Q: I rented a minivan for 37 days with Avis for $1,770. My pickup and dropoff have been on the Vacation Inn in Peabody, Mass. The Avis store was closed once I dropped the van off on a Sunday. I adopted the directions on the door and left the keys with the lodge clerk. I parked the van in entrance of the Avis door.
I anticipated a receipt through e-mail, however none got here. Avis then charged me two occasions — as soon as for $1,459 after which once more a couple of days later for $1,125. I couldn’t get via the Avis telephone jungle to seek out out what was happening, so I had my bank card block the second fee.
Since then, I’ve been going forwards and backwards with Avis, answering repetitive questions and offering copies of my reservations. I wish to get a revised bill for $1,770 and have Avis cancel the second cost, then invoice me for the rest owed. Are you able to assist me?
A: Avis ought to have billed you for the right amount the primary time. When you identified the error, it ought to have shortly reviewed its data and adjusted your invoice. However it did not.
I reviewed the correspondence, and also you’re proper. The corporate retains asking you a similar questions, to which it already is aware of the solutions. It seems like you’re coping with a bot (and perhaps you’re).
Here is my finest guess: You returned your van on time, however Avis did not mark it as returned in its system. So it charged you for the additional days till it discovered the automobile. That usually occurs with automotive rental firms. It is one purpose I counsel folks to all the time return their automobile when the rental location is open to allow them to get a receipt. Leaving the keys with a lodge clerk is not sufficient, it doesn’t matter what the rental firm says. However you could not have identified that.
Blocking the second cost in your invoice fastened your drawback within the quick time period. However if you happen to had refused to pay, Avis may have referred you to a set company or added you to its “Do Not Lease Record.” That may have affected your credit score and your capability to lease automobiles sooner or later.
I seen that, after some time, you started writing in all uppercase letters (that is thought-about shouting) and threatened that they might hear out of your authorized counsel. These techniques are comprehensible, however not all the time useful in resolving your case.
I contacted Avis in your behalf. A consultant reviewed your invoices and adjusted the quantity as you had requested.
Christopher Elliott is the founding father of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit shopper group. Contact him at elliott.org/help or chris@elliott.org.
