I had the exact same experience as Michael M did in 7/2014. I rented in April of 2016 from Avis Anchorage Airport. Month later received a bill in mail for $ 1,500 for body damage repair. What a surprise!! I did not hit anything or involved in any kind of collision.
. The receiving attendant at the airport said nothing about any damage. They sent me a copy of his report, completed after we left car, indicating paint chip on wheel well. That was also the only picture they provided to me. There was no mention of any other marks or damage on the report.The paint chip was smaller than the 1.5" X 1.5" damage they want reported before you leave the airport. I don't honestly know if the chip was there when I rented the car but if it was, it did not meet their requirement of body damage greater than a silver dollar and I would have not gone back to the office to report. It was not body damage, but a paint chip.
Included in the repair was over $ 500 just for a front grill part so I asked for a picture showing the grill damage since that was the most expensive part of the repair, not the paint chip.. They could not provide anything else. I contested the claim, and they said, " The Board reviewed my request and this is a valid claim".
Who is to say the damage was not done after I returned the car either by Avis employee or another car? Again, the receiving attendant said nothing about damage on our return of car.
If there was damage to vehicle on return, the attendant has an obligation to make the renter aware of it on return so it can be identified and seen by the renter.
I have filed a complaint with Avis Corporate, knowing the Anchorage Airport location is not a Corporate Avis business.
I have rented vehicles from Avis over the last 20 years and this will be the last time I use them. read more
