On June I spent two gorgeous weeks in Austria, touring around with a car of HERTZ, which I rented in Munich, at the airport. On my way back from Zalsburg to Munich I did not find any gas station on the high way, and thus I returned the car with only half tank. Naturally, I expected HERTZ to charge me a little more as a “penalty”, or “special service” as they call it, lets’ say a double price (30 Euro instead of 15). But when I came home, I was surprised to see that they charged me 88 Euros, without even warning me in advance. <BR>I am so furious! 30, even 40 Euros I would understand, but 88? They could have just pick any number they choose for this “service”.<BR>Has anyone of you had a similar experience? What do you think I should do?<BR>Thanks in advance,<BR>Alonso<BR>

I have rented cars many times (100+), especially for business. This is a common practice. If you do not bring the car back full, they charge you at a predetermined price. When you sign the contract indicating that you will bring it back full, and if you don't, they charge you at that price. I have been charged up to $8 per gallon in the U.S. That is why it is crucial that you fill the tank up before you return the car in order to their inflated prices. What you should do is take this as a lesson and fill your tank up next time.

Alonso, <BR><BR>I am sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience.<BR><BR>Unfortunately the rate consists of 2 portions: the first part is for the gas, which of course depends how much gas was in the tank. The second part is a 'flat' rate covering the 'service penalty' which I agree is ridiculously high, it looks like they charged you almost 70 euro as a penalty. I agree that rental car firms should specify the fee for this service on the rental agreement, but they often don't.<BR><BR>I don't know what you can do now, but next time, if you find yourself in the same situation, go to the rental desk where you are dropping off the car and ask them for directions to the nearest gas station. There is nearly always a gas station somewhere near the rental firm's depot, especially a depot that is located at an airport. This will solve your problem of how to ensure that You, and not they, fill up the tank.

We rented a car in Costa Rica. When we turned the car in they drove it off site, somehow cracked the front windshield and returned saying that we had to pay for the window. We argued. It was an obvious scam. In retrospect we remembered hearing other couples arguing with the manager, but had paid no attention to the arguments. We returned home and had a several hundred dollar charge on our credit card. We complained to the US headquarters of the rental company and Conde Naste. The charges were removed.

Alonso - this is not unusual at all. When you rent a car in the States and return it w/o fueling up, they often charge 3 to 4 times the local price for gas to fill the tank.<BR><BR>The same in most parts of Europe. ALWAYS fill the petrol tank even if it means taking a detour to find an open station.

If you had car with a 15 gal tank and they charged for a full tank (which is what they do). A full tank could run over 70 euro.

&lt;&lt;without even warning me in advance&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>Didn't you sign a contract and initial certain declinations and acknowledgments?<BR><BR>You did. So stop with the whining already.

Alonso,<BR>We too have had an extremely negative experience from HERTZ. Not only did the car we rented in France have only 3/4 tank of gas, but we were supposed to pick it up in Cannes, but because they refused to honor their contract and stay open 45 minutes later when our train arrived, we had to get it at the airport in Nice after quite a nightmare of an experience with cabdrivers etc. Then they had the nerve to charge us airport pick-up charge when it was their fault we couldn't get the car at the train station as we had originally planned. <BR><BR>If you put your rental on your credit card, you can contest the charge. We're still fighting with Hertz 3 months later, but at least it's on our credit card. They have in no way tried to make things right by us. Which is why, whenever I have a chance in Fodors, I warn other Fodorites about renting from HERTZ!

I have rented from HERTZ (I'm capitalizing because both Alonso and Paula seem to think it should be) and have always been very happy. Yes, HERTZ may often be the most expensive, but not always - especially with an internet deal or coupon. HERTZ has by far the largest selection of autos and most rental locations. There has never been a time when I was unjustly charged a fee that had not previously been explained in full. HERTZ is a great company.

Paula, let me get this straight. You arrived 45 minutes after the rental agency closed and are mad they didn't stick around for you????? What on earth are you protesting - you are the one who was LATE

I almost always rent from Hertz, but probably will not do so in Europe again. We got our car on Thursday and were having major problems with the headlights by Saturday evening. After spending an hour or so calling the Hertz emergency number and the main number on Sunday, we were told that only one operator was covering the entire country of Germany because it was a Sunday. Our choices: keep holding or call on Monday. Monday it was.

xxx, (so nice that people have a real name),<BR>On the Hertz contract they stated in writing that they would stay open after hours if necessary. We called them from Spain to let them know we would need this service, spent well over 2 hours of our vacation time arguing with them, and they said they would not honor what that had clearly stated in writing. A contract is a contract. If you say you will do something in writing, you should honor that contract.<BR>They didn't.<BR><BR>There's more to it...but seems enough other people have had problems with HERTZ that it would seem wise to go with some other company. It'a not as if there aren't plenty of others out there. We had excellent service in Europe from Avis and several people seem to have other good suggestions as well.<BR>

When we were in Nice we also rented a car with Hertz. The car was vandalised, the small triangular window behind the main backseat window was broken.<BR>Our hotel called Hertz to ask if they wanted a police report, they said if nothing was stolen then no they didnt need one, if we just came down to their office they would change the car.<BR>When we did that I checked with staff how much we would be charged and they confirmed it would be just the 500FF excess we had agreed to in the contract. Fine.<BR>When I got home Hertz had charged my credit card for an extra 3000FF!<BR>I contested it with my credit card company. Eventually, Hertz sent them a copy of some paperwork and the credit card company just recharged me. I had to go back to my credit card company and say that when someone contests charges it's not enough for them to just get any paperwork from the vendor, they have to actually LOOK at it, and when they did they realised I was right - I had not signed ANYTHING to allow Hertz to take the 3000FF. (Having heard about some of the dodgy charges I had been very careful to read the whole thing before signing).<BR>The charge was eventually refunded, I will not use Hertz in France ever again, nor do I use that credit card.

"...without even warning me in advance"<BR><BR>If you had read the contract carefully you would have found that the exact charges were spelled out in excruciating detail. I had a similar experience at Heathrow and protested it successfully, probably because I'm a Gold Club member and had some other valid complaints.<BR><BR>But, you were warned. You just didn't bother to read and understand the warning.

Hey guys,<BR>Many thanks for your responses. Just a little update: I have sent angry letters to both my credit card company and HERTZ, and guess what? I got NOTHING. <BR>HERTZ keeps ignoring me, except a short letter with their semi-legal excuse that the contract enables them to charge these fees. Is that so? Their contract does not specify the exact amount that will be charged for this infamous “service”. From a legal point of view, their contract should always be subject to reasonable standards, and it seems that they are far away from being reasonable (say that again). Had I known that HERTZ charges so much money in this event (which may occur, even if you try hard to avoid it), I would have never rented their car. Having read your many posts, I KNOW I will never rent again a car from you-know-who.<BR><BR>

Every time I've rented a car, I have to initial the part about fuel charges. Language is clear...only fools don't fill up before they return the car. Just because it might be in fine print, doesn't mean it's not part of the contract. In fact, in most places (in the US at least), the fuel price changes daily, but is prominently posted at the counter. Anyone who rents cars should know that the two biggest ripoffs are buying fuel and insurance from the rental agency. (The only time to buy insurance is when you have NO other coverage...then it is a necessary evil, but incredibly, outrageously expensive).

i don't think that 88 euros is that shocking. if you get a full tank you pay at least 50 euros anyway. this is europe and gas prices are way higher than the states. if you rent a car in the states the rental companies also charge you a way higher rate for gas only that gas over there is cheaper.

Also note that the price posted is the price that you will pre-pay for the gas if you decide to come back with the tank empty (which is very hard to time!). The price that they actually charge you is much higher if you indicate that you will come back with full tank of gas and then you don't.

Alonso: I'm afraid that if you "will never rent again a car from you-know-who" you must also boycott EVERY other rental company. This normal procedure for every agency I have ever rented from.<BR><BR>Maybe you don't rent cars very often, OR maybe you've just had the good sense in the past to fill up before returning thr cars.<BR><BR>But Budget, Thrifty, Avis, Kemwell, etc, etc. all would have billed you the same amount - or perhaps even more.

...Just wanted to end this thread by some pleasant news: after complaining to my credit card company, I got half of the price back directly to my bank account.<BR><BR>Alonso