We have just returned from 2 weeks driving in Portugal. We had a car rented from Hertz. On returning the car, the charge seemed correct as it had been stated at the start of the rental, then suddenly the guy says "and oh yes - the charge for the car washing is 28 euros!" This was never mentioned before the rental.

We did not argue as we were on our way to catch the flight home but the more I think about it the more I wonder. Has any one else had this happen? I think a letter to Hertz is in order.

When I return a rental car especially after touring in Europe they are filthy and covered in mud. Not to mention the inside covered in bagette crumbs and saucission. We have never been charged a cleaning or carwashing fee.

"We did not argue as we were on our way to catch the flight home..."

As those Hertz ads used to say, "Exactly!"

Hopefully it wasn't in the fine print and yes, I would write hertz a letter and tell them you are contesting this with the Cc issuer.

Did you ask them to show you where it mentioned this charge on the paperwork? After an experience we had with a hire car from Switzerland to amsterdam, I am now much more careful about examining the car on pick up, making sure I understand the rental agreement, and giving myself plenty of time on return, just in case anything like this crops up. I suspect that if you'd challenged him, he'd have backed off. Was this paid by cash or c/card? By the way, I don't blame you for just paying up- that's normal behaviour and that's what they bank on. Hope you get somewhere with your complaint - let us know.

We've not rented from Hertz in Europe, only in the states. In Europe we've rented from Woods and Autoeurope and NO ONE has ever charged us for a wash. Definitely write that letter!

i have only heard of this in easycar which offers car hire for something like £5/day. if you read the fine print, there is a washing fee. it seems that this idea has extended from the discount hire cars to the mainstream. bad news.

oops ok I just looked at the paperwork again. There was an item about returning in the same washed condition or it will be charged by the chart. I never saw a chart and it didn't seem that clean at the time but I didn't really think about it.

And the charge is 7.28 euros for washing supplies. I guess I was just wrong but we will check the credit card bill very carefully because the computer was down and he could not print us out a real bill.

We did examine the car carefully before driving off - in fact the girl went over it very well and marked down all the little scratches. But I wasn't looking for dirt!

Maybe this is just the newest nickel and dime trick. Don't know if it is Hertz, or Portugal or the combination.

The computer was down and he couldn't print out a real bill? Wake up and smell the fraud. You were had.

>we will check the credit card bill very carefully because the computer was down and he could not print us out a real bill.<

Whoo boy!
Be prepared to contest additional charges.

Hi Barb. That is just awful.

I hope you do not get socked with another charge.

I have only rented from Hertz in Italy, and we didn't have a problem but that was four years ago. Maybe this is a new gimick to get your money.

I would not let this pass without contacting Hertz.

Sherry

In Germamy a 15€ fee for cleaning is normal when you rent low cost from Sixt or Avis. But I've always found this in the fine print and often was told before renting about this policy. Only one time Sixt charged me even though the car was cleaned, when I returned it. So if you get a dirty car tell them (and have it in writing) before you leave.

"There was an item about returning in the same washed condition or it will be charged...sorry, as I mentioned earlier, the dreaded "fine print."

I disagree that you "were had."

You apparently agreed to this charge..and I suspect most others would have as well, unknowingly or otherwise.

I'd still write the letter but now I'm not so sure you have any solid legal recourse..whether or NOT the bill was printed out.

I agree Intrepid1, we did agree to the wash although I do not remember any chart of costs and it was an added little sheet on the contract. It is not a huge amount, just one of those annoying things.

We will see what actually shows up on our credit card bill however.

I do wonder if Hertz knows or cares what its foreign offices do, so I may write anyway.

Just wanted others to be aware of this.

The same thing happened to us in May 2009 with Hertz in France! We returned the car to the depot in Dijon. It was in a decent state - meaning we had removed all rubbish and shaken the mats, but we certainly had not had it washed. When the very bolshy Hertz lady came out to check the car you would have thought we'd been carting a load of pigs around judging by her reaction. She said the car had been returned in a very dirty condition and said Hertz would be adding a 50 Euro charge for cleaning! As with the first poster we were in a hurry and had the TGV to catch to Paris, so even though my husband couldn't believe it and queried it, the "madame" wouldn't budge and we had to leave it and run for the train. I was so mad and felt that we had been had, but we didn't have the energy to pursue it. The other issue which was a shock to us was that when we collected the car, the same lady told us that she was required to put a 2000 Euro hold on our credit card as a security deposit. This we were totally unaware of and didn't actually have that amount of money in our credit card at that time. We had to spend an hour transferring funds around to cover what we thought to be an excessively large amount. When looking at the paperwork, it said that Hertz may, at their discretion, decide to ask for a security deposit. Was this the norm? We rented many times before and never faced these issues. On top of this the lady at Hertz was incredibly unhelpful and and downright rude. Needless to say Hertz is not on our list when looking for a car rental company.