'Karen was still joyriding in our rental car': Valet gave rental car to wrong guest, she drives it around for 2 hours before the police get involved

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  • 01
    Font - Karen Stole My Rental Car Karen I was staying at a hotel with mandatory valet parking. After checking out, my wife and I went to pickup the car and saw the exact same make/model/color vehicle we had rented pulling away. We joked that it was our car.
  • 02
    Font - The valet attendant goes to retrieve our vehicle and pulls up with a vehicle with the same make/color, but different model. We immediately let him know and he checks the ticket, keys, and cars in the lot and it was at that point we all realized the valet had gotten our car swapped with Karen's. We did, in fact, watch her pull away in our rental car.
  • 03
    Font - Karen somehow didn't realize that the car she was now driving had a full-body makeover, somehow had grown two additional doors, and had a weaker engine... Her new rental was also missing some of her belongings.
  • 04
    Font - The hotel contacted Karen to let her know of the valet's mistake within 10min and she indicated she would return immediately. Based on Karen's location, it should have taken her maximum 20-30min to return (long highway bridge with limited exits/turnaround opportunities).
  • 05
    Font - After an hour elapsed, Karen had not returned with the car and the police were called. The hotel contacted Karen again and she said she was a few minutes away. The police said this was not a stolen vehicle issue and to call back if the car isn't returned or is damaged.
  • 06
    Font - Another 30min elapsed and Karen was still joyriding in our rental car, so we contacted the police again and they dispatched a unit to take statements. Karen, again, told the hotel she was just a few minutes away after another phone call.
  • 07
    Font - The officer arrived about 15min later and called Karen. She was told to have the car back in 10min or it'd be reported as stolen. When asked about why she was taking so long to return, she indicated that the hotel didn't notify her about the error until she was in a town about 45min away. We know this to be a lie based on her earlier conversations with the hotel and the fact that we saw her pull away.
  • 08
    Font - Karen finally returned with the rental car after about 2 hours. She blew up at the valet attendant over having the police involved. She didn't realize it was actually my wife and I that called them and it could have been avoided if she had immediately returned. She quickly swapped keys out and drove off in the correct vehicle, avoiding interaction with the officer.
  • 09
    Font - We thoroughly inspected the vehicle and noted no damage, but she did burn about 1/3 tank of gas and left an apple core/other garbage inside. The officer explained to us that during his call Karen stated she had decided not to return immediately after being contacted by the hotel. She didn't want to be further inconvenienced by the valet's error and ran her errands, despite knowing that other hotel guests were waiting on her to return the rental car. He was surprised by her entitlement, bu
  • 10
    Font - The hotel and valet took full responsibility for the situation and appropriately reimbursed us for the inconvenience (aside from the lost time...). The officer provided an event number and indicated that any further action would be civil in- nature and between us and the valet company. No action taken against Karen.
  • 11
    Font - While fault lies with the valet attendant, I just can't wrap my mind around how oblivious one must be to still take the wrong rental car and the sense of entitlement one must have to run your errands after being notified of the vehicle swap. tl;dr Valet gave my rental car to another guest who then decided to joy ride in it for 2 hours
  • 12
    Font - Illustrious_Leg_2537. 18 hr. ago We went to a wedding once and rented a car. Showed up to the venue, got out of the car. Karen comes around to the driver's side and starts yelling at my husband (dressed in a tux) for taking so long to retrieve her car. He responded, "this isn't your car. This is a rental. I'm sorry you actually drive such a piece of "Valet pulled up behind us in her car. Same make, model, and color. 143 Reply Share
  • 13
    Font - Fac3puncher. 23 hr. ago After like 30 minutes I would have just taken her car and gone about my day. 150 Reply Share
  • 14
    Font - iluvbewbies OP. 23 hr. ago Certainly considered it! Just didn't want to deal with the rental car company with that later... 61 Reply Share
  • 15
    Font - Narrow_Competition41. 1 day ago your tl;dr is precisely what happened. she just wanted to take it for a spin...on your dime/time. I'd be pissed asf too... 108 Reply Share
  • 16
    Font - iluvbewbies OP. 23 hr. ago So frustrating! I think she was also trying to take her frustration out on the valet attendant for making the error and she didn't care that we were impacted. 57 ↓ Reply Share
  • 17
    Font - FOxcr4f7113 · 20 hr. ago I would have parked her car in a handicap spot and had it towed.
  • 18
    Font - Bubbagumpredditor. 23 hr. ago I mean, I could even understand her saying " it's going to be an hour, I'm at a job interview" or something, but wtf.
  • 19
    Font - iluvbewbies OP. 23 hr. ago I could understand some reasonable excuse, but she just kept saying she was a few minutes away until she was called by the police. So frustrating!
  • 20
    Font - voluntold9276 22 hr. ago OK, I'm not defending Karen. But, I used to travel for my job and it was not unheard of for me to have 3 different rental cars in a single week. I sometimes couldn't remember the color of the car much less anything else about it. So I actually can give her the understanding to not realize she was in the wrong car.
  • 21
    Font - BUT she was contacted within 10 minutes so she should have turned around ASAP or, if she knew that returning would cause her other problems (i.e. missing a meeting) she should have said "I simply can't return until XX oclock because I have a meeting in 10 minutes".
  • 22
    Font - iluvbewbies OP. 20 hr. ago I get it. Mistakes happen and it started with the valet's error, but her actions after the error was brought to her attention are what ticked me off.
  • 23
    Font - foldinthecheese99. 18 hr. ago Hopefully she didn't get any camera tickets or go through tolls during that ordeal. I admittedly might not have noticed. I've mixed up my own care with others in parking lots many times. I would have returned immediately though.
  • 24
    Font - iluvbewbies OP. 17 hr. ago Yeah, but we're prepared for that. We know she went through two tolls for a bridge, but not sure if she paid cash/card for them or ran it through the express lanes. But that's why we have a police report, a statement from the hotel and valet company, and contacted the car rental company about the situation.

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