AVOID Hertz Car Rental, Ponta Delgado, Sao Miguel, The Azores
 

I rented a new Peugeot, rented through Rentalcars.com, picked up at the Ponta Delgado Airport in Sao Miguel. When I returned it Jenny pointed out small scraps in the paint on the back of the car -- I thought they were splatters of mud and I would not have considered them damage worth reporting had I picked-up the car with them. But they were there so I agree I owe for that repair.

She then discovered (with some effort), a minuscule scrape in the paint near the undercarriage of the passenger front -- you had to bend down on your knees to see it. No one would ever notice this imperfection. Then she circled the driver front on her report, which was completely unblemished.

They charged me $383E!! When I asked for the breakdown they said that it was divided Equally between the back, front passenger, and front driver because they would need a mechanic. Fingernail polish would do the trick.

I had a plane to catch, and I was told that if I don't pay they call the police. When I pushed further the manager says she thinks there was also interior damage. A not-so-veiled threat that if I resisted they'd up the supposed damage.

I submitted photos to Hertz via Twitter as evidence to the minimal damage to the passenger front and non-existent damage to the driver front. After two weeks they replied that they contacted the office in Ponta Delgado, which said that the damage was there. Of course they would. Hertz did not respond when I asked what evidence they provided because I had photos.

I'm a solo female traveler. Guessing they thought I'd be an easy mark.

So sorry that this happened to you Esme. I hope the rest of your trip made up for it.

Register a complaint with your credit card. Don't pay until the cc company has investigated.