Hertz - fuel fines beware! [also Tolling charges...]

[chooms]

Hi all,

I thought I would share an experience I am currently going through with Hertz at the moment.

I picked up and returned a car to at the Perth Airport domestic terminal over a period of two days.

During that time, I travelled less than 120km with the car.

Now, there is this clause on the rental agreement:



Upon returning the vehicle (freshly filled with about $19 worth of fuel at the servo along the Great Eastern Highway before the airport) I was charged a fuel service for not being able to present a receipt (I paid cash at the servo).

Nowhere on the rental agreement does it state that I will be charged this fuel service for not presenting a receipt. I have asked Hertz to clarify this and they keep pointing me to the clause highlighted.

So, whilst I am going round-and-round in circles, I thought I would pre-warn everyone of the very over-zealous Hertz attendant at Perth Domestic who want your receipts.

He got other people at the same time as two guys were still arguing with him when I turned up! The attendant actually acknowledged that the fuel gauge indicated the tank was full when I complained to the desk attendant inside the terminal.

Anyway, Perth Dom is the only place this has happened to me and I have rented at airports across Australia and the US (am Five Star No.1 club).

Just a warning...

 

[markis10]

It does say clearly on the receipt! BTW is been like this for three years and not just at Perth

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ertz-requiring-proof-fuel-purchase-25038.html

 

[chooms]

Yeah, it says to present a receipt. What it doesn't say is that they will charge me a fuel service if I don't.

 

[markis10]

Yeah, it says to present a receipt. What it doesn't say is that they will charge me a fuel service if I don't.

I read it as present a receipt or pay a fuelling service, you might also like to check the Gold master rental agreement as well.

Having been conned to many times by cars returned showing full but not really full, and having Corolla's doing 10plus litres for 100km, I like the idea, especially in places where the 100km a day limit is in place - aka DRW. I always get two receipts and leave one in the car.

 

[ozmille]

drove off from Europcar the other day and noticed there was about 1/8th missing from the tank, reversed back and asked for a different car. I always keep the receipts just in case, was asked for it in CBR once

 

[serfty]

Had the same issue with Hertz in CBR over 15

years ago.

While it was resolved in my favor (involved having to provide a Stat. Dec.) I have since ALWAYS obtained a paper receipt when refueling.

Easiest way is to pay with a card, but even if paying by cash I get that receipt.

 

[amaroo]

Car last week in SYD was filthy and nearly full.......complained as I was driving out at the lic checkpoint.

Been pretty disappointed with Hertz....the weekly $45 toll charge is cheeky.

 

[coles525]

Car last week in SYD was filthy and nearly full.......complained as I was driving out at the lic checkpoint.

Been pretty disappointed with Hertz....the weekly $45 toll charge is cheeky.

Lame question: in regards to the weekly toll charge, what happens if you have your own account (toll company) and use your own "beeper"?

Ie: wherever you rent the car, you take your own toll account with you. You ring the toll company and tell them im renting this car for a week. They then add the rental car to your account.

Did you do that, but was still charged?

 

[markis10]

Lame question: in regards to the weekly toll charge, what happens if you have your own account (toll company) and use your own "beeper"?

Ie: wherever you rent the car, you take your own toll account with you. You ring the toll company and tell them im renting this car for a week. They then add the rental car to your account.

Did you do that, but was still charged?

You dont have to take the toll charge, you are asked at pickup if you want it.

 

[amaroo]

I hire a car for 5 days every week and have advised Hertz that I carry my own tag. They update my account and then a week later the charge pops up again.

I've let it go to the keeper for weeks however, I'll make another attempt to sort it when I drop it off on Friday......at $9 a day they must be making a truck load!

 

[amaroo]

You dont have to take the toll charge, you are asked at pickup if you want it.

SYD - I've never been asked......but I have told them I don't want to be charged. Can't see why this isn't a tick a box thing on your profile/booking stage.

 

[beardoc]

I've let it go to the keeper for weeks however, I'll make another attempt to sort it when I drop it off on Friday......at $9 a day they must be making a truck load!

Note that the charge is $9/day PLUS the location surcharge PLUS the other percentage surcharge PLUS GST on all of the above charges. It works out around $12/day from SYD Airport.

And to answer the OP, yes, I get a receipt, even if it's for a dollar or two (I sometimes drive a Hertz vehicle for a couple of hours and run up less than 20km on a rental).

 

[markis10]

SYD - I've never been asked......but I have told them I don't want to be charged. Can't see why this isn't a tick a box thing on your profile/booking stage.

It is, click Decline All Optional Services :

 

[beardoc]

SYD - I've never been asked......but I have told them I don't want to be charged. Can't see why this isn't a tick a box thing on your profile/booking stage.

What they started doing a month ago was designating your booking as "SEE OFFICE" so that they could talk to you about the new tolling system and asking you if you wanted to opt in or out. It should only happen once.

Unlike MEL where you usually have to ask for the tolls to be removed each time you don't need them.

 

[amaroo]

It is, click Decline All Optional Services :

I click no for everything.....will take a closer look for next weeks booking.

 

[markis10]

I click no for everything.....will take a closer look for next weeks booking.

Thats a profile option, not a booking option.

 

[amaroo]

Thats a profile option, not a booking option.

Just checked and it's set for decline - has been from the get go

Australia
Preferred Car Group: Full Size - AutomaticOptional Services

Decline All Optional Services

Decline

New Zealand
Preferred Car Group: Full-Size - AutomaticOptional Services

Accident Excess Reduction	Decline
Personal Accident Insurance	Decline
Personal Effects Coverage	Decline

 

[beardoc]

Just checked and it's set for decline - has been from the get go

Australia
Preferred Car Group: Full Size - AutomaticOptional Services

Decline All Optional Services

Decline

New Zealand
Preferred Car Group: Full-Size - AutomaticOptional Services

Accident Excess Reduction	Decline
Personal Accident Insurance	Decline
Personal Effects Coverage	Decline

Hertz will ignore that setting when it comes to tolls. I have that same setting, and still got asked what I wanted at Sydney, and MEL just puts it on and doesn't remove it unless you ask.

 

[JohnK]

drove off from Europcar the other day and noticed there was about 1/8th missing from the tank, reversed back and asked for a different car. I always keep the receipts just in case, was asked for it in CBR once

I had this with Hertz last in MEL. Picked up the car late in the evening and driving back to Melbourne I noticed the fuel gauge down a notch after driving 5-10kms. Not good. Told them when I returned the next day but office was busy and I wanted to get to check-in counter so they sent me a survey to complete. Gave me $5 off next rental which is useless when using Virgin Atlantic CDP.

And I try to keep all my receipts when purchasing fuel but I have never been asked.

 

[jetlagger]

I had this with Hertz last in MEL. Picked up the car late in the evening and driving back to Melbourne I noticed the fuel gauge down a notch after driving 5-10kms. Not good. Told them when I returned the next day but office was busy and I wanted to get to check-in counter so they sent me a survey to complete. Gave me $5 off next rental which is useless when using Virgin Atlantic CDP.

And I try to keep all my receipts when purchasing fuel but I have never been asked.

Try my experience of Avis rental from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Reached back to the rental depot 10 mins late & charged another day + optional insurance ++ taxes.
Never again.. I simply detest Avis nowadays.