Avis
Reviews and Complaints

I rented a car from Avis through Priceline and prepaid. The agreement was for $124.82 total. I returned the vehicle early and did not contract for any additional expenses. Yet when I returned the car I was charged an additional $326.15 without any explanation on the reciept. My rental rate on priceline was $22.00 per day and on the contract at pickup it showed a rate of $21.74 per day. Yet my retrun reciept suddenly charged me a rate of $83.99 per day plus additonal fees, a so called concession recovery fee, plus taxes, which was never a part of either the contract nor the agreement through Priceline. The local manager has no explanation, but says this is the computer systems of Avis national. As a result all I can say not only are they thieves committing criminal acts, but obviously organized criminals to boot!

This was the worst experience ever! No wonder that Avis is the underdog and will most likely go out of business soon. I hear that they have so many lawsuits against them. Avis teaches their associates to cheat customers into signing the rental agreement, and charge outragous prices on upgrades, insurance and gps and roadside. People, you must read your contracts and don't sign if you don't understand. Keep all your papers to know what daily rates are and weekly rates. DO NOT RENT FROM AVIS AS THEY ARE TAUGHT TO SCAM CUSTOMERS TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT. Then you cannot dispute charges. The managers want the agents to sell because they make commissions. So therefore you are gonna get suckered. Unless you like paying high bills I would stay away from Avis.

The "lady" named christina at this location called me being and talked to me very rude! Saying I would have to pay for some drink that spilled in a small part of the back carpet and that it would range from 50 to 100 and that she would not give me the name of the company cleaning it, and that it wasnt up to me to choose how to clean it because it was my fault that it was like that, and she simply said I have no time to be wasted with you and hung up the phone with out letting me talk! Never been treated so rude by someone in avis like this chiristina

I rented a car in santodomingo airport in domincan republic. It was booked on line with confirmation number etc. But was over charged $40 more than final price confirmed in intenerary. They told me contact their corporate office in parsippany newjersey or virginia address they gave me later. All 3 avis rep s were of no help. Im now disputing with my credit card. I seen other complaints on boards but now I face it first hand. Dont rent international with avis check the message boards of complaints theyre fraud with suspicious activity I seen with otheres with similar problems as me

On June 24, 2010, I rented a vehicle in Baltimore, MD for one day. At the time that I picked up the rental vehicle, the computer system at the rental location was not working and so the person at the Avis counter filled out the rental agreement by hand. I have included a copy of the rental agreement with this letter.

The booking was for $53.99 as shown on the reservation that I made. I was very surprised therefore when I received my credit card statement which showed a charge from Avis of $135.48. I contacted Avis customer service to inquire about the charge. Customer service claimed that I had not returned the car to the Sheraton Hotel in Baltimore, but had instead driven it to JFK airport where I returned it at 9AM on June 25.

I disputed the claim that I had taken the car to JFK. As proof, I faxed to Avis customer service my boarding pass for a JetBlue flight from Baltimore to Boston at 11:30 AM on 25 June, a bus ticket from Boston to Portland, ME as well as other credit card charges which indicated that I could not have physically driven the car to JFK. I also followed up with Avis customer service on multiple occasions by telephone. I have asked for a copy of the modification to the reservation which should have been processed if I had actually taken the car to JFK instead of returning it to the Sheraton in Baltimore, but I was told that such a document does not exist. Although the representatives told me that they would look into the matter, the charges were never reversed. Finally, I got my credit card company, Chase involved and they agreed that I could not have taken the car to JFK and refunded the charges.

Just recently, I received a letter and a message from Avis. The charge which were refunded to me by Chase have now been sent to Avis collections. Avis collections claims that I owe Avis $80 after Avis “adjusted” the charge to $108. However, this does not make sense. If my original rental was for $53.99 and I owe $80, then how was my account adjusted to $108 as collection claims? Clearly, there is a lot of confusion over this reservation on the part of Avis.

Avis customer service can only claim that I took the car to JFK. They can neither provide a return receipt nor proof that the original contract was changed to allow me to return the car to a new destination. On the other hand, I can provide a signed return receipt to show that I returned the car to Baltimore and I can provide my boarding pass and credit card statement to prove that I purchased a flight from Baltimore to Boston. What I believe happened was that due to the problems with the computers at the rental location in Baltimore, the Avis representative made a mistake. After I returned the vehicle to the Sheraton in Baltimore, she rented it to another customer who took it to JFK. Rather than to admit a mistake and despite the overwhelming proof that I provided that I could not have driven the car to JFK, Avis customer service has continued to aggressively and falsely claim that I owe Avis money.

I went to return my vehicle on Nov. 12 and the customer service representative said my total was different then on my copy of the rental agreement. When I asked why he said it was because of the insurance I declined. Apparently instead of removing it from the agreement like I asked when I rented the car he added it to the agreement. When I told him I wouldn't pay for it he assaulted me twice and proceeded to yell and scream at me that I was a crook and a lair in front of customers and other employees. When I asked to speak to a manager or corporate he refused to give me a number to call or his name.

As I generally have had positive experiences with Avis worldwide, I have recently decided to rent one of their cars in Brasilia, Brazil (Reservation #32664714US5). I was surprised when I was handed a very worn-out and noisy jalopy (c. 60, 000 mi old!) at a very high rate (approximately US$ 50+/day). Disgracefully, there was no other vehicle available at that very "low" rate. I wonder if the Avis Headquarters keeps an eye on their overseas branches/franchises. Also, I wonder why there is no complaints/positive feedback section within Avis's main website...

I recently completed a reservation for a rental with Avis, Rental Agreement #[protected], I made the reservation through the Avis.com online reservation system in North America for a location in France, Geneva Airport ( GGV ) I had a confirmed rate of approx $339.30 CAD determined by the exchange rate. The web site showed that Liability Insurance was approximately $14.81 CAD per day or $10.87 Euro's.

On the day of the rental September 13th 2010 I requested Liability Insurance from the agent, and she quoted me a price of $29.22 Euro's per day, I told her this couldn't be correct as the web site showed $14.81 CAD and pointed it out to her, she just shrugged and said the computer shows its $29.22 Euro's, and I could take it or leave it. I talked with her for over 30 minutes to make sure she had not added anything on to the rental increasing the cost to $29.22 Euro's, I specifically didn't want LDW ( collision insurance) from the rental company as they have a $1, 000 Euro deductible, and my Visa credit card covers LDW with no deductible. Visa told me specifically not to take the collision damage waiver from the car rental company as it would invalidate my Visa coverage. The agent insisted I was only purchasing liability Insurance and showed me the English translation of the French contract, it showed Liability Suppression for $29.22 Euro's and nothing else. This was a difference of approximately $365 CAD, at this point I didn't have any choice but to accept as I needed the rental car to continue my vacation, I felt I would have to sort it out when I returned. The agent gave me the French copy to sign and I was on my way.

On my return home I spoke with Avis customer service a number of times, I explained everything in detail, and requested the contract be adjusted according to the price quoted on their web site. They looked at the contract and informed me I was charged for 3 separate insurance options:
CDW 13.25
LLI 10.87
TPI 5.10
Total 29.22

They refused my refund request and sent me a copy of the French agreement I had signed, saying I had accepted the optional coverage, I disputed this further saying the agent assured me no other insurance was added and after reading the English translation, how could I possibly know they were combined under LLI. In North America each individual item is listed as accepted or declined.
I thought I was signing for LLI only, and the agent assured me that's all there was.

Therefore I feel the agent misled me, she appeared to understand English with no problem and at no time told me I was signing for two other optional services.

I also feel it is unethical or even illegal to provide a English translation which is different then the original French version and use that as a basis for obtaining a signature

Not only did I incur an extra charge of $365 CAD, but by adding the collision insurance I was now liable for the first $1, 000 Euro's in damages.

I should be refunded the two insurances I did not sign for, CDW and TPI a total of $263.37 EUR with tax.

I ahve attached copies of both the French and English agreements

I rented a car a hyundai, for 5 days at 39.99 a day and when I dropped it off the pakistani gut by the name of sam said, " no problem I will send you the receipt" well I got it from american express, the bill was for 355 dollars when should have been 200 plus tax.they had no excuse and kept talking in circles when i confronted them.I will be suing them for the ballance.Its time we ban the ###s doing this to innocent customers. Dont use Avis in Ocala, unless you want to get ripped off... signed, Raymond Martinez 10/18/10

Avis Fraudulent Charges
Avis scammed us. We rented a car from Avis at Frankfurt Airport in Germany during our vacation. From Aug. 26 - Setp. 9, 2010. When we returned the car, a rep. from Avis check the car almost with a microscope, then told us that there was a scratch on the front bumper by the passenger side. we took a look then and saw a scratch no more than 2-inch. He told us that we'll be charged 490.00Euro. He said it's nothing because it should be covered by the credit card we used to rent the car. This is a scam by Avis. The scratch does not even look new, it's was not easy to find, unless you put your face only few inches away.
A few minutes later he gave us a receipt with a picture that he marked there's a scratch at the back bumper! So, what is it then? Back or front?

It does not matter because it all were already there. Avis's scammed us because there was a rental insurance from MasterCard, that covers up to $500.00. That's is why they charged a 490.00 fee for damage. But this is in Germany, so 490.00Euro becomes 690.00 us dollars!

We are alerting the credit card company that this Avis charge is a fraudulent charge. But my advice is be very careful. Take plenty of pictures of the rental car before you drive off the parking lot. This way you have proof that you did not cause the so call 'scratch' or 'damages', and avoid a scam like the way Avis scammed us.

Hired Avis car from Vienna Airport. Told to collect car in parking garage and all was fine with the car. Nobody to sign off on car, as the front desk is a long way from the garage. Got to car and found damaged. Assuming that the damage was recorded as per front desk I drove away. Upon returnung the car, I was told I needed to pay for the damage. No protesting would help and I was told I needed to pay for the said damage. After a while I decided to get on with my onward journey and sign the final payment with the said damage costs included.

Therefor all future car rental customers in Vienna, do not trust the Avis staff and refuse to take car without someone checking with you and signing off on the car. I FOR ONE WILL NEVER HIRE FROM AVIS AGAIN.

I returned your Nissan rental car, on July 1st 2010, in perfect condition with a full tank of gas and I verified full levels of oil and critical fluids. I properly returned your cars keys and completed your exiting paper work with your agent that same day. Then to my astonishment, 9 days later, I received a phone call not from you but from a third party representative named Emmale Koyle, from Purco Fleet Services, telling me there is $1, 200 worth of "HAIL" damage that all of a sudden appeared on your Nissan rental vehicle. I can't help in finding these claims to be highly suspicious and deceitful.

If this "HAIL" incident is TRULY my responsibility I will honor fixing that vehicle, but first there are troubling concerns about your motives, methods, perceptions and Budgets policies. I expect any prudent and reasonable persons or business, with integrity, to answer these legitimate concerns before I pay this bill:

1- Why was this alleged damage not reported on my exiting paperwork when I checked out that day?

2- Why did you or a representative from Budget not immediately call me about this incident? Why did you or a representative from Budget not call me at all? (All calls confirmed by cell phone records). Why have you not responded to my emails?

3- Why are you using a third party to act as a non-eyewitness and liaison to this event when you were the one who initiated these proceedings? Why do you, a professional representative of Budget, deny conversation of help and direction?

4- Why do you withhold the name of the person or persons who "inspected" this vehicle? Therefore, what questionable qualifications and experiences are you hiding for these vehicle "inspectors"?

5- If this incident is truly my fault, why was I not allowed an opportunity to fix it?

6- In our initial phone conversation, July 12th, 2010, you mentioned there had been HAIL storms in South Dakota for the past 6 weeks. If this is true, Budget must have a fleet of "HAIL" damaged vehicles sitting at the Rapid City Airport car rental, non-covered, parking lot. Doesn't Budget carry vehicle insurance for these unforeseen circumstances or does Budget still assign arbitrary damage claims to innocent customers?

7- How many car rental contracts, of the Nissan in question, were issued after my exiting paper work to the vehicle repair shop?

8- Why has it taken 10 days, after my request on July 11th, for Purco Fleet Services to fabricate these damage and documentation papers?

Avis gauged me, increasing my bill by 15%. I returned the car from filling it across the street. "7/8s full, " they said. Ten bars on the meter and the last one was half down. With hundred degree weather, gas expansion and all it might be 1/20 down. A half gallon max. I was charged for two gallons at 7.99 a gallon. "You want me to top it off, " I asked, "at risk of inhaling toxic fumes?" I was warned they charged an exorbitant amount if the tank wasn't filled. But filled they still charged me for two gallons. Corporate policy. Nothing they could do. "But the truth of the situation is something different, " I argued. They held fast in their dishonesty.

I initialed to insure my rental car. I thought it was $28 a day for 3 days. That's the only amount that I read. That was reasonable. I got a $182 deducted from my account. They said it was 28 for one kind of insurance, another $ amount for another kind, and another $ amount for some more.

$182! I am pissed! I don't know what I am going to do. I needed this money in my account right now.

I have rented a car from Avis in Holland. I took it from Amsterdam and drop of in Paris according to my contract. In my contract total cost was 176 euro included insurance and 3 days cost of rental car. I gave the car back one day before 5 o' clock than contract date in Paris.

I asked them do I need to pay extra anything for drop on and drop off diffrent countries ? I have mails about those questions. But they never mentioned any other charge. They wrote me that every country's rules can be change. After ten days I saw that AVIS has charge 376 euro from my credit card. I asked them many times and they didn't reply related with my question. Europe AVIS directed us to Turkey AVIS and they said us the diffrence may be possible because gave back the car one day before than the contract date. So the Turkey AVIS also couldn't do anything. It's a ridicilous answer and I couldn't accept that.

Could anyone please advise me what can I do about it? How can they withdrawn double cost of rental car without giving any information?

Tried to call the local location for two days, always redirected to the toll free number. Could not reach a human. Finally googled the location and walked a mile down there, Inquired about the phone situation, response "yea we've known about that" meanwhile some who appeared not be with the company was behind the counter on the phone. I suspect it is just easier to forward the calls than to have to do your job.

By the way, no cars of any kind available on a Tuesday morning (12 JAN)with no major events going on in town, something about cars in for mx. Not can we get you to the airport for a car or can you wait to have one brought over from the airport or even you might want to try the airport, would you like us to call you a cab. When inquired about a ride back to the hotel or another rental car agency...you got it, no drivers, but a warm body on the phone behind the counter. Zero customer service, zero cars and zero business from me. Bill Gatlin is the branch manager. This experience is the poster child for how to loose business.

I rented a suv from Avis rental car back in Feb.2010 for five days well I called back to change my reservation from 5 days to 7 days without being told that I would be charged an extra $10.00 on top of that my card was charged $50.00 extra and was told the reason for that is because the vehicle was returned extra dirty with pumpkin seeds and the seat was broken which was not true. I called the local branch which nothing was done also I called customer service which finally gave me a $54.99 credit after I complained about my card being charged another $64.99 for the same issue by a different Avis . I also spoke to the Regional mgr. Sherry Edwards that told me she would look into it and give me a call back which that never happen I had to call her only to learn the Airport Avis told her they had pictures of the dirty vehicle and I told her i wanted to see them which that never happened.I was never contacted back and had to get my $64.99 back from my bank.

I rented a Hyundai Elantra for a wedding. I only needed it one day but I was told minimum rental was 2 days for the weekend. I only drove the car to the wedding an back. When I went to return the car the guy checking it in said the car smelled like smoke and needed to be cleaned. I'm not a smoker and the only other two people in the car were my 13 yr old niece and 7 yr old nephew. I was told his "friend" could remove the smoke smell for $50 or Avis could clean it for $250. I wasn't going to have his "friend" clean it so my credit card was charged $250. I also have a friend who had the same situation with the same company. I will he contacting the better business bureau and the Avis corporate office

Rental Agreement #: [protected].

2 Day Unlimited Miles SUV Rental returned with a full tank and 1 hour late.

I was charged $1, 196.02 ... that's unconscionable enough.

There has also been a "Hold" on my bank account for the amounts of $429.12 and $430.00 since March 27th.

That brings the total charge to $2, 055.14; for a 2 day car rental.

Rest assured, not only will this will pursued to the fullest extent allowable by law, but I will post this information on every message board I can find on the Internet.