, the girl checking the car in walked directly to the left rear bumper and said there was a scratch on the bumper. She marked the paper and told me to go inside to the office to file a damage report. The representative at the counter said they would check into prior incidents on this car since there was no way this scratch could've happen with me driving home and back. I never recieve a call back. I called twice more to inquire about status and both representative said they would check into the incident and call back. Never happened. I get a letter in the mail indicating the claim against me for the damage. Upon calling their Insurance rep. back they told me the damage was on the right rear bumper. When I ask about prior incidents, she said it was checked already and there was no incident reported. I still have the signed paper by the check in person indicating the left rear bumper scratch. I have requested photos and repair documents from Alamo, but I won't hold my breath on that.