How does Hertz treat you

[Beer_budget]

We've had slightly dubious "equivalent" vehicles proposed on general bookings, across most of the major hire companies, but I don't generally expect shenanigans with guaranteed model bookings. I will call them though, if we have to take a Corolla up the D'Aguilar again I might have a mutiny on my hands.

I think the Ford Fiesta offered on an estate car booking at LHR still takes the cake, but I'm pretty sure that was Avis, and they did eventually locate an appropriate vehicle.

 

[Poojou]

We've had slightly dubious "equivalent" vehicles proposed on general bookings, across most of the major hire companies, but I don't generally expect shenanigans with guaranteed model bookings.

I think the Ford Fiesta offered on an estate car booking at LHR still takes the cake, but I'm pretty sure that was Avis, and they did eventually locate an appropriate vehicle.

Ha ha our best one was at the train station Hertz in Venice and we'd booked a fiat 500 arbath and when we arrived the guy just spouted Italian at us and offered us a fiat 595 arbath instead (the fi-ata) - which tbh for my bro and I we were like ehhhhhhhhhhhh not ideal but foreign country etc.

I always feel way safer hiring from airport locations back home, generally lots of inventory and often are corporate sites.

 

[Beer_budget]

I have a rather disappointing update for those curious about the RS3.

First, to Hertz' credit, I must confirm they did actually have the car:

Unfortunately, for this class of vehicle, they absolutely will not release the car without a "video selfie to confirm identity" (never mind Mr Champagne Tastes was standing right in front of them with his licence). He had been asked to do an online check in that required this step, so we waited to check in in the hopes that surely, this would not be required in person. No such luck, and no way for the desk to bypass it even to save a $600+ overnight reservation.

This is already a line in the sand he would not cross, but since that part of their "identity verification" is outsourced to Clear (yes, as in the US company that lets you trade all personal privacy and $180pa to fast track through security theatre), the privacy policy is also not worth the paper it's printed on. Since your biometric data is a password you can never revoke, I fully agree with his position on this, but if you've already travelled through the US, you may already have nothing to lose by playing along so YMMV

So anyway, reservation cancelled, perfectly serviceable Q3 released to our custody for less than a quarter of the price, and we will hope that Sixt replaces their 3 Series BMWs at some point.

 

[markis10]

Gone are the days when you could just hop in a bmw with the keys in and just drive through the boom gate at BNE, pushing the i30 in front with you into the wall opposite, damn security! And yes that happened a few times before they fixed the issue.

 

[Happy Dude]

Hertz really starting to piss me off.

They regularly send an invoice with zero amounts. It is a PITA to have to chase up. They also now appear to charge a $500 deposit upon pickup because I've prepaid. WTF for? In case I keep the car for longer than agreed? They have my credit card, so....

I haven't been able to utilise promos without apparent reason. I tried to make a booking on the app with the current 25% off. The discount shows in the list of cars but then it disappears ("recalculating price") upon selection and the price reverts to the pre-discount amount. Tried booking on the website and the discount isn't applied with a message about not being valid for that location or conditions haven't been met. More honest than the app at least.

They also now do not provide a copy of the rental contract, which has the condition of the vehicle (ie any existing damage that they are aware of). IIRC they used to send a text when collecting the keys that had links to all that and I signed and an email copy of rental contract was emailed.

For my most recent rental, when I enquired about any pre-existing damage they said "there might be a dent in the door, just take photos of anything else you see". It took 10mins to find that dent as they didn't say which door, it wasn't very noticeable and it was the door frame, rather than the door proper.

The week before last, there was stone chip in the windscreen that they had put a clear sticker on. While they physically pointed it out to me and I took a pic, I couldn't confirm if that or any other damage was pre-existing according to their records. I would not like to get into a "he says, she says" situation, hence my desire to receive a rental contract. In the past I have notified the rental company of any difference between their description and current condition of the car before driving off.

Maybe these are limited to the Mitchell branch. Unfortunately, non-airport options are not great in CBR and to rub the salt in, Hertz is about the best of them and the Mitchell location is usually most convenient for me.

 

[AirAdl]

Hertz really starting to piss me off.

They regularly send an invoice with zero amounts. It is a PITA to have to chase up. They also now appear to charge a $500 deposit upon pickup because I've prepaid. WTF for? In case I keep the car for longer than agreed? They have my credit card, so....

I haven't been able to utilise promos without apparent reason. I tried to make a booking on the app with the current 25% off. The discount shows in the list of cars but then it disappears ("recalculating price") upon selection and the price reverts to the pre-discount amount. Tried booking on the website and the discount isn't applied with a message about not being valid for that location or conditions haven't been met. More honest than the app at least.

They also now do not provide a copy of the rental contract, which has the condition of the vehicle (ie any existing damage that they are aware of). IIRC they used to send a text when collecting the keys that had links to all that and I signed and an email copy of rental contract was emailed.

For my most recent rental, when I enquired about any pre-existing damage they said "there might be a dent in the door, just take photos of anything else you see". It took 10mins to find that dent as they didn't say which door, it wasn't very noticeable and it was the door frame, rather than the door proper.

The week before last, there was stone chip in the windscreen that they had put a clear sticker on. While they physically pointed it out to me and I took a pic, I couldn't confirm if that or any other damage was pre-existing according to their records. I would not like to get into a "he says, she says" situation, hence my desire to receive a rental contract. In the past I have notified the rental company of any difference between their description and current condition of the car before driving off.

Maybe these are limited to the Mitchell branch. Unfortunately, non-airport options are not great in CBR and to rub the salt in, Hertz is about the best of them and the Mitchell location is usually most convenient for me.

I m with ya
Sick of over charges and deposits
Recent rental copped a huge credit card bill for a chipped windscreen and scratch
No pre rental photos
The office was closed when meant to be open
The claim states I picked it up from airport and I didn't
Just total chaos
Back to avis now they in back in middle of Sydney airport