It Hurts To Rent From Hertz - $2,036 for 65 Miles
May 18th, 2014, 09:57 PM
#21
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LOL - how dumb ARE these people??
Anyone knows that when doing one-way rentals from, say, a corporate-owned rental car outlet to a franchisee-owned rental car outlet (or vice versa) is usually packed with huge fees to discourage same.
This dumb story doesn't even rule-out that as a mere possibility, and it is more clear with each additional detail that the OP's "son" (yeah, right) was entirely to blame for the stupidity.
Fodors should delete this idiotic thread.
Anyone knows that when doing one-way rentals from, say, a corporate-owned rental car outlet to a franchisee-owned rental car outlet (or vice versa) is usually packed with huge fees to discourage same.
This dumb story doesn't even rule-out that as a mere possibility, and it is more clear with each additional detail that the OP's "son" (yeah, right) was entirely to blame for the stupidity.
Fodors should delete this idiotic thread.
May 19th, 2014, 03:44 AM
#22
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Rental car agencies - can have their shysters - even the big name- which really can be more like local franchises overseas.
I rented from a US named company in Ireland (made reservations ahead of the trip and all that)- and when I returned the car(had turned the car in and was heading to the plane - but didn't see anything unusual on the receipt).
However - about a month later - get an extra charge for $700 for claimed damage to the side mirrors, etc. I complained and my credit card company - who backed me - and later learned that this routine of late charging/very high charges was not unusual in Ireland - at least at Shannon airport.
Otherwise - just loved Ireland.
Apparently - a number of people just don't check their additional rental charge fees that quickly - even if it shows up a month or so later.
I rented from a US named company in Ireland (made reservations ahead of the trip and all that)- and when I returned the car(had turned the car in and was heading to the plane - but didn't see anything unusual on the receipt).
However - about a month later - get an extra charge for $700 for claimed damage to the side mirrors, etc. I complained and my credit card company - who backed me - and later learned that this routine of late charging/very high charges was not unusual in Ireland - at least at Shannon airport.
Otherwise - just loved Ireland.
Apparently - a number of people just don't check their additional rental charge fees that quickly - even if it shows up a month or so later.
May 19th, 2014, 05:56 AM
#25
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"Hertz provided no receipt – stated everything was okay – then took an additional $2,036 out of his credit card account with no warning."
This is truly bizarre. He ASKED if there would be a charge for returning it to a totally different location from the contract and they insisted there would NOT be? If so, you have a case. But I honestly suspect that is not the case. Sorry, but this story sounds like the most ignorant (ignorance meaning "lack of knowledge, not stupidity) traveler ever.
How on earth would you expect to totally break a contract and then assume it wouldn't cost anything?
Yes, the AMOUNT is absurd, just like cancellation fees, change fees, or last minute booking fees for hotels.
This is truly bizarre. He ASKED if there would be a charge for returning it to a totally different location from the contract and they insisted there would NOT be? If so, you have a case. But I honestly suspect that is not the case. Sorry, but this story sounds like the most ignorant (ignorance meaning "lack of knowledge, not stupidity) traveler ever.
How on earth would you expect to totally break a contract and then assume it wouldn't cost anything?
Yes, the AMOUNT is absurd, just like cancellation fees, change fees, or last minute booking fees for hotels.
May 19th, 2014, 06:01 AM
#26
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Oh, and by the way, you do realize I hope that there are many things that greatly increase prices of rentals -- including a one way fee for dropping it off somewhere other than where you picked it up. If they would just ignore charges for doing so, anyone could book any car from anywhere, pretending they were going to return it to the same location, then drop it somewhere else and try to save the fee that would have been charged if it were booked that way. Sorry, but the agencies are not so dumb that they don't realize people would do that. How would they know that your son avoided booking with the final return location because it was so much more expensive, pretended he was going to return it to the pick up location, but then purposely returned where he wanted to avoid the charges and got caught doing that?
May 19th, 2014, 06:44 AM
#27
"Anyone knows that when doing one-way rentals from, say, a corporate-owned rental car outlet to a franchisee-owned rental car outlet (or vice versa) is usually packed with huge fees to discourage same."
How dumb is that statement? Some people wouldn't even know where to go to rent a car. Not even on their radar.
How dumb is that statement? Some people wouldn't even know where to go to rent a car. Not even on their radar.
May 19th, 2014, 07:07 AM
#28
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We're all very clever on our couches, aren't we? And when we were in our twenties, we knew it all already!
To me, the point is not that the young man was dumb--it's par for the course at that age, no?--but that his parent can't acknowledge the mistake.
And now we're maligning an entire country, lol? FWIW--and on this thread, it's not much--I have rented cars in Ireland without difficulty on multiple occasions.
To me, the point is not that the young man was dumb--it's par for the course at that age, no?--but that his parent can't acknowledge the mistake.
And now we're maligning an entire country, lol? FWIW--and on this thread, it's not much--I have rented cars in Ireland without difficulty on multiple occasions.
May 19th, 2014, 08:01 AM
#30
When I was in my twenties I rented a car at an airport. Getting to the rental car lot was a hassle so I informed them that I would leave it at the terminal. That is when I was informed that I would then have to pay the fine, towing, impound, and additional rental charges. So, I dropped it off at the lot.
I learned that lesson the easy way, by finding out what the consequences would be for my proposed course of action.
Also about that time, I got a car at a weekly rate and returned it after 5 days. Got charged the daily rate which was significantly (to me) higher. Learned that lesson the hard way.
I learned that lesson the easy way, by finding out what the consequences would be for my proposed course of action.
Also about that time, I got a car at a weekly rate and returned it after 5 days. Got charged the daily rate which was significantly (to me) higher. Learned that lesson the hard way.
May 19th, 2014, 09:30 AM
#31
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The young man may indeed have been clueless. It may never have crossed his mind that the costs would differ. His parents may also be clueless (with much less excuse IMHO - unless they have never rented a car.
But after explanations they should all get the concept of contract. The young man had one with Hertz. He broke it. They charged him the price he would have been quoted if he had told them he planned to return it where he did. It sounds perfectly fair, unfortunately an expensive lesson, but perfectly fair.
The problem is that there are so many people who what to hold others to the letter of a contract in their favor - but always want to break without consequences contracts that are not in their favor.
But after explanations they should all get the concept of contract. The young man had one with Hertz. He broke it. They charged him the price he would have been quoted if he had told them he planned to return it where he did. It sounds perfectly fair, unfortunately an expensive lesson, but perfectly fair.
The problem is that there are so many people who what to hold others to the letter of a contract in their favor - but always want to break without consequences contracts that are not in their favor.
May 19th, 2014, 10:14 AM
#32
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"My sympathies. I bet you can work something out with Hertz using some persistent polite effort and honesty."
How much would you want to bet? Are you honestly saying that although if the poster's son had prebooked the same car for the same dates for the same itinerary he ended up using, he'd probably pay the same amount he ended up being charged -- but since he "booked" as if he were returning to a much cheaper location, but instead took it to the place where the cost would have been much higher and they charged him that much higher rate -- then Hertz will probably cave to him and reduce the charges? Seriously?
How much would you want to bet? Are you honestly saying that although if the poster's son had prebooked the same car for the same dates for the same itinerary he ended up using, he'd probably pay the same amount he ended up being charged -- but since he "booked" as if he were returning to a much cheaper location, but instead took it to the place where the cost would have been much higher and they charged him that much higher rate -- then Hertz will probably cave to him and reduce the charges? Seriously?
May 19th, 2014, 10:32 AM
#33
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I actually do think that "persistent polite effort and honesty" (great wording) might result in a reduction in charges, although in this case the OP may have lost his chance at that by being unreasonable from the start.
If one can reach a decision maker--big if, I know--and throw oneself on his/her mercy, a reduced charge could be offered in order to secure a customer's goodwill. It's not a given, of course, and I do agree that Hertz has every right to charge the higher rate; I just think that asking nicely and admitting fault can go a long way.
If one can reach a decision maker--big if, I know--and throw oneself on his/her mercy, a reduced charge could be offered in order to secure a customer's goodwill. It's not a given, of course, and I do agree that Hertz has every right to charge the higher rate; I just think that asking nicely and admitting fault can go a long way.
May 19th, 2014, 11:40 AM
#35
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I think it's nice that some of you think that perhaps the guy simply didn't know it would cost more. Call me suspicious, but I wonder what happened that caused someone to plan to rent AND return a car to Manchester, NH, but changed his mind to return it to the Boston airport instead? Why had he originally planned to return it to NH if he was flying out of Logan? Isn't it likely (or at least quite possible) that the renter purposely said he was returning it to NH to avoid the extreme costs in the first place?
May 19th, 2014, 11:51 AM
#36
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Three observations:
1. As is often the case with first-time posters who are complaining about something, the OP has not returned to post again.
2. Why is the OP posting now, a year after the alleged incident?
3. Why is the OP posting this saga on line for a second time on a second site?
1. As is often the case with first-time posters who are complaining about something, the OP has not returned to post again.
2. Why is the OP posting now, a year after the alleged incident?
3. Why is the OP posting this saga on line for a second time on a second site?
May 19th, 2014, 12:10 PM
#37
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""How dumb is that statement? Some people wouldn't even know where to go to rent a car. Not even on their radar.""
Uh, how dumb are you, Clarkgriswold?
How could somebody be both "doing one-way rentals" AND not "know(ing) where to go to rent a car".
The operative word was "when" all along.
Uh, how dumb are you, Clarkgriswold?
How could somebody be both "doing one-way rentals" AND not "know(ing) where to go to rent a car".
The operative word was "when" all along.
May 19th, 2014, 12:50 PM
#39
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The Internet provides many opportunities to vent one's anger at the corporation(s) of one's choice. I would not be surprised if the OP has posted this in more than two places. It won't help, but then after a year, s/he probably already knows that.
May 19th, 2014, 12:51 PM
#40
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Actually what Neopatrick suggests is interesting. People post here a lot about renting off the Denver Airport rentals, BUT returning it to DIA with no problem. I think this OP is loony for expecting anything what he got--and I have always been very surprised by what others purport at DIA. I'd never trust it.
