Bogota Colombia-- Avoid Hertz rent a car

Hello, I am new to fodors and wanted to share my experience with Hertz.
I made a reservation online with Hertz for a vehicle for $1295.26. In this amount tax and loss damage waiver are clearly itemized.
When I go to pick up the car at the Bogota airport I discover there is not a Hertz office at the airport. Trying to remedy the situation as quickly as possible I call the main Bogota location, during posted business hours, no answer. We decide not to try and reach the main office because it is close to the stated closing time. We decide to try and pick up the car on Sunday December 21.
We arrive at the main office on Sunday at 09:00, the posted opening time, but discover no one is there to help us. We wait for one hour until 10:00 when two women appear that can help us.
They inform us that the price that was agreed upon is not correct and that I will have to pay $2091.26. They attribute this increase to taxes and insurance. I will again state that those charges are itemized in my original quote. Because my friend of many years is getting married that evening in Villa de Leyva , I (under protest) sign the ticket for this outrageous amount.
The amount charged is 61% higher than the quoted price.
I take the car and use it as agreed until Wednesday Dec 31. The agreement states that the car is to be at the Cartagena airport at 18:00.
We were at the Cartagena airport at 18:00. There was not a Hertz representative present. We called the local Hertz office during posted business hours. The office did not answer.
I now have a car that I have no use for. I decide to take the unwanted car back to my hotel, and assume I will have to find a Hertz representative the next day.
We are back at the hotel with the car. My friend's cell phone rings. It is Hertz looking for their car. We tell them where they can come and pick up the car. Hertz representatives show up to get the car. I bring the car to them. They insist that I take the car and fill it with gas. I inform them that I am through with the car and with Hertz.
Hopefully, if you decide to rent a car in Colombia, you can find better service with one of the other companies.

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qwovadis on Jun 1, 09 at 08:41 AM

sorry for your negative experience but

you agreed to the new price rather than shopping around.

of course you must return with a full tank or pay extra.

that will be true of all agencies...

crellston on Jun 2, 09 at 05:37 AM

I too have had problems with Hertz mostly in Asia and mainly because there office was not manned when i arrived to collect a pre arranged car. However, qwovadis is correct. Once you accept the "revised" price you have entered into a binding contract. You could try taking it up with your credit card company as they are jointly liable for the services provided (at least they are under UK law). Alternatively you could take it up with Hertz head office (although I fear the chances of sucess are low!)

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Bogota Colombia-- Avoid Hertz rent a car

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