Avis

Had a car reserved two months in advance with them. Showed up and they had NO CARS...talked to a girl online who was nice and told us that if we rented the same type of car for the same period they would reimburse the difference. We did, and now we'll probably have to take them to small claims to get them to honor the deal. If they hadn't made that offer, we would have just reluctantly taken our personal car on the trip, but we trusted them..stupid us!

Two weeks ago, on our trip to Europe, we rented a car from Avis at the Munich airport. Upon receiving the car, the paperwork showed no damage. The cars are picked up a fair distance from the desk in a poorly-lit multistory garage. There is no attendant at the location you pick up the car. We walked around the car and it looked fine. We returned it back a week later and within 15-seconds of us stopping, the lady who received the car identified a chip on the windshield. The chip is the size of tip of a ball-point pen. How do I know? The letter identifying the damage has several pictures attached and is using a ball-point pen to point to the damage. The repair charge is 750 Euros. My complaint is two-fold: 1) as a driver, I would definitely notice a rock hitting my windshield especially if it causes a damage. I had no rock hitting any part of the car. Further, the speed with which the attendant zoomed on the tiny chip on the windshield leads me to believe, she knew it was there. 2) let's assume for the moment that the damage occurred while the car was in my possession. 750 Euros for damage of this extent is excessive beyond belief. My conclusion is that not only Avis will not repair it, they will keep it ready for the next customer to hit them with the same "damage".

With the holiday’s approaching I want to share my experience. Although my car rental was related to an auto accident Avis Budget Car Rental, Llc. Requested my bankcard for a minimal deposit until the insurance could be verified. Having failed to either contact us to verify information provided on the claim, or bill the insurance company properly four months later a charge of over $400. Was applied toward the bankcard using the same authorization number from the date in which the deposit was made.

After contacting Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC., customer service department about the matter, I was made aware that not only did Budget fail to handle billing correctly, but they overcharged by a whopping 5 days.

The representative kindly adjusted the bill, which zeroed the balance out, right? Not so, I was reimbursed by the insurance company as expected, but another four months later this past October, Avis Budget’s 5 day overcharge was re-applied to the bankcard using the very same authorization number. Although Avis Budget has a contract with my auto insurance carrier in eight months not one of their representatives attempted to contact us to verify the information on insurance claim.

Adding insult to injury although the overcharge had been previously adjusted, and the date of the rental’s return is verifiable Avis Budget Car Rental, Llc. Representatives have refused to re-adjust the bill, or forward the matter to their corporate office for resolve.

Has this happened to anyone else? I’m seriously considering looking at filing a class action. I rented a car from Avis through Hotwire, and when I went to the counter, the agent kept trying to “up sell” me on everything but I said no. When she was going through the options, she either showed me on the form how much the insurance would be and I said no that’s ok, and then she gave me the form to initial.

I asked her why it said $105 instead of the $52 that I paid through Hotwire and she said they didn’t know how much I paid through Hotwire but that was the Avis charge in their system and that I would only have to pay what I paid Hotwire. Well, when I went back a few days later to return the car, I saw they’d charged me this same $105. I couldn’t figure out why, and so I disputed the charge.

They took off a $15 charge for going over the time – the manager said even though I brought it back at the contract time, I picked it up an hour early so they should have adjusted my return time, so he waived that fee. But I was talking about the whole thing, not $15. The manager shows me where I had allegedly agreed to insurance at a cost of more than I paid for the car – $90. (I realized that this $90 plus the $15 equals the $105 initial payment I saw, which makes the initial $15 “late” charge also suspect, unless they knew somehow I’d bring it back “late.”)

I explained that the agent either circled that herself when she was showing me the options or circled it after I signed because I have never in my life purchased insurance for a car rental since I have my own. We had just gotten a rental car the other day and also declined the insurance. I did notice that Enterprise (the rental company we got a car from a few days prior) also tried to up sell us on options and even asked what my deductible is, like he was trying to scare me into buying the insurance. I’m thinking this must happen a lot.

These guys are a serious bunch of thieves. I was hit from behind and the evidence they have at hand is quiet clear to whose fault the accident was. However, at the time of the accident, AVIS collected information from the third party to the accident and somehow managed to pay the third party out even though she was at fault. Now they expect me to pay the insurance excess. I personally suspect either some sort of internal fraud to favor certain people or simply staff fraud who make a commission from paying out wrong claims. (BRIBERY at its best i guess)... complaining doesnt help, because obviously they dont care about customer service. Personally, i think its because we continue to support these thieves and they make enough business. i wish someone would investigate these guys. or perhaps publicize these acts to a point where they start feeling the pinch... I will as of this point never support these clowns again.

I rented a Nissan Altima for a 4.5 hour long trip. The vehicle started making a dreadfully loud noise the day before the trip ended. On the way home, I contacted Avis because the car had eaten 1/4 tank of gasoline in 43 miles. I explained that I had to keep stopping, and it didn't seem dangerous enough to contact the emergency roadside number. When I returned the car 45 minutes late, I was charged a late fee, and I had paid 75.00 total on gasoline. The car should have been able to do the entire trip on one tank of gas. The representative ended up charging me more than the amount I was scheduled to pay, after presenting a coupon initially at pick up. I saw this complaint site and felt discouraged. I called Avis, who submitted the complaint but I didn't think I would obtain resolution, after it was already charged to my credit card. A week later, the company sent me a letter to inform me of a fair refund, and I will continue using the company for that reason.

Heads up when you rent a car from Avis, I just had a bad experience and was overcharged by $110.00

I had to do an upgrade because they didnt have a mid-size available as requested through Hotwire, but 5 dollars a day turners into 7 a day after all taxes and I was also tricked into getting a vehicle protection that I specifically declined. Contract was never explained to me and customer service was the worst I have ever came across. Car was nice and clean, however stay away or triple check all new charges and contract, this Avis is located at Atlanta Int airport.

I recently had to make use of an Avis rental vehicle when my vehicle went in for damage repairs. My insurance company made the arrangements and the vehicle was delivered to Ger-Matic Panelbeaters in Silverton.

I used the vehicle for a week and on the 31st March and I notified the call centre that they must pick up the vehicle between 16:00 and 16:30 at the same premises it was delivered to. I arrived at Ger-Matic at 16:00 after which the receptionist called the CSIR branch to notify them that I was there and that they can come and collect the rented vehicle.

I took delivery of my own vehicle and moved my personal belongings to my own vehicle. I then inspected the vehicle inside and out to make sure everything was in order which it was. I waited for their driver until 16:45 and then handed the keys to the receptionist at Ger-Matic. At 17:10 I received a call from a lady at Avis informing me that tere was damage to the rented vehicle. I was shocked by this allegation as I knew that I have inspected the vehicle before I left and there was nothing wrong with it. My questions: Why were they not there when I picked up my vehicle? & Their logo 'we try harder' to do what!?

I paid in full the car rental before I arrived to the international airport in Miami, they offered to me a full tank for a "bargain price"
3.16 dollars a galon, they said the regular price on the gas stations were 3.43 dollars a galon. Then I accepted, also they said I could return the car with no gas at all. The regular price in Miami was below 3.15 . They lied about it!
When I checked my statement from my credit card, they charged me more than a full tank, like 2 full tanks. then I started to complain about it.
Finaly I don't recomend to you use this car rental company
PD: I returned the car with half tank !

I rented a car from Avis through Priceline and prepaid. The agreement was for $124.82 total. I returned the vehicle early and did not contract for any additional expenses. Yet when I returned the car I was charged an additional $326.15 without any explanation on the reciept. My rental rate on priceline was $22.00 per day and on the contract at pickup it showed a rate of $21.74 per day. Yet my retrun reciept suddenly charged me a rate of $83.99 per day plus additonal fees, a so called concession recovery fee, plus taxes, which was never a part of either the contract nor the agreement through Priceline. The local manager has no explanation, but says this is the computer systems of Avis national. As a result all I can say not only are they thieves committing criminal acts, but obviously organized criminals to boot!

This was the worst experience ever! No wonder that Avis is the underdog and will most likely go out of business soon. I hear that they have so many lawsuits against them. Avis teaches their associates to cheat customers into signing the rental agreement, and charge outragous prices on upgrades, insurance and gps and roadside. People, you must read your contracts and don't sign if you don't understand. Keep all your papers to know what daily rates are and weekly rates. DO NOT RENT FROM AVIS AS THEY ARE TAUGHT TO SCAM CUSTOMERS TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT. Then you cannot dispute charges. The managers want the agents to sell because they make commissions. So therefore you are gonna get suckered. Unless you like paying high bills I would stay away from Avis.

The "lady" named christina at this location called me being and talked to me very rude! Saying I would have to pay for some drink that spilled in a small part of the back carpet and that it would range from 50 to 100 and that she would not give me the name of the company cleaning it, and that it wasnt up to me to choose how to clean it because it was my fault that it was like that, and she simply said I have no time to be wasted with you and hung up the phone with out letting me talk! Never been treated so rude by someone in avis like this chiristina

I rented a car in santodomingo airport in domincan republic. It was booked on line with confirmation number etc. But was over charged $40 more than final price confirmed in intenerary. They told me contact their corporate office in parsippany newjersey or virginia address they gave me later. All 3 avis rep s were of no help. Im now disputing with my credit card. I seen other complaints on boards but now I face it first hand. Dont rent international with avis check the message boards of complaints theyre fraud with suspicious activity I seen with otheres with similar problems as me

On June 24, 2010, I rented a vehicle in Baltimore, MD for one day. At the time that I picked up the rental vehicle, the computer system at the rental location was not working and so the person at the Avis counter filled out the rental agreement by hand. I have included a copy of the rental agreement with this letter.

The booking was for $53.99 as shown on the reservation that I made. I was very surprised therefore when I received my credit card statement which showed a charge from Avis of $135.48. I contacted Avis customer service to inquire about the charge. Customer service claimed that I had not returned the car to the Sheraton Hotel in Baltimore, but had instead driven it to JFK airport where I returned it at 9AM on June 25.

I disputed the claim that I had taken the car to JFK. As proof, I faxed to Avis customer service my boarding pass for a JetBlue flight from Baltimore to Boston at 11:30 AM on 25 June, a bus ticket from Boston to Portland, ME as well as other credit card charges which indicated that I could not have physically driven the car to JFK. I also followed up with Avis customer service on multiple occasions by telephone. I have asked for a copy of the modification to the reservation which should have been processed if I had actually taken the car to JFK instead of returning it to the Sheraton in Baltimore, but I was told that such a document does not exist. Although the representatives told me that they would look into the matter, the charges were never reversed. Finally, I got my credit card company, Chase involved and they agreed that I could not have taken the car to JFK and refunded the charges.

Just recently, I received a letter and a message from Avis. The charge which were refunded to me by Chase have now been sent to Avis collections. Avis collections claims that I owe Avis $80 after Avis “adjusted” the charge to $108. However, this does not make sense. If my original rental was for $53.99 and I owe $80, then how was my account adjusted to $108 as collection claims? Clearly, there is a lot of confusion over this reservation on the part of Avis.

Avis customer service can only claim that I took the car to JFK. They can neither provide a return receipt nor proof that the original contract was changed to allow me to return the car to a new destination. On the other hand, I can provide a signed return receipt to show that I returned the car to Baltimore and I can provide my boarding pass and credit card statement to prove that I purchased a flight from Baltimore to Boston. What I believe happened was that due to the problems with the computers at the rental location in Baltimore, the Avis representative made a mistake. After I returned the vehicle to the Sheraton in Baltimore, she rented it to another customer who took it to JFK. Rather than to admit a mistake and despite the overwhelming proof that I provided that I could not have driven the car to JFK, Avis customer service has continued to aggressively and falsely claim that I owe Avis money.

I went to return my vehicle on Nov. 12 and the customer service representative said my total was different then on my copy of the rental agreement. When I asked why he said it was because of the insurance I declined. Apparently instead of removing it from the agreement like I asked when I rented the car he added it to the agreement. When I told him I wouldn't pay for it he assaulted me twice and proceeded to yell and scream at me that I was a crook and a lair in front of customers and other employees. When I asked to speak to a manager or corporate he refused to give me a number to call or his name.

As I generally have had positive experiences with Avis worldwide, I have recently decided to rent one of their cars in Brasilia, Brazil (Reservation #32664714US5). I was surprised when I was handed a very worn-out and noisy jalopy (c. 60, 000 mi old!) at a very high rate (approximately US$ 50+/day). Disgracefully, there was no other vehicle available at that very "low" rate. I wonder if the Avis Headquarters keeps an eye on their overseas branches/franchises. Also, I wonder why there is no complaints/positive feedback section within Avis's main website...

I recently completed a reservation for a rental with Avis, Rental Agreement #[protected], I made the reservation through the Avis.com online reservation system in North America for a location in France, Geneva Airport ( GGV ) I had a confirmed rate of approx $339.30 CAD determined by the exchange rate. The web site showed that Liability Insurance was approximately $14.81 CAD per day or $10.87 Euro's.

On the day of the rental September 13th 2010 I requested Liability Insurance from the agent, and she quoted me a price of $29.22 Euro's per day, I told her this couldn't be correct as the web site showed $14.81 CAD and pointed it out to her, she just shrugged and said the computer shows its $29.22 Euro's, and I could take it or leave it. I talked with her for over 30 minutes to make sure she had not added anything on to the rental increasing the cost to $29.22 Euro's, I specifically didn't want LDW ( collision insurance) from the rental company as they have a $1, 000 Euro deductible, and my Visa credit card covers LDW with no deductible. Visa told me specifically not to take the collision damage waiver from the car rental company as it would invalidate my Visa coverage. The agent insisted I was only purchasing liability Insurance and showed me the English translation of the French contract, it showed Liability Suppression for $29.22 Euro's and nothing else. This was a difference of approximately $365 CAD, at this point I didn't have any choice but to accept as I needed the rental car to continue my vacation, I felt I would have to sort it out when I returned. The agent gave me the French copy to sign and I was on my way.

On my return home I spoke with Avis customer service a number of times, I explained everything in detail, and requested the contract be adjusted according to the price quoted on their web site. They looked at the contract and informed me I was charged for 3 separate insurance options:
CDW 13.25
LLI 10.87
TPI 5.10
Total 29.22

They refused my refund request and sent me a copy of the French agreement I had signed, saying I had accepted the optional coverage, I disputed this further saying the agent assured me no other insurance was added and after reading the English translation, how could I possibly know they were combined under LLI. In North America each individual item is listed as accepted or declined.
I thought I was signing for LLI only, and the agent assured me that's all there was.

Therefore I feel the agent misled me, she appeared to understand English with no problem and at no time told me I was signing for two other optional services.

I also feel it is unethical or even illegal to provide a English translation which is different then the original French version and use that as a basis for obtaining a signature

Not only did I incur an extra charge of $365 CAD, but by adding the collision insurance I was now liable for the first $1, 000 Euro's in damages.

I should be refunded the two insurances I did not sign for, CDW and TPI a total of $263.37 EUR with tax.

I ahve attached copies of both the French and English agreements

I rented a car a hyundai, for 5 days at 39.99 a day and when I dropped it off the pakistani gut by the name of sam said, " no problem I will send you the receipt" well I got it from american express, the bill was for 355 dollars when should have been 200 plus tax.they had no excuse and kept talking in circles when i confronted them.I will be suing them for the ballance.Its time we ban the ###s doing this to innocent customers. Dont use Avis in Ocala, unless you want to get ripped off... signed, Raymond Martinez 10/18/10

Avis Fraudulent Charges
Avis scammed us. We rented a car from Avis at Frankfurt Airport in Germany during our vacation. From Aug. 26 - Setp. 9, 2010. When we returned the car, a rep. from Avis check the car almost with a microscope, then told us that there was a scratch on the front bumper by the passenger side. we took a look then and saw a scratch no more than 2-inch. He told us that we'll be charged 490.00Euro. He said it's nothing because it should be covered by the credit card we used to rent the car. This is a scam by Avis. The scratch does not even look new, it's was not easy to find, unless you put your face only few inches away.
A few minutes later he gave us a receipt with a picture that he marked there's a scratch at the back bumper! So, what is it then? Back or front?

It does not matter because it all were already there. Avis's scammed us because there was a rental insurance from MasterCard, that covers up to $500.00. That's is why they charged a 490.00 fee for damage. But this is in Germany, so 490.00Euro becomes 690.00 us dollars!

We are alerting the credit card company that this Avis charge is a fraudulent charge. But my advice is be very careful. Take plenty of pictures of the rental car before you drive off the parking lot. This way you have proof that you did not cause the so call 'scratch' or 'damages', and avoid a scam like the way Avis scammed us.