To leave the hire car key outside?

[YorkshireLurker]

Bit of a random one.

I hire a car for work Mon-Weds. The hire company are supposed to pick it up within 8 business hours (so some time on Thursday).

In reality they never do, and they come either last thing Thursday or Friday, sometimes the following Monday!

The thing is, if I'm not home I have to leave the key in a safe place, and the only safe place is behind a shared fence post with my neighbour.

It obviously can't be seen from the street but it's not exactly secure and I do get annoyed having to remember to leave it out and bring it in after work all the time due to their incompetence.
The car also takes up a visitor parking spot for longer than it needs to which I think is starting to annoy the neighbours.

If I forgot to leave it out they'd be quick to charge my work a fortune for missed collection!

AIBU leaving the key out there all night in a strop?

Have you spoken to them to complain? I'd warn them first (in writing) that if they don't come within the time they promised you will have to leave the key out all night as you won't be around to bring it in. At least then you'll have covered yourself in case anything happens and they try to blame you.

Failing that, I'd look for another car hire company that's less flaky!

Thanks @sheepskinrug, I'd love to change but it's a contract one through work so I'm stuck with them

I will email them and just get it in writing that they know, good shout thank you

If this is regular, can you get one of those combo lock things which you can put a key in. They attach to the wall or whatever.
You can tell them the code in advance

If you've not formally handed it back or they haven't picked it up yet, you might want to check the t&c's to see who would be liable if something were to happen to it.

I used to do this all the time and it was fine. I did worry that someone would find the key stashed in an eggbox behind the bins, which was the agreed arrangement, but the car hire company were happy with the arrangement, but we do live on a very quiet residential street with hardly any passing traffic.

Coded keylock sounds like a good idea. Alternatively, if you are passing by the car hire office at the agreed period, you could drop the key off with them? Or drop the car off at the depot and they will take you home - these are the sort of arrangements we have for our regular work car hire use.

Thanks everyone, I'll defo look into something a bit more secure since it's long term and give them the code.

Merry Christmas