I have rented from Avis twice in the past month - once after National declined my reservation because I didn't have a credit card, only a debit card...which I had used at their airport location just two weeks prior. Another story for another day. That evening my husband and I went into Avis at the Airport, rented a sweet rental in 5 minutes or less. The rental was hassle free, the car was like new - overall great experience.
Next trip needing a rental vehicle required a vehicle for 5 seniors - enough for everyone to have their own space. Avis had what we needed and to avoid all the airport fees for a week rental I went ahead and rented at a non-airport location. We got there about 45 minutes early and the man at Avis commented that we were early and he needed to get the car ready. We told him no problem and sat and waited for him. The car he presents to us had water dripping off of it on the outside and the inside had not been touched. We found computer games, a crayon, drawings from a young child and the car smelled funky. I got the impression this man was not too interested in doing his job so we got our paperwork and let the site.
We return the vehicle 6 days later as planned and we were checked in at 6:01 pm, so all the add on fees were for 7 days now, not 6. The man (not the same as previously) ran out to check miles and fuel levels. He sat in the front seat of the car to gather this data. He totaled out my receipt for $437.36 and I asked him if this was final and he said yes. Later that evening I saw an alert come across my iphone and it said $298.41 but it was late and the flags didn't go up until the next day.
Evidently since (2) charges went though on the same day they totaled the sum up, which was a whopping $702.36!!
I called today to discuss this with this off site location, which I came to find out is a franchisee and the airport location is a corporate facility. The man, Ben, who later told me he was the assistant manager immediately told me that the charge that comes to his mind first off is the "smoking fee" that MAY be assessed. I told him that had I known the vehicle was non-smoking I wouldn't have rented it...the man who rented to me never made mention of any discosures or upcharges when we signed the rental agreement. I asked Ben if I could speak to the manager and he said "well he's hardly ever here", and I told him I had talked to Mark on the previous Wednesday when I rented the car and he said Yeah, he's the franchisee owner! What are you serious?? First of all he brings us a dirty vehicle, does not discuss any disclosures which Ben says is standard operating procedure, and then doesn't even have the balls to let me know -Oh by the way I'm gonna pull an Additional $265 out of your account and not tell you. What kind of businessman is this??? His AM Ben says that the owner does set his own rules but that smoking is absolutely prohibited in his vehicles. If he felt that strongly about it, why didn't he make mention of it at time of rental??? Ben felt that perhaps we had a bad experience and he couldn't change that. He also said there was NO WAY that I would be refunded my money that Avis took out of my account without permission. I asked what if I'd not had the funds available and his reply was well the banks shove those kind of charges through and you would have gotten a overdraft fee! Bold Ben...
So too totally different Avis experiences - this is the 2nd time now I've been stung by a franchisee location. I have learned my lesson. read more
