Questions and Answers

Dear Lucky,

i would like to ask your opinion about my recent issue with Hertz. I returned the rental car at Budapest airport two weeks ago and a Hertz employee checked it inside, outside, started the engine to make sure it’s fine. Then i signed the return part of the rental form, he said everything was fine and then i left, to take my flight to Beijing via Vienna.
After landing in Beijing i got an sms from Hertz that the car had a damage on the left mirror, and they asked me to provide my email address so they would send me photos of the damage. They charged my credit card at the same time with 64 euros.
I used [URL=”http://www.hertz.hu”]www.hertz.hu[/URL] webpage and found a customer service e-mail there and explained them that the car was inspected by a Hertz employee who said ‘everything was fine’, so i disagree with any issues later they found on the car. I’m still waiting for their reply for two weeks now. I only got an automatic reply confirming they received my email.

Lucky, did you have any similar experience like this before ?
I’m a Hertz Gold #1 member, renting from Hertz 5-6 times a year and never had such an issue before. My next trip to Budapest will be in April when i can talk personally with a Hertz employee. I got a Hertz e-mail survey about the rental where i raised this issue, but got no reaction from them.

I appreciate if you could tell me your opinion.

Wishing you a nice day,
Kalman

[USER=1435]@Kalman[/USER]–I would save all the documentation you have and open a dispute with the credit card. Doesn’t seem like you should be charged if the care was inspected at return.

Thank you, Gaurav for your suggestion.
Hertz just answered my e-mail, they are sorry for the trouble they caused and they will refund the 64 euro onto my credit card.
Well, i decided that – starting from my next rental -, i will make photos of the car’s exterior when picking it up, then also when i return it, as well as a pic of the dashboard showing the fuel-level (because Hertz tried to cheat with that recently in my Atlanta rental). so i can easily protect myself against any further issue they try to claim from me. It’s annoying, but this is what comes to my mind.

[USER=1435]@Kalman[/USER] – the photos are a great idea. For all the griping the points & miles community does about Chris Elliott’s stance on points & miles, he’s been suggesting photos for several years now. I’m not as diligent about doing that as I should be but it’s a great practice to have.