Skip to content
Elliott Report

Elliott Report

  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
    • Destinations
    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • Safe Travels
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
    • Red List/Green List
    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
  • Company Contacts
  • Sites
    • Elliott Advocacy
    • Christopher Elliott’s books
    • Elliott Confidential
    • EA Facebook Group
  • Newsletters
    • Elliott Advocacy Today (Daily)
    • Elliott Confidential (Premium)
    • Elliott’s E-Mail (Weekly)
    • Media Leads (Weekly)
  • Advocacy
  • About
  • Contact Us
Get Help
Elliott Report

Elliott Report

  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
    • Destinations
    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • Safe Travels
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
    • Red List/Green List
    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
  • Company Contacts
  • Sites
    • Elliott Advocacy
    • Christopher Elliott’s books
    • Elliott Confidential
    • EA Facebook Group
  • Newsletters
    • Elliott Advocacy Today (Daily)
    • Elliott Confidential (Premium)
    • Elliott’s E-Mail (Weekly)
    • Media Leads (Weekly)
  • Advocacy
  • About
  • Contact Us

AVIS

Randall Lee returns a rental car to Avis after a 7-hour rental during which he only drove 57 miles -- only to receive a $450 cleaning fee a week later for a “heavy smoke smell.” But hang on. Neither Lee nor his wife smoke. Can he get a refund? 

Avis charged me $450 for a “heavy smoke smell” in my car — but I don’t smoke!

December 3, 2025December 3, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Randall Lee returns a rental car to Avis after a 7-hour rental during which he only drove 57 miles — only to receive a $450 cleaning fee a week later for a “heavy smoke smell.” But hang on. Neither Lee nor his wife smoke. Can he get a refund? 

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
When Nicholas Chandler rented an Avis car for one day, a rear-end crash led to a jaw-dropping $7,671 charge for 29 days of “loss of use” — despite the other driver being at fault. His insurance refused payment, citing vague billing. Avis’ claims partner, Sedgwick, admitted a possible error but offered no resolution. Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott uncovered internal confusion: Avis had charged Chandler the maximum daily rate as if he’d kept the car. After intervention, Avis refunded $7,000, admitting the mistake. A cautionary tale of rental car pitfalls and the fight against controversial “loss of use” fees.

Help! Avis charged me $7,671 for a one-day car rental

November 4, 2025May 14, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Nicholas Chandler was rear-ended while driving an Avis rental car. Even though the other driver was at fault, Avis charged him for the entire time the car was out of commission. Can he get a refund?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Just when you think you've seen every car rental fee under the sun, you hear from someone like Jason Hunter. 

Help! Budget charged me $1,166 for a “loss of license plate” — is that legal?

April 26, 2025March 31, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Just when you think you’ve seen every car rental fee under the sun, you hear from someone like Jason Hunter. 

Categories Advocacy
Avis billed one of its customers $573 for damaging a windshield. But there was no damage to the windshield. What should he do?

Windshield damage on my Avis rental! Do I have to pay $573?

April 9, 2024April 8, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Avis billed one of its customers $573 for damaging a windshield. But there was no damage to the windshield. What should he do?

Categories Advocacy
Donald Davidson faces a $6,758 bill from Avis for squirrel damage to his rental car. He claims no responsibility, as the damage occurred naturally. Avis, however, insists on payment. This dilemma raises questions about liability and consumer rights. Should Davidson be held accountable for unforeseen, non-negligent damage?

Squirrels destroyed his rental car. Should Avis let him off the hook?

April 8, 2024January 4, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Squirrels destroyed Donald Davidson’s rental car – and now Avis wants him to pay $6,758 for the damage! Should we advocate for him?

Categories Should I Take The Case?
When Michael Kivel had to cancel his car rental reservation with Avis due to an illness, he expected a prompt refund. However, the process turned out to be more complicated than anticipated. Despite initially cancelling his reservation online and subsequently receiving an email confirmation of a $1,016 refund, the money remained elusive.

Avis promised me a refund of $1,016 — so where is it?

June 21, 2024September 11, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

What happened to Michael Kivel’s refund from Avis? The company promised him his money after he had to cancel his car rental reservation. Is the money lost?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Robert Cipriani returns his Avis minivan only to find that Avis has charged him double of what they should have. Find out what happened.

Double-billed by Avis for a van returned after hours

April 8, 2024November 9, 2022 by Christopher Elliott

When Robert Cipriani returns his Avis minivan, he expects to pay $1,770. Instead, Avis charges him twice. What happened — and how can he get his money back?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Budget surprises a customer with a $450 car rental cleaning fee for a nonexistent dog. Can he get his money back?

The really strange case of a $450 car rental cleaning fee for dog hair

January 21, 2024September 2, 2022 by Christopher Elliott

… Read more

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
After Claudia Lockwood returns her rental to Avis, the company broadsides her with a $4,228 bill for 34 more days on the car. Can it do that?

She returned her rental car, but Avis charged her an extra $4,228

April 8, 2024May 9, 2022 by Christopher Elliott

After Claudia Lockwood returns her rental to Avis, the company broadsides her with a $4,228 bill for 34 more days on the car. Can it do that?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
When Mayank Kumar gets into an accident in his Avis rental car, he does everything in his power to return the vehicle to the company. But nothing seems to be working, and now Avis is asking about its car.

He got into an accident in his Avis car. Why won’t the company take back the vehicle?

January 21, 2024March 14, 2022 by Christopher Elliott

… Read more

Categories Problem Solved
Older posts
Page1 Page2 Page3 Next →

What’s Your Problem?

If you have a consumer problem, please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. We’re always here to help. Our help is free.

Get Help

Our Newsletter

Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. Did we mention it's free?

Sign Up

What's This Site?

The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers.

Join Us

Follow Us

© 2025 Elliott Report | Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Features
    • Advocacy
    • Problem Solved
    • On Travel
    • The Travel Troubleshooter
    • Ultimate Consumer Guides
  • Company Contacts
  • Sites
    • Elliott Advocacy
    • Elliott Confidential
    • EA Facebook Group
  • Newsletters
    • Elliott Advocacy Today (Daily)
    • Elliott Confidential (Premium)
    • Elliott’s E-Mail (Weekly)
    • Media Leads (Weekly)
  • Advocacy
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Get Help

Don't Miss a Story!

Our award-winning newsletters, Elliott Advocacy Today, Elliott Confidential and Elliott's E-Mail, keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. 

Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!