Soon after Claudia Lockwood returns her rental to Avis, the organization broadsides her with a $4,228 invoice for 34 additional times on the automobile. Can it do that?
Q: I rented a car a short while ago from Avis and dropped it off at Tweed New Haven Airport just after driving up from Washington, D.C.
The Avis counter was closed, so I known as them and did the rental handover above the telephone. A representative requested me for the range on the critical. I requested if he necessary everything else from me, and he mentioned no.
I did not listen to just about anything back again from Avis for a several days, so I followed up all over again. Once once again, a consultant certain me that Avis had shut my reservation.
Following that, I followed up a number of occasions. I later realized that Avis closed my rental extra than a month just after I returned my auto. Now, Avis has charged me $4,228 since it statements I retained the car for 34 days.
But that is unattainable. I moved to Germany two weeks soon after renting the auto. Also, the odometer from the rental closure bill reads as if the automobile has been sitting down in the New Haven airport rental auto ton this entire time.
I have submitted fuel receipts displaying I filled the tank in New Haven just before returning the car or truck. But the proof doesn’t seem to be adequate for Avis. Can you support me? — Claudia Lockwood, Berlin
A: Avis should really have closed your rental as promised and not billed you an more $4,228. But you returned your vehicle after hours, and unfortunately, which is inquiring for difficulty. I’ve experienced so several situations where by cars and trucks go lacking or are mysteriously broken after hours. And in practically each just one of those scenarios, the car rental company assumes their shoppers are at fault, and expenses them for it.
Your challenge was no different. It seems to be like you did everything you could to return your motor vehicle on time. You produced various calls to Avis. You checked on the return. And nevertheless, it billed you for a different thirty day period.
Here’s a little something I really don’t recognize: If you are living overseas — and can demonstrate it — then how can Avis keep on to insist you had been driving one particular of its vehicles? Where’s the logic in that?
The only surefire way of retaining this from taking place once again is to return your motor vehicle during typical hrs. Then you will get a receipt, which is written evidence that the firm closed your rental. If you have to return the automobile after several hours, inquire a agent to e-mail you the applicable files. And if you can not do that, then report the cellular phone discussion (where by legal) and note the title and extension of the agent.
Once it’s gotten to this level, you have to escalate your scenario to someone increased up. I listing the names, numbers and electronic mail addresses of the customer services supervisors at Avis on my nonprofit consumer advocacy web site, Elliott.org.
I achieved out to Avis on your behalf. It investigated your declare and discovered that you did not park the vehicle in the Avis whole lot when you returned it. Avis eventually found the car and shut the agreement. You obtained a full refund.
Christopher Elliott’s newest guide is “How To Be The World’s Smartest Traveler” (National Geographic). Get aid by making contact with him at http://www.elliott.org/assistance