Hertz - price gouging

[Duffa]

Just discovered an extra bill for £72 from Hertz on my Visa statement. No explanation. Nothing.
Rang Hertz Australia - It was for a bus lane infringement
No problem - I can cop that (we did remark on the lack of traffic on that street at the time )

How much was the fine? £30
What was the other £42 for? Admin fee
Admin fee? Yes, we gave your details to the local council including your Visa number so they could fine you
Whaaat?


I don't remember any small print about that. Nothing of the "..... in case you get a fine we will pay the government directly. We will also rip you off by another 40% just for the privilege of dobbing you in"

The absolute cheek. And I thought $7 per sector was bad!

 

[marki]

Oh yes they love doing it and so does Avis .....look there is one simple way out, ring the CC provider tell them it is an unauthorised charge and please reverse it!

 

[Dr Ralph]

Was it within their T & C?

 

[aaronm]

They do it all over the world. One time I forgot to buy a Citylink day pass, $12 toll charged with a $35 admin fee for Europcar. Ouch!

 

[burmans]

Was it within their T & C?

In short, YES.

Infringement Notices may be received by Hertz which relate to Your
rental of a Hertz Vehicle. In the event an Infringement Notice is received,

Hertz will:

• Advise the relevant authority that You were the driver of the Vehicle at the time of the infringement. The authority will issue the Infringement Notice to You.
• Charge the renter an infringement administration fee of $36.30 (inclusive of GST) for each Infringement Notice received which will reimburse Hertz for the administrative costs (in whole or part) incurred in the processing of the Infringement Notice.
Hertz regrets this action is necessary however the company can no longer absorb costs associated with these charges.

 

[JohnK]

A number of years ago we hired a car from Avis in New Zealand and a few weeks later an infringement notice addressed to me arrived. My friend was at fault and he paid the infringement but I don't remember now if Avis charged anything extra. They may have.

Poor form to have all these clauses in the fine print and then gouge on the administration fee. Couldn't possibly have taken more than 5 minutes on a ~£10/hour salary?

 

[Sbv72]

Hi Duffa,

This wasn't in Cardiff by any chance. I got caught in a bus lane there outside Cardiff Arms Park a few months ago and ended up with similar charge from Hertz.

Make Hertz give you the infringement notice. I successfully challenged the bus lane infringement as the council issued it 1 day late - law says they only have 14 days. Still stuck with Hertz charge though but overall I think I came out ahead with the rental.

Even if you don't get the fine overturned at least you get to see the video evidence.

 

[Duffa]

It was in Bath actually.

I presume then, that i "clicked" to confirm that i'd read the T&C when I booked online?
I certainly didn't see anything at the rental desk.
I might ask for the infringement notice - so far it's taken 4 weeks for them just to send a receipt.

Or maybe I'll just plan my next trip! Without Hertz (unless of course they are way the cheapest)

Always feel better after a good rant on here

 

[AdMEL]

A number of years ago we hired a car from Avis in New Zealand and a few weeks later an infringement notice addressed to me arrived. My friend was at fault and he paid the infringement but I don't remember now if Avis charged anything extra. They may have.

Poor form to have all these clauses in the fine print and then gouge on the administration fee. Couldn't possibly have taken more than 5 minutes on a ~£10/hour salary?

I'm pretty sure Avis did not previously charge an admin fee for issuing infringements, as I received a speeding ticket in an Avis car in Melbourne a few years ago and no admin fee when it was sent to me. I suspect they've changed this now though.