Car rental customer gets even with strict employees who refuse to take back $91/day car: 'By the time 10 AM rolls around, the car is COVERED in mud'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Nov 30, 2025 3:00 PM EST

When this rental car customer tried to return his vehicle, the employees were unhelpful — and they tried to make him keep this expensive car for another extra day. 

If you've ever rented a car, you know that these things come with a lot of paperwork and red tape. You reserve a car, but when you get to the rental location, sometimes they don't even have that car for you. If you thought you were getting a certain car, whoops, they don't have it, and now you're in an ancient car that smells musty and looks like it hasn't been driven in years. Once you actually do get out on the road, you have to be aware that you're paying a few cents per mile to drive this thing. And maybe you've heard that advice about photographing the whole car before you ever drive it out of the lot. Apparently, some rental locations will try to falsely claim that their customers dirtied up the car, or got a scratch on the fender, just because they know the customer can't prove otherwise. It's a whole hassle!

This person encountered some rather unhelpful employees, and you can be the judge about whether or not this guy did the right thing. Check out the full story below!

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  • 01

    "Rental car company told me where to leave my keys and when I left them there, tried to charge me for an extra day. So I refused to give them the car back until last minute."

    Smiling man in car is handed car keys by woman in white shirt holding clipboard
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    I rented a car for five weeks while my car was being repaired from a car accident. The rental company had a couple great policies- no cleaning fee no matter how gross the car was, and unlimited miles. Ideal for me- I live in the country and going
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 03
    anywhere is a drive. When my car was finally scheduled to be finished (a Monday evening) I called the rental car company on Sunday. Asked about return details. They said return time would be 530pm Monday, but I could just
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 04
    leave it at the shop and leave the keys in the shops drop box. I said sure, and next night I went, got my car, left keys in the box. Got in my car, and check engine light is on. Fuck. Staff says come back tomorrow and we will fix it. I go home thinking that
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 05
    I will be sitting at the shop all Tuesday because no other ride. Tuesday morning I wake up at 7am to the rental car company very angry and saying that they can't get into the drop box and shop doesn't open til 9. I tell them I just did what
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 06
    they said to do. They told. me that they would be charging me an extra day. At that I'm furious. I leave my house later and arrive at the ship at 850. Rental car guys aren't there. I sit around and shop opens, I grab the rental keys and give them my car. Right on time, rental car guys
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 07
    appear. They demand the keys and I ask if I'm still getting charge for an extra day. One guy is inspecting the car while the other tells me yes, I'm getting charged an extra day. Guy inspecting it comes over and days car looks good, it should be ready to rent out
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 08
    immediately. I had cleaned it the day before because I didn't want to be a dick. Well, I refuse to give him the keys. "Since I'm getting charged an extra day, that means it's my car until 530 today, right?". At that he gets nervous. Says they need the car back. "I will give
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 09
    you the keys now if you don't charge me an extra day. But if I'm charged an extra day, I'm using it." He refuses to bend so I leave. At this point I'm petty and angry. So I go straight home. I own a farm and it has been raining like mad
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 10
    lately. I get to work. By the time 10am rolls around, the car is COVERED in mud. Like, this black car looks painted brown. I didn't trash the inside, because I'm not that petty. I hop in the car and drive to the rental place. I'm pretty covered in mud at this
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 11
    point, I had put trash bags on the front seat to limit it. I walk into the rental place looking like I fell into a mud pit. The guy who refused to cancel the charge looks horrified. I tell them "this car is great for mudding! I'm gonna go mudding for the rest of the day. Just
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 12
    swinging by to ask where to put the keys at 530" I'm all smiles and dripping sweetness. I watch the life leave him, his shoulders slump, and he says if I return the car now they will cancel the charge because they need to rent out the car. I give em the keys and take
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 13
    an uber to the shop, where my car is ready. No cleaning fee and no extra day charge. Ha! Edit: Alright, might as well address the few things yall are bitching about lol.
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 14
    The uber- I called the uber after I walked out of the rental car place. It took half an hour to arrive. I had brought extra trash bags, so I stripped down a bit (shorts and undershirt) and put on 2 trash bags that I cut holes. in. Put my clothes in a bag. Let the mud on my
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 15
    exposed body parts flake off. Did I look absolutely ridiculous? Yes. Did I get mud in some poor strangers car? No. I didn't want to actually ruin the day for some kid getting minimum wage. That's why I only mudded the outside. That's a
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 16
    pretty easy clean. I didn't wanna wreck anyone's day- even the asshole that charged me. My goal was to make the car messy and shocking enough to get them to not charge me because they were desperate to get it back. "If the outside.
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 17
    is that bad, what did he do to the inside?" The car was 91 fucking dollars a day (first 3 weeks 39 a day and then went up for last 2 weeks to 91) and my insurance did not cover it. I was not willing to let 91 bucks slide.
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 18
    The keys were left at the auto shop, in the auto shops key box. That key box was not open at 7am when rental car company went to get the car. When I went around 9am to drop my car off, the auto shop opened the box for
    via u/sabertoothdiego
  • 19
    me and gave me the rental car keys. Rental car people appeared a few minutes later. Sorry if spelling and grammar ain't great. It isn't a thesis.
    via u/sabertoothdiego

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