I rented a car for a month-long consulting gig in Myrtle Beach. My family joined me for a few days in the middle of my sojourn, and when I picked them up, I got an infant seat from Hertz at the airport. When they left, I returned the seat.

Hertz charged me for the seat from the date my family arrived until I turned in the car. I told them that was incorrect and why, but they refused to budge. I bounced the charge, but Amex's position was that I had authorized any ancillary charges Hertz wanted to tack on when I signed the rental agreement.

Sayonara, Hertz.

Did the rental agreement state that your car seat charge was effective until and through the time you returned the car (not the seat)? I do not know why they would make acceptions to renting a car seat for a shorter period than you are renting the car. Just makes sence.

Well, I think it might make a little sense. I am assuming that if you wanted to rent a seat only from Hertz for use in your own car, they wouldn't do that. They don't rent seats. But if you rent a car, they will rent you a seat in conjunction with that rental. Maybe they quote it as an additional price "per day", but essentially I think they are saying that if you want the option of a car seat you are billed for it for the same number of days as the rental. Doesn't seem fair, but in an odd way, it does seem logical.
Another example would be renting a mobile phone with a car or a navigation system. I wouldn't be surprised if they refused to rent you one for just part of the rental period. I bet they'd charge you the per day price for your entire car rental period, even if you picked it up later or if you changed your mind and returned it before the car rental period was up. An even further example would be asking to add extra insurance only for two or three days of a full week's rental. I'm sure they wouldn't do that either. Essentially all extras are only available for the full rental period.

Again, I'm not saying it's fair, just saying I suspect that's the way it is done.

Robespierre, just out of curiosity, who much did they charge you for the seat total? Doesn't sound right to me.

The arguments for charging the seat for the entire rental period would make sense if that were the actual case. But as Robespierre described it, the child seat was not charged for the entire rental period anyway.

Duh. OK. I agree. I've ordered the new glasses.

Does the same charge apply at all Hertz locations? I have found that some franchises aren't as good as others. Instead of never renting from Hertz again, why not clarify all charges before signing car rental contracts?

jimshep, I admit to not reading the original post accurately. Did you do the same? I am sure that when the poster signed the contract when he picked up the car, picking up a car seat later was never part of the issue. What are you suggesting and how would he have done that? Is a car seat even on the contract? Are you suggesting that somewhere on the contract it says "you will be charged for a car seat from the day you add that to your rental until you return the rental vehicle regardless of whether or not you returned the car seat earlier." I really doubt that was on the contract!!

So now we can all agree that what Hertz did doesn't make sense by any standard! Robespierre, I salute your resolve in boycotting Hertz from now on--obviously, you have every right--and I wish I shared that resolve. Unfortunately for me, what I usually do is swear to boycott some company or other after it has done me a rank injustice; stick to that oath for a while; then reverse myself because said evildoing company offers a better rate, more convenient dates, you name it. So I hope you're made of sterner stuff than I!

Sheesh, we've been boycotting Hertz for ten years now, only because of their outrageous rates. Sometimes they're 3 or 4 TIMES as much as their competitors, especially for last minute rentals.

Be very careful if you use any internet coupon specials with Hertz. I routinely find these have not been applied when I return my car; also my total quote when I reserve just about never matches my total bill. With umlimited mileage and no changes on my part in the reservation there is simply no good reason this should be so. Hertz has always been good about taking care of this when I bring it to their attention, but often if you are in a hurry to catch a flight there is not time to contest charges.

I'm sorry for this unfortunate experience, but I've had good experiences with Hertz, and I get a AAA discount. I also like Enterprise, but I've rented cars from some other agencies that smelled of smoke or fast food and, in one case, looked as though somebody had been murdered in the front passenger seat.

I should say that I always rent from Hertz and usually find the rates reasonable and service very good otherwise

When it comes to car quality (cleanliness in particular) Hertz is far more reliable than any other agency in my experience.
When it comes to reliability (car available as reserved, no botch processing), Hertz is also tops in my book.

Prices? No single company is best in every market. Depends on how much of a presence each agency has in a particular area. Ive priced Hertz at half of Budget/National/Avis at times, and twice as much on other occasions.
Like airfares, rental rates can change frequently, and most agencies (Hertz in particular) thrive on business travellers with big budgets. So don't expect a discounted rate on short notice. That's when companies like Hertz make their largest profits--just like the airlines. Discounters are different. Snappy/Rent-A-Wreck are not going to get big business clients. They compete for leisure (lower profit) clients.

I've given up even getting quotes from Hertz as they are always way above any of the others I check (although I realize they have some pretty great coporate discounts which do me no good). Only one time was I surprised to get a better rate from Hertz and booked it. When we arrived at pick up the contract was much higher than quoted. I pulled out my downloaded contract and they studied it and informed me it was a mistake. But to their credit they agreed to honor it.

The contract was for daily rental of the infant seat, regardless of how long I had the car. I checked first. The charge I wound up with was more than it would have cost to buy a frickin' seat, use it for five days, and throw it away.

Hertz simply gouged me when I returned the car. I, too, had a AAA discount and no previous problems. Now I get the discount on their competitors.

The Best Car Rental Company in the West Spiral Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy is Bob Leech's in San Bruno, California.

Robespierre, did you pay for the charge with a credit card? If so, have you contacted them to see if they can be of assistant, because you mentioned the contract, assume it was in writing. If so, do you still have it so you can send a photocopy of it to your credit card co.?

Thank you for the heads up! I will remember this when booking a rental car.

What bugs me about Hertz is that if you apply a coupon, it often makes for a higher rate than without the coupon. They explain this as "the coupon is not valid on our lowest rates"? Um, then why would anyone use a coupon?

I do think that they have decent customer service, and that a simple email would usually clear something like the mischarged carseat up.

And I would have thought that a polite request on my company's letterhead would have cleared it up.

But it didn't.