We recently used the Hertz website to rent a car for pick-up in Albuquerque
We were given a quote at the HERTZ FIFTY PLUS rate for $177.71 after taxes and fees. NOT BAD. No where was there an option to add an additional driver.
Due to a change in pick-up time we called Hertz to add an earlier pick-up (noon instead of 8:30pm for which we expected an extra charge, but we were not told what the charge was to be nor were we sent any email confirmation of the change.
When we arrived at the Hertz office at the Albuquerque airport we were shocked at the humongous additional fees that were never disclosed upon booking.
LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW THE CHARGES WERE EXPANDED UPON PICK-UP
QUOTED at Booking:
1 Week at (includes 50+ discount) $114.50
Airport concession fee recovery $13.00
Customer facility charge
(NO mention of NM Surcharge) $15.75
Rental surcharge $14.00
Vehicle licensing Cost Recovery $1.15
Energy surcharge $1.49
Subtotal $159.92
Taxes $17.79
TOTAL RENTAL $177.71
Amount charged to card $114.51
Amount at time of rent $63.20
TOTAL $177.71
____________________________________________________
ACTUAL
1 Week at $127.23
1 day at $ 18.18
Subtotal $145.41
Discount 10% - 14.54
Subtotal less discount $130.87
Airport concession fee recovery $28.95
Customer facility charge
(NM SUR & CFC) $36.16
Rental surcharge $14.00
Vehicle licensing Cost Recovery $1.31
Energy surcharge $1.49
FPO (fuel) $ 32.32
Authorized Additional Driver $94.50
Taxes $35.28
TOTAL RENTAL $360.88
Amount charged to card -$130.87
Amount at time of rent $ 230.01
TOTAL $360.88
Even adding the extra day at $18+ this is nearly $200 more than we anticipated spending!
Even if we agree on the FPO (Fuel Purchase Option) $32.32 (another "gotcha")
How does HERTZ justify the more than doubling of the Airport Concession Fee Recovery cost and the Customer Facility Charge (from a quoted price of $28.75 to $65.11? (a $36.36 increase!)
There is only one Albuquerque and it is in NEW MEXICO, so if these extra charges are specific to New Mexico, why were they NOT given in the initial booking?
As far as HERTZ’s Authorized Additional Driver scam to cheat us out of another $94.50, consider this:
On a previous trip to Albuquerque we rented from Enterprise and as is their policy we were not charged for a spouse as additional driver. We obviously were mistaken to assume that Hertz was competitive in this regard and so expected that a spouse was included as an authorized driver at no additional charge. Especially since we had used the HERTZ FIFTY PLUS.
This might have been merely a disappointment but the up-charge came with outright lying, deceit and misrepresentation by the Hertz employee at the desk. Not only did he not even ask if we were eligible for any exemption (AAA for example) he outright lied about why Hertz was charging for an additional (spouse) driver by telling us it was New Mexico LAW
IN FACT THERE IS NO NEW MEXICO LAW THAT REQUIRES CAR RENTAL AGENCIES TO CHARGE FOR A SPOUSE AS AN ADDITIONAL DRIVER
IN FACT THERE IS AN ABSENCE OF LAW PROHIBITING SUCH CHARGES.
A LAW THAT REQUIRES SOMETHING IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO THE ABSENCE OF A LAW THAT PROHIBITS IT.
THE RENTAL AGENT OUTRIGHT LIED ABOUT NEW MEXICO LAW.
Even when we returned the car and mentioned to the attendant that we were charged additional for spouse as second driver, he told us “No, that’s not right, there’s no such law.”
We also called Enterprise and their agent confirmed there is no such law.
We also called Enterprise and their agent confirmed there is no such law.
WE WILL NEVER USE HERTZ AGAIN!
3 comments:
Dispute the charge with your credit card company by calling them and asking for the disputes dept.
Highway robbery - literally!
I always preferred Avis myself.
We will probably dispute it. Thanks.
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