Comments on: “Is this a new trend by rental companies to make a few extra bucks?”

By: jaxon

jaxon — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:18:10 +0000

I have a positive story to tell, not a Hertz rental, though. Last month when we returned the car, the fellow inspecting asked how we had gotten a scrape on the front bumper. We were both non-plussed and I still have no idea how that could have happened given our parking/driving that week — it surely was nothing we had done. I always do an inspection before I drive off the rental lot, so I know it wasn’t there when I rented it.
The fellow was very nice and said — we will mark it as already present — don’t want to lose good customers, he said to his co-worker. I was flabbergasted, and my husband turned to me as we walked off, saying, “Guess sometimes it’s good to be old — had we been kids, we probably would have been charged.” The funny thing was I had been ticked at that rental company because I had reserved a Prius, didn’t get it, and loudly complained.

By: Bruce InCharlotte

Bruce InCharlotte — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:15:06 +0000

Agreed with the above post – take digital pictures, including one of the gas gauge and the mileage. They cost nothing and after a month or so, you can delete them. I wouldn’t worry so much about the time stamp – the background will clearly show that the car is in the return lanes, though if you can include one of their smiling and happy employees checking the car, that always helps.

Dollar at LAX has twice tried to overcharge me, once because I returned it the same as I got it (at 3/4 of a tank) and once they tried to hit me for $14/day LDW when the contract said $9/day. When I complained by email, they quickly reversed the charges, but how many people look that closely at their receipts? In the second email, I told them that if they mess it up one more time, they lose a very frequent customer.

By: Joe Farrell

Joe Farrell — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:20:06 +0000

@ Bill – hey, if you every get charged the top off = then you can ask to see THEIR proof that THEY topped it off. haha

I got that scam pulled on my so I send THEM a demand for THEIR receipt. Never got it – and got the charge removed in response as an ‘accommodation.’

Everybody plays the car rental game and how many times have we said, ‘its only a rental.’ The companies have their side too.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:25:57 +0000

@Jerry Mandel:

As someone who works for a franchise organization, I can assure you that it is in the franchisor’s best interest to make sure that they are policing their franchisees. There are quality and brand standards that franchisees are contractually obligated to meet in order to keep their franchise. To say Hertz or Avis does not have any control over how their franchised locations are run is false.

Allowing your franchisees to run their business the way they see fit without regard to these standards is a stupid business move – all it does is lessen the quality perception amongst consumers.

McDonalds makes its franchisees tow the line, and for good reason…they have an image and a value proposition to the consumer to deliver on…every visit every time. They have shown that they have no problem yanking a franchise from an owner if they do not run things the right way.

Consumers do not care if they are visiting a corporate location or a franchised one. In their mind, Hertz is Hertz or McDonalds is McDonalds, regardless of who operates the location.

Perhaps the franchisors need to step up and put the smack down on these rogue franchisees who seem to care little about their customers or the brand they represent.. These folks are only serving to hurt the reputation of the parent company – something they do not need.

By: Bela Fleck

Bela Fleck — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:03:33 +0000

I agree with Regina. And Sven. It doesn’t hurt to let the employees see you taking the photos either. It can be a bit inflammatory, but it lets them know you’re on your guard against these fraudulent charges. Any employee who would give you a hard time about it only would do so because s/he is planning to do something they shouldn’t.

By: Bill Sheppard

Bill Sheppard — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:53:15 +0000

I just got post-charged by Budget at John Wayne (Orange County) $44.20 for 4.6 gallons of gas, supposedly for not having refilled (I did). I drove a total of 68 miles in a car rated for 28mpg on the highway (which is almost exclusively what I drove). 4.6 gallons? And almost $10/gallon?!?

When I called to complain they asked where I filled up – I told them somewhere between Anaheim and the airport (a total of 12 miles). He suggested if I had filled up in Anaheim then I’d still owe for a top-off. I did fax them the receipt. If they don’t refund the charge I’ll dispute with AmEx…

By: Regina

Regina — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:33:43 +0000

His friend should have immediately put the cleaning charge into dispute with the credit card company, which would backed him up. This sounds like outright fraud to me and he absolutely should not have paid it.

By: Sven

Sven — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:10:37 +0000

Most rental companies have room to negotiate prices. If something (car or accessory) is just sitting in the back room or parking lot collecting dust, and the rental company can rent it out for less than the listed price, why wouldn’t they?

The best way to protect yourself against fees is to take photos with a camera that has an accurate time stamp.

By: Jerry Mandel

Jerry Mandel — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:00:42 +0000

People write that they will never use Hertz, National, Avis, etc. again because of bad experiences. What will it take to educate people that the national car rental companies have little control over their franchisees?

By: Scott mcmurren

Scott mcmurren — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:19:55 +0000

Advantage Rent a Car has a “roadside assistance” insurance policy of $3/day in Seattle that you have to opt out of if you do not wish to have. They don’t ask you–they just charge you. I’ve seen it at other Advantage locations as well. It’s extremely low-rent to apply these hidden charges, IMHO.