a zero rating would be a kind one for my experience here. Is there a negative scale? Three things learned about Avis in Medger Evers airport :
a) Despite having pre-arranged this car rental through a 3rd party vendor online, that the price & rules were not the same, for apparently just me.
b) This Avis agency had no interest in my business or how I was treated, and any one particular employee is apparently allowed to determine who this company will conduct business with at any given moment. It is discrimination, plain & simple. Not racism or sexism, as I am a Caucasian woman myself, but discriminatory nonetheless.
c)A pre-arranged price is NOT binding and if the car you have pre-arranged to rent is not available, tough. No one cares or even attempts to remedy.
I have never once in my life been treated so rudely while attempting to conduct business anywhere, in travel or in fact, in any day to day business interactions. I know that this was not an isolated incident. I am certain that this has happened before and will continue to happen to anyone at any given time at Avis in Jackson Medger Evers airport. Yes, I was frustrated with the changes in price & car available, but NONE of this should have happened. I never raised MY voice. I did walk away from the counter to contact customer service, who eventually remedied the situation by over-riding the entirety of our "non refundable purchase price" once we'd been told "too bad, no refunds." Avis Customer Service was actually quite apologetic and helpful. Oddly enough, the understanding man on the phone, could not "get in contact with the local Avis agency." We did lose the $60 value of additional liability insurance purchased through priceline.
One particular employee, a very self important ,abrasive, Caucasian woman in her 40s, decided that she "WOULD NOT RENT", throwing her hands in my mother's face, dismissing us as if our business was not wanted and that SHE personally could negate any and all business, based on some unknown personal issue she had with me from the moment I approached the counter. I regret not getting her name, as I was distracted by the horrific "service" received. She had long, dirty blonde curly-ish hair and a horrible attitude.
I lost 2 hours of not only my life, but my vacation travel time attempting to complete what should have been a simple 10 minute business exchange. I was condescended to, harassed and seemingly trapped at this airport with few options. This particular woman actually ANNOUNCED to (what seemed to me) the entire airport, as loudly as possible, that my debit and credit card would not be accepted and that could "CONTACT EQUIFAX CREDIT AGENCY" .Again, as loudly as she could. She all but asked if I could "afford" to rent a car at all. I assure you is not the issue and nothing about my appearance or demeanor would insinuate this. It would be shameful and exceptionally rude if that were the case, but it is not.
I was not clearly informed of the Avis policy, purchasing through priceline on a simple last minute google search, but instead of attempting to correct this issue, this irate employee proceeded to use it as a way to humiliate me for her own pleasure. She even told us "too bad" we don't have any SUVS. Not her problem and the attitude was "what are you going to do about it?"
Oddly enough, she had no issue providing an SUV to the next customer in line, a Caucasian man, all while smirking and glaring at us as we attempted to cancel the rental car. We even agreed to pay an additional $115 due to misunderstanding about policies. After we, against our better judgement, processed the rental for the inflated price, this horrid woman then announced in a very loud tone that she "WOULD NOT RENT" while throwing her hands in my mother's face. So we not only were expected to pay 30% more, not receive the car we reserved, THEN this employee, after a supposed nonrefundable purchase, is allowed to decide that SHE WILL NOT RENT. I was not aware that a "customer service" agent- oh the irony of that title- could make such a decision.
I can guarantee this, I certainly will never conduct business with Avis again, anywhere world wide. No friends, family or acquaintances of mine will either. Avis lost a lot of customers last Tuesday, as those waiting in line or even walking through the terminal, will not either. Total strangers, both travellers and staff of the airport & other rental agencies approached us to volunteer their disgust with the whole nightmarish situation. One person even commented "I hope this doesn't ruin your time here in Mississippi". I am a native, but I thought that to be a kind remark, particularly from a stranger.
After this horrendous debacle, as I drove out of the airport, the parking lot attendant apologized for the entire saga, as she had heard about the outrageous scene this employee had made before I could exit the airport.
Please do yourself a favor, go ANYWHERE else. read more
