If I could give Avis Negative Stars, I would have written about one hundred reviews. The service of Avis is extremely disgusting to the point where I don't even know where to begin with this story. To start off, my family of four with two children rented a car from Avis in Lisbon, Portugal. We had a plan to travel to Algarve for three days after picking up the car from Avis rental that was booked 6 month in advance, keeping in mind that the travel to Algarve is 3 hours away from Lisbon. We arrived at the airport to pick up the car at 8:30am. Nonetheless, I waited in line for 3.5 hours to pick up the car. The service at the car rental station was horrible and tremendously slow as if the workers were working at their leisure, with no desire to work at appropriate speed. Additionally, the people at the car pick up service were not only slow, but were extremely rude as if they had no desire to help or answer any questions. When I had finally picked up my car, the car was not only dirty in the inside, but its gas tank was also not entirely full as it was marked on the contract, keeping in mind that the Avis workers were supposed to inspect the car before giving it to the next customer. This would thus make me pay for full tank of gas due to the laziness and dishonesty of the staff since they never inspected or considered the fact that the car's gas tank was not full. After finally receiving my car and getting on the road, driving on freeway for about 90 minutes away from Lisbon when our car broke down due to a previous wear of the clutch (confirmed by roadside assistance tow truck driver). After calling Avis 4 times and being hung up on 2 times, I was finally able to get someone on the phone. Now, during this time, my family (keep in mind we have 2 children and 2 adults) of 4 was sitting in the car with 95 degrees weather outside with no food or water on the freeway where there are constantly cars speeding passed us at high speed. This phone call was the most irritating and nerve-wracking phone-call I have ever been on. I have never received such horrible service and rude responses in my life, not to mention that again, I was hung up on 2 times by the supervisors. Every time I would reach a supervisor, they would transfer me to another one that provided no help whatsoever, aware that I was stuck in a desert-like environment in 95 degree weather with no stores or houses around or drinking water for another 50 miles. When I finally reached a supervisor, they told me that they will bring a tow truck to pick up the car and later they will send me a taxi to take me back to Lisbon (where I was) in order to pick up another car rather than giving me a replacement car or drive me to Algarve which is the same distance from where the car broke. However, when I asked them to take me to Algarve instead of take me back to Lisbon) they claimed that I may be lying to them due to fact that I am looking for a free ride to Algarve. The tow truck arrived after 2.5 hours, inspected the broken car, then Avis authorized the taxi to pick us up and drive us back to Lisbon. In meantime they placed ALL OF OUR 6 LUGAGES OUTSIDE ONTO THE ROADSIDE IN THE SMOKING HEAT WITH NO WATER. Waiting an additional 45 minutes (total of 3.25 hours), after the taxi arrived, the taxi man tried for over an hour explaining our situation and negotiating with Avis supervisor to take us to Algarve instead of taking us back to Lisbon, finally, they agreed to lend us a car in Algarve.
We had thus arrived in Algarve at 8pm and wasted a whole vacation day when we were supposed to arrive before 12pm. The next day when I tried to pick up the new car in Algarve, they made ME PAY additional €1000 (about $1335.46)! I have never experienced such a worse situation in my life. The Avis staff is so unorganized and unprofessional. They have NO DESIRE TO HELP WHATSOEVER and will do anything to be lazy and get on your nerves. 3 days later Avis charged my credit card an additional $3083.03 (without my authorization) for repairing the clutch on an old car that I drove for less than 200Km.
Moral of the story, I COMPLETLY DO NOT recommend renting a car from Avis. We were treated in a deliberately unfair way, they were very cruel, and disrespectful to tourist that bringing business to their city, and unkind to my family which ruined our vacation and put us all in danger, I was told I am a lying about broken car because I am looking for a free ride to Algarve, then I was told I broke their car and must pay to repair it "an old car with pervious wear".
Before you do business with AVIS please go online and research AVIS and you will fine may customer with horrible experience especially on "consumeraffairs.com" read more