Okay okay let me beat you to it:
- “You dummy”
- “Actually?!”
- “Nicely duh”
- “Lol”
- “Hey the place’s that $20 you owe me?”
I did a dumb. Right here’s what occurred.
It began at Skogafoss
Skogafoss is extremely lovely. This additionally makes it extremely crowded. However the crowds are value it, truthfully, as a result of look.
I had pulled into Skogafoss at about 2pm. It was crowded everywhere so I didn’t actually fear an excessive amount of about taking many photos. I figured I’d cease by to see it, then drive to my lodgings for the evening, about 20 minutes north of Seljalandsfoss.
So I ended at Skogafoss. I walked over close to the falls, took the above image, then determined to maintain transferring, preferring to come back again to Skogafoss later.
A word: Iceland is chilly
So, I used to be sporting denims, an extended sleeve thermal one thing or different, a t-shirt, and an outer jacket. Iceland is chilly and windy, even on the finish of summer season. That mentioned, the heater labored very well in my rental automotive so I normally tossed the outer jacket behind my rental automotive.
So I did the identical this time. Tossed my jacket into the again, closed the hatch, and made my method over to the entrance door. It was locked. I reached into my denims pocket for the automotive keys. There have been no automotive keys in my pocket.
Right here’s the factor about Andy and automotive keys
I’m very a lot a creature of behavior. My cellphone has all the time been in a specific pocket, automotive keys in one other, and pockets in one other. I’ve been this manner ever since I might drive, nearly twenty years in the past.
Absolutely you see the place that is going at this level, however…
So the one factor that irritated me about my rental automotive was that the button to open the hatch was damaged. There was an digital button that simply didn’t work, so I needed to take my keys out and unlock/open it with the important thing each time.
So mainly what occurred was I unlocked the hatch, opened it, threw my digital camera backpack into the automotive, after which dropped my keys. After I picked my keys up, for some dumb cause I put my keys in my outer jacket pocket. On the final minute, with out realizing my keys have been within the pocket, I threw my jacket into the again of the automotive for causes nonetheless unknown to me.
So after I walked over to the automotive door, it was nonetheless locked. And the electrical button to open the rear hatch was nonetheless damaged.
My keys have been locked in my automotive.
What choices did I’ve?
I known as Reykjavik Lease-a-car, from whom the automotive was rented. They informed me there wasn’t something they might do remotely. They mentioned they might name a courier on my behalf to drive the spare key out to me although. I requested how a lot that will be.
THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $450 FOR A COURIER TO DRIVE A KEY OUT TO ME. This was greater than double what I paid to lease a automotive for per week and was truly $11 greater than I paid for my roundtrip airfare to Iceland.
I known as my bank card firm to see if there was something they might do. After fairly some time on maintain, my Chase Sapphire Reserve consultant mentioned there was nothing they might do. Thanks, Chase! I subsequently cancelled my Chase Sapphire Reserve and heartily loved telling them why I felt like I wasn’t receiving any worth for the $450 annual price I had paid.
I known as Reykjavik Lease-a-car again and requested what the value could be if the automotive got here again with a damaged window. They mentioned injury to the automotive began at $2000, which was hilarious, as a result of the automotive was not value $2000.
So what did I do?
I didn’t have a alternative: I informed them to ship the courier. They demanded my bank card quantity earlier than the courier might depart as a result of he was an unbiased service and would cost me individually (one of many causes my bank card insurance coverage couldn’t assist).
The courier set off on a 2-hour drive to Skogafoss and I walked round cursing for some time. Then I walked into the cafe close to Skogafoss and bought some meals and stewed in my anger (at myself). I then began to suppose virtually. I known as Chase and initiated a chargeback in opposition to whoever it was that had simply billed me. The agent then mentioned I couldn’t cost something again because it was my fault and I requested for the service being offered, so until the man simply randomly didn’t present up they couldn’t do something. One other thumbs up Chase!
Three hours later
I used to be sitting within the cafe consuming a $40 meal of a burger and fries after I noticed a giant shiny Mercedes van pull up immediately behind my automotive, blocking it into its parking house.
I walked outdoors to talk with the man, who bought out of his automotive to greet me. The next is a retelling of one of the vital ridiculously hostile conversations I’ve ever had:
- He requested if I used to be the man who known as the courier, and, not being within the temper for chit-chat, I replied, “keys.”
- He replied, “Oh, you’re nonetheless mad you locked your keys in your automotive,” with a little bit of pointless perspective
- Not being one afraid of confrontation, I replied, “No, I’m mad you’re charging me $450 US {dollars} and confirmed up an hour late.”
- He replied, “Nicely I needed to cease for a nap, I used to be very drained.”
- I speechlessly replied, “……….”
- He requested me to signal a bank card receipt, I informed him to indicate me the keys. He confirmed me the keys, I signed his silly receipt, and bought the keys and my jacket out of my rental automotive
- I sat down within the automotive to get my bearings and examine the map for the place my resort was when all of a sudden the motive force appeared subsequent to me, his van (and now the motive force himself) nonetheless blocking me in
- I requested what he needed. He replied, “I’m very drained, do you thoughts if I’ve a cigarette in a short time,” and exhaled an infinite quantity of cigarette smoke in my face
- I checked out this psycho with each little bit of seriousness I’ve in me and, as calmly as I might, replied, “You have got 5 seconds to maneuver your automotive earlier than one thing horrible occurs.”
- He noticed the reality in my eyes, bought in his van, and sped off
As I attempt to shirk accountability, let’s discuss Reykjavik Lease-a-car not fixing their vehicles
Reykjavik Lease-a-car gave me a very good value on my car for the week I wanted it. They promote “high quality vehicles” on their web site, however the whole cause the keys remained locked in my automotive was as a result of they purchased absolutely the least expensive model of my automotive they might discover. After I spoke to a reservations agent upon my return to Reykjavik she knowledgeable me that they didn’t pay further for the flexibility to unlock the hatch with the distant. That this was unfaithful didn’t make issues higher, what a bizarre strategy to justify the entire state of affairs: “it’s not our fault, we’re actually low cost and attempt to reduce prices wherever we are able to!”
So, the ethical of the story…
Don’t be a silly like I used to be. Oh, and ensure trunk buttons work on hatchbacks you lease.