Porta potty rental advice

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

You see them everywhere, at construction sites, at street fairs, at parks, at public auctions, at other outdoor events, and even at large residential lawn parties. A Porta Potty is a convenient, inexpensive alternative to having stationary restrooms available.

If you find yourself in need of renting a Porta Potty or two for some special event, there are some things you need to know. This advice will save you time and money, and it will also ensure that your rental experience is a successful one.

First, to find a company in your area that rents out a Porta Potty, you should check your local yellow pages. Out -of- town companies may well tack on distance fees to the rental charge. They will then tell you that these fees cover the costs of them hauling their rest rooms outside of their local area. Don't fall for it! Follow some good advice and deal with a local company instead. This is not to say that local companies will be honorable. But at least they won't try to bill you bogus distance charges. It is a good idea to make a list of a few companies that you are considering calling. Then, before you call the actual companies, call your local Better Business Bureau first, or visit them online and find out if they are reputable.

When you finally settle on one or two companies to call to get a Porta Potty rental from, ask each one if they charge a deposit for each restroom, and how much it is. Find out if you must give a credit card number for a deposit, or if you can pay the deposit upfront with a personal check, cashier's check or money order. Using a credit card can have its advantages if the issuing company is willing to intercede on your behalf in case of poor service or fraud.

Here is some additional advice: the advantage of using a personal check is that you can stop payment within a couple days if, for some reason, you are unhappy with the Porta Potty you rented, or with the company's service. Another advantage for using any form of cash, other than a credit card, is the company won't be able to overcharge you. Also, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure that the daily rental charge includes toilet paper, et cetera; that there are no hidden charges.

Next, find out what their cancellation policy is. If your plans change and you don't need to rent a Porta Potty afterall, will your deposit be refundable? Or, will you forfeit it instead? Some companies charge you the first day's rental if you cancel within a certain number of days prior to the rental date. Be sure to ask each company about their cancellation policies. Find out how you need to cancel your contract just in case the need arises. Some companies require only a phone call, while others demand that cancellations be in writing and be received during business hours.

And always ask about liability. If something should happen to a Porta Potty while you are renting it, who is responsible for the damages? The company you choose to deal with should carry insurance, but they may try to charge you for the deductible. Or, they may choose to keep your deposit.

After you have chosen a rental company, follow this advice and make sure that they deliver the Porta Potty on the date chosen. You will also want to have planned out a spot for the restroom to set on. Ideally, this should be a sturdy cement pad, but at least the area must be level and some distance from your house. In the event that the restroom would get tipped over, it can easily soil sleeping bags, clothing - anything that is near it.

After the Porta Potty is delivered and set up, don't let the driver leave until you make sure that it is clean and fully functional. If your rental agreement is for more than a day, the rental company should be on a schedule to pump out and otherwise service the rental on a nightly basis. The service should be done whenever the Porta Potty is not in use.

Finally, when the rental agreement has expired, the Porta Potty will be picked up by the company. The driver will either inspect it on site to make sure it is free of damage, or he or she will take it back to the company to be inspected. If you have a digital camera, it would be a good idea to take a few pictures to document the condition of the restroom. You should then receive your deposit - if applicable - back in full.

The purpose of this article is not to make you weary of companies who rent Porta Potties. It is simply to give you sound advice so you can avoid some of the pitfalls of dealing with certain companies.