I can only sympathise with your problem.
If it is any consolation, I suspect and hope that several of these intermediate car hire operations who are treating clients badly will go out of business over the next year.
Between the economic crisis, the introduction of new motorway tolls, particularly in on the A22 Via de Infante in the Algarve, and the ever rising price of fuel, it is already noticeable that many more folk are looking to use public transport when visiting Portugal.
If you are going to hire a car, rent it from one of the companies recommended on tripadvisor forums or from one of the big 5.
