Hiring a car in America

jimbob1982

Right guys.I had a great holiday yes 3000 pics.Picked the car up in Seattle for about 1900 dollars.3 times the quoted price here at home in Ireland.That was alright but about a week later Avis put about 1500e back in my account but with no sign of it on my transaction list.So I'm home now 4 days and they deduct 1700e from me and I'm now -1100e. I am so goddamn sick of this lies and towing and froing with money.Has anybody had this experience before and how do you deal with it? I don't know whether Avis are in the right or whether they're scamming but I know I asked that woman from Avis in Cork 3 times "Is this amount final?" and she said yes.More importantly though how can I stop this happening again?2 weeks on the west coast of America Seattle to San Diego one way by the way and she said that was all included aswell as the excess so I just don't know.

jimbob1982

Can I move this thread to a more suitable forum??

Modedit: Moved from Classic Cars to Consumer Issues

Xterminator

you can stop it happening by using a disposable credit card which is topped up with a set amount & or taking the damage insurance they offer.

im afraid when you accept their t's & c's you need to exercise caution.

im assuming they are claiming damage was caused?

goldenhoarde

Did you take pics when picking up and also when returning?

The 1700 is for the damage excess I would think.

If you have evidence of the state of the car you may be able to fight it

dudara

What does your rental receipt/contract state? It's hard to guide you without knowing what you requested and signed up for.

L1011

Xterminator wrote: »

you can stop it happening by using a disposable credit card which is topped up with a set amount & or taking the damage insurance they offer.

im afraid when you accept their t's & c's you need to exercise caution.

im assuming they are claiming damage was caused?

Known prepay cards are not accepted by hire firms

jimbob1982

No damage guys.I met the guy dropping off the car and he wrote it on my rental agreement and also full tank as agreed.400e one way fee.652e base deal with excess at zero taken into account.This is what I was quoted in Cork but when I came to Seattle it was " The package: 1100e and Non Package items : 866.It would be better if I could send you guys pics but how can I get a Url for those?

jimbob1982

https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/neo/m/message?search=1&s=ZHT6c_sqeqPV%7EA&encryptQ=1&startMid=0&blockimages=0&sort=date&order=down&ac=vaKqWRD640JEhtplU2zBOx2BT.c-&.rand=1771384702&mid=AOlJyAoABRTlWVov6gxj4CeUd-s&fid=Inbox

Kintarō Hattori

jimbob1982 wrote: »

https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/neo/m/message?search=1&s=ZHT6c_sqeqPV%7EA&encryptQ=1&startMid=0&blockimages=0&sort=date&order=down&ac=vaKqWRD640JEhtplU2zBOx2BT.c-&.rand=1771384702&mid=AOlJyAoABRTlWVov6gxj4CeUd-s&fid=Inbox

You can't share a link to your email address. Use a third party hosting site or attach them to boards here.

jimbob1982

Will one of ye give me an email address maybe and I'll email ye on the agreement in Seattle and then I'll have the Url.Just pm me or if ye have another idea let me know. I didn't get an email of anything on the Seattle side to post on here.

jimbob1982

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

You can't share a link to your email address. Use a third party hosting site or attach them to boards here.

We'll I tried to attach it to the boards but either I'm doing it wrong or it won't allow me.What hosting site can I use?

Kintarō Hattori

jimbob1982 wrote: »

We'll I tried to attach it to the boards but either I'm doing it wrong or it won't allow me.What hosting site can I use?

https://cubeupload.com/

https://www.flickr.com/

https://imgur.com/

Squatman

you need to call up Avis and get answers from them. Preferably the place where you dropped it off. Maybe even contact your bank and thell them not to authorise avis taking any more money from your account

L1011

Squatman wrote: »

Maybe even contact your bank and thell them not to authorise avis taking any more money from your account

Won't work. Avis have the signed contract and proof the service was delivered.

jimbob1982

http://i.cubeupload.com/c86SDm.jpg

jimbob1982

http://i.cubeupload.com/gHvnFe.png

jimbob1982

http://i.cubeupload.com/FczzIn.png

jimbob1982

Have we enough information there guys?

jimbob1982

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

https://cubeupload.com/

https://www.flickr.com/

https://imgur.com/

Thanks a million Kintarō. That was a great help. 👍

tea and coffee

What was the car hire price quoted in the initial email? 1100?
Either you agreed to all the extras in the sales patter at the counter (upgrade, extra insurance etc etc) or the counter agent added them and hoped you'd quickly sign everything without noticing. If you didn't agree to them- and over 800 is a lot then I'd argue that point with them strenuously.
I'm not sure what you mean about the further charges they're taking off your card. What are they saying they're for?

Time

I’m seeing an estimated total in your second image, and a detailed breakdown with a signature accepting the charges on the first.

So the estimate may have been off, but you signed the agreement that has the total you were charged written clearly on it, if you didn’t read before signing I’m afraid that an expensive lesson to learn on your part

jimbob1982

tea and coffee wrote: »

What was the car hire price quoted in the initial email? 1100?
Either you agreed to all the extras in the sales patter at the counter (upgrade, extra insurance etc etc) or the counter agent added them and hoped you'd quickly sign everything without noticing. If you didn't agree to them- and over 800 is a lot then I'd argue that point with them strenuously.
I'm not sure what you mean about the further charges they're taking off your card. What are they saying they're for?

The initial estimate not quote was 652e

tea and coffee

Perhaps you can clarify the numbers in your original post.
Initial car hire quote : $1100 (???)
Price at counter: $1900 ( as seen on docket )
Refund from Avis: $1500
Sub total paid: $400 (?)
Further charge from Avis: $1700.
Total charge: $2100 is that right?
If you agreed to the extras then 1900 is correct (on the docket it looks like you agreed to an upgrade at 55 dollars per day, and extra insurance at 6 dollars per day)but I don't know why they charged you 2100 then if figures are as per OP.

jimbob1982

Initially they took the full whack.E1708 at the table in Seattle. A few days later they put back in about E1500 and then a couple of days ago they took the E1708 back out . Though when the E1500 went back in there was no sign of their name on my transaction list but I mean who else would it be?

jimbob1982

tea and coffee wrote: »

Perhaps you can clarify the numbers in your original post.
Initial car hire quote : $1100 (???)
Price at counter: $1900 ( as seen on docket )
Refund from Avis: $1500
Sub total paid: $400 (?)
Further charge from Avis: $1700.
Total charge: $2100 is that right?
If you agreed to the extras then 1900 is correct (on the docket it looks like you agreed to an upgrade at 55 dollars per day, and extra insurance at 6 dollars per day)but I don't know why they charged you 2100 then if figures are as per OP.

Don't forget that the email pic you're seeing there is what I was given here in Ireland and that the paper document pic is what I received in Seattle.Different figures altogether. Do you understand now or am I leaving anything else out?You're right about the upgrade part but what about the 1100evas opposed to 652e?

tea and coffee

Yes. I get it.
Ok, for starters the Avis confirmation email looks like they totalled it up incorrectly.
Base rate: 341.20
Fees: 320.35
One way charge: 300
Taxes: 20.35
Other charges: 26.35
Gives a total of 1108.05 which is not a million miles off the initial "package" price on the docket $1101.99

On the docket you signed that you agreed to an upgrade at $55 per day. That's $715.
You also agree to extra insurances at $6 per day and some other smaller dollar amount $1.74 or something (pic not open on phone right now) so thats another $$100++ dollars. That brings you to the total you paid of $1900.

As to why 1. The original email adds the total wrong, I'm not sure. When you add all the separated charges listed on the email, it's broadly similar to what is on the docket.
2. Did you agree to the upgrade and extra insurances? If so, then you were upsold and the extra $896 is also correct.
3. I dont know what they're doing with the various transactions. From what you say, it looks like they have now taken $2100 in total. Have they given an explanation for this?

jimbob1982

tea and coffee wrote: »

Yes. I get it.
Ok, for starters the Avis confirmation email looks like they totalled it up incorrectly.
Base rate: 341.20
Fees: 320.35
One way charge: 300
Taxes: 20.35
Other charges: 26.35
Gives a total of 1108.05 which is not a million miles off the initial "package" price on the docket $1101.99

On the docket you signed that you agreed to an upgrade at $55 per day. That's $715.
You also agree to extra insurances at $6 per day and some other smaller dollar amount $1.74 or something (pic not open on phone right now) so thats another $$100++ dollars. That brings you to the total you paid of $1900.

As to why 1. The original email adds the total wrong, I'm not sure. When you add all the separated charges listed on the email, it's broadly similar to what is on the docket.
2. Did you agree to the upgrade and extra insurances? If so, then you were upsold and the extra $896 is also correct.
3. I dont know what they're doing with the various transactions. From what you say, it looks like they have now taken $2100 in total. Have they given an explanation for this?

No.No explanation.I think I'll just go down to Avis in Cork myself and suss it out in person. Nothing of this matter is ever dealt with over the phone from my experience.

L1011

jimbob1982 wrote: »

No.No explanation.I think I'll just go down to Avis in Cork myself and suss it out in person. Nothing of this matter is ever dealt with over the phone from my experience.

They are unlikely to be able to do anything

Your agreed base price on the website is missing well over $1000 of extras that you bought at the airport. You are not going to be able to avoid paying for those; they have a signed contract.

jimbob1982

L1011 wrote: »

They are unlikely to be able to do anything

Your agreed base price on the website is missing well over $1000 of extras that you bought at the airport. You are not going to be able to avoid paying for those; they have a signed contract.

$866 of extras.I see that now but the estimated charge in Ireland was only €652. Alright I know that's outside of extras but in Seattle their base price seems to be $1100 .That's what I can't figure out.

irelandrover

jimbob1982 wrote: »

$866 of extras.I see that now but the estimated charge in Ireland was only €652. Alright I know that's outside of extras but in Seattle their base price seems to be $1100 .That's what I can't figure out.

It really looks like the total on the base price was totalled up incorrectly.

Base rate: 341.20
Fees: 320.35
One way charge: 300


thats a total of 961.55 already as long with some other small charges.

L1011

jimbob1982 wrote: »

$866 of extras.I see that now but the estimated charge in Ireland was only €652. Alright I know that's outside of extras but in Seattle their base price seems to be $1100 .That's what I can't figure out.

The base price didn't include the one-way fee ($400) for starters.

jimbob1982

L1011 wrote: »

The base price didn't include the one-way fee ($400) for starters.

And I even rung the woman in Cork and said all that to her because yes if you look at the email it looks like the one way fee is left out of the 652e and she just said "No no.Its 652e" I should've known when all the others were about 1000e base price that Avis were leaving out something with their 652e.

L1011

jimbob1982 wrote: »

And I even rung the woman in Cork and said all that to her because yes if you look at the email it looks like the one way fee is left out of the 652e and she just said "No no.Its 652e" I should've known when all the others were about 1000e base price that Avis were leaving out something with their 652e.

You signed a document when picking up the car detailing the fees with it split out - you should have challenged it then.

jimbob1982

L1011 wrote: »

You signed a document when picking up the car detailing the fees with it split out - you should have challenged it then.

I agree . You're right but what I am really concerned about now is how should I go about hiring a car in future without getting fleeced.How do you guys go about it? Any recommended companies? Do you use Internet to book, phone or what do you do? This is far more important than getting anything back from Avis as I intend to travel via hired car much more throughout the USA and Europe and maybe a bit of Asia or Africa.

L1011

I solely use Hertz (except where there aren't any), got in to the invite-only bit of the rewards scheme somehow and check the paperwork with a fine tooth comb effectively.

naughtysmurf

I've hired in Florida a number of times, using Dollar & Alamo, never book directly with them, use a third party UK broker which includes all insurance & fees.
The only thing I may have to sign for & pay locally is a tank of gas depending on whether I choose to prepay fuel or not at the time of booking
Last May, printed off my go straight to the garage page, picked a car & drove to the exit

Join hire companies loyalty programme if they have one, some allow for skipping the counter at certain airports which avoids the sales pitch & dodgy add on's

Ifonlyicould

Buy an annual car hire insurance excess policy and it will save you a fortune

Blanchy90

I hired a car from Budget in Florida at Easter and I had paid for the extra insurance online.

At the desk they said fuel would be $50 so i signed for that. Later in the contract he asked me to initial like 5 places, Luckily i read the small print and where he wanted me to initial would have lead to around €300 in extra charges

dudara

Like L1011, I use Hertz only, althugh I have rented from Avis in the past. I always make sure to read and tick the line items before I put my signature on the dotted line. I'm a member of their Gold Rewards Programme, which is great as it means my car is usually waiting for me and I can just walk straight up and drive off when in the US.

Look, in your case, you had a different pick up & drop off. This always costs extra and I'd expect to see it as a clear line item. Then it's up to you what extras, upgrades or insurance you opt for.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

irelandrover

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Or at least ask questions.

I booked for 600 but it now costs 1200. What are the extra charges and why would i want them?