Comments on: A smashed window on my rental car — and a surprise bill

By: Paulette Baker

Paulette Baker — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:02:52 +0000

Rina,
My company uses Avis almost exclusively, and the cost of the rental is determined by both days and hours, not days alone. Also, if the parking area was not staffed at night and there were no security cameras in the lot, how was Avis to know exactly when Seigel relinquished possession of the car? Was the key-drop box somehow monitored? Dropping the car off 5 minutes after closing or 5 minutes before opening the next day would not have made a difference in her rate if there was no mechanism for determining the precise drop-off time. You assume that she was being cheap when there is no information in this article to support your charge. Perhaps she was unable to get back before the rental office closed for the day and had to check in for a flight the next morning before the rental office opened. Perhaps Seigel should have scheduled better, but sometimes things are outside our control, especially when traveling.

By: Allison

Allison — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:47:07 +0000

Had to return an Avis car to the Nice (France) near-airport location at about 5 a.m (this was about 9 years ago). We encountered a gated and locked facility. There were approximately five other people trying to return cars at the same time (we all had early flights). We were never told by anyone when picking up the car that the facility would not be open at the time we needed to return the car. What to do? Leave the car, unlocked, keys inside, on a public street. Never got a final receipt (ccard was charged for the estimated time at pick up) Had to hitch a ride on the Hertz bus to the terminal. Never heard a peep from Avis. Guess we were quite lucky…

By: Nobody

Nobody — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:25:14 +0000

Vandalism? Please show me a copy of the police report. I would expect falsifying a police report is a crime in most civilized areas of the world. Also, the renter may have a history of spouse-smashed windows. I’d check the renter’s golf clubs for glass splinters.

By: John

John — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:20:35 +0000

AVIS in the UK is a joke with horrible service and fails to live up to the standards they set for themselves. Having said that, I have returned more than my fair share of vehicles out of hours and it had nothing to do with being cheap but everything to do with early morning flights. I realize when I do this I’m taking a risk.

In this case, I would flip it the situation on its ear. What proof does Jessica have that she returned the vehicle without the broken window? AVIS can state that when they received the car that the window was broken. Should there be some security in the lot? Sure. But Jessica is responsible for the vehicle until such time as an AVIS employee takes control of the vehicle. She’s lucky to get her money back

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:40:56 +0000

I rent frequently from Avis for work travel. I can’t say it has been done every time but many times when i have asked about returning a car after hours I was told that I could, but that I was responsible for the car until they opened the next morning. I appreciated them telling me this when i asked about it so i could make an informed decision regarding the return.

By: Dang

Dang — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:36:01 +0000

I agreed with Lianne, when car rental company allow for customer returning car after hours, they arrange secured facilities as keys drop box, etc… and relied on the date and time noted by the customer themselves.
I have done it many many times without incident in the US and Canada (but not in UK). But I shall follow Jenzen procedure if renting in UK. Thank for the tip.
I hope I won’t be paranoia with the time by this site.

By: Joel

Joel — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:44:09 +0000

+1 for renting from Hertz. When we were in Australia, our rental car’s window was broken by thieves while we were outside my in-laws’ place. When I discovered it and called Hertz, they were more concerned about us and our things than about the car — they very nicely helped us out and told us where to return the car for a new one, charged us the bare minimum deductable for the replacement (since we had insurance) and had us on our way again in no time.

By: Seamus

Seamus — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:16:06 +0000

“The reason why Jessica left the car was so she wouldn’t be charged another day instead of returning it the next day. That is a chance that she took by returning after hours.” Thus says Rina above.

It would do justice to Jessica in replying to her problem, Rina, if you would take the time to actually read, re-read and read of her plight again to see where you came up with that idiotic reply. I must have missed the part where she “left the car was so she wouldn’t be charged another day instead of returning it the next day.” Where did you see it?

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:12:24 +0000

Here’s an idea. Rental companies are starting to use systems which take photos of the car as you leave the lot. Well, how about using that same system to photograph vehicles entering a return lot after hours. Then there’s no doubt whether the vehicle was damaged before, or after the return.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:54:06 +0000

It is too bad they didn’t respond at first…but they fixed it.

I had a pressure crack in the windshield of a rental car years ago. I’m told it was probably due to an improper windshield installation. They charged me for it. I never rented again from them. I never rented from their successor company. The local franchise owner was a major GM dealear. I bought a Ford. They got me for about $200. It cost them thousands in lost business.

What goes around comes around.