The "Please Forgive Me Leslie!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Travel day.  Smooth, uneventful travel day ...... until the last link.  Plane ride from Baltimore/Washington International to Miami went smooth.  Plane ride from Miami to Sint Maarten (SXM) also went smooth.  Even waiting on an entire plane load of people to disembark, then going through the wrong line at immigration went smooth.  At last, waiting and waiting on our luggage at the airport carousel went smooth.  But, getting transportation once outside the airport was challenging.  Nine months ago ...... you did read that I typed NINE MONTHS AGO ..... I made arrangements for our car rental through a fellow that we had rented from for maybe half a dozen trips to SMX. Met him on many of those trips and found him to be a real entrepreneur as well as a truly nice guy.  Mohammed first ran a car rental under the name of Panasonic Car Rentals.  Would meet him at the airport and after signing a few papers, off we would go.  Then he merged and changed the name and we had to be transported to a small shack near the airport to pick up the car.  We stuck with him, but weren't as impressed with the rental agency.  Then he changed the name again.  Still had to be picked up and taken to the new shack, but never got to see Mohammed again. Only "talked" to him via email.  People at the shack were rude and obnoxious at times. Upon returning the car the final time, they tried to charge us for a broken lock.  Said someone tried to break in the car and we were responsible for the lock.  I told him I called the rental agency when we got to our rented villa and told them we couldn't lock the car with a key, since the door lock wasn't working.  They naturally had no record of that.  I agreed to pay so I could escape the shack and headed to the airport.  Upon returning home I called the credit card company and filed a complaint so they would not pay the charge fee.  Then I emailed Mohammed.  He said he was sorry for the way I was treated and I would not be charged for the lock.  And, I wasn't.  The following year we found Leslie who ran another rental agency on the island and who had fantastic references.  So, for three years we rented from him.  No problems whatsoever.  This should be the end of my story, but dumb me ...... read on.  Then I heard from Mohammed that he had a new car rental franchise and after seeing the rate he gave to me for my next trip, (less than half the other quote) I decided to give him one more chance.  He assured me that I would get a nice car and the insurance and tax was included in his quote he gave me.  Well, after we left the carousel at the airport and headed to the Rent-A-Wreck stand, I knew I was in trouble.  I guess you're thinking that with a name like that I was nuts for renting with him.  I showed the fellow at the airport stand my email from Mohammed and he pointed to a long lone of people waiting outside.  Told me to get in line with them and someone would be there shortly.  We were line-members 17 and 18.  All had rented from Mohammed with the same guarantee of good service and good price.  So, now he needs NINE cars to take care of all these people.   Wonder if they go back as many years with him as we do.  The shuttle driver shows up and looks at the line.  "How many people are here for Rent-A-Wreck?" he asked.  All raised their hands.  He knew he was in trouble!  "I don't know who made the reservations for everyone, but we only have TWO cars left." he said.  Everyone started complaining and harassing the fellow, to put it mildly, except one person.  She shouted loudly, "I'LL TAKE ONE OF THEM!!"  Way to go Hon.   He told us to hop in the van and off we went, leaving the others to fend for themselves.  He didn't talk the entire way to the rental office, but kept shaking his head.  Upon arrival he took my credit card info and had me fill out the standard rental form.  Two minutes later a tall islander entered and walked behind the counter, looked at me, and said, "Don't I know you?"  "You're Mohammed, aren't you?" I questioned.  "I look something like him, but Mohammed has gone astray, again."  He went on to tell me he had some personal problems and left the island.  I was now dealing with another company who so nicely honored Mohammed's email quote, gave me a car (not quite what I was expecting), and off we went, just as 16 others were filing out of a couple of taxi's in front of the rental shop.  So, good luck to all and to all a good vacation!  And, Mohammed is finally off my list for good!   I hope he can get his act together again.  I only hope Leslie will forgive me for my stupid mistake.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.