Complaint Review: Hertz halifax

I rented from the Halifax airport in November. It was a new Charger with low miles. Because it was new, I didn’t fully look it over and document any damage. It looked clean. I drove it very few miles, parked in the hotel garage against a wall (no passers by) and returned it a few days later. I think I put less than 30 miles on it. When I returned the car the return woman asked about the scratch on the drivers door.

I literally had to get on my knees to look under the car it was so low. I didn’t go anywhere and at no time in my limited rental could I have damaged the vehicle. At all times I had a traveling companion (retired military officer) with me as a witness. If I had fully inspected the car prior to taking it, I would not have seen the damage it was so low on the vehicle. I was late for a flight, told her I didn’t damage the car and went to my gate.

At the time of the incident I was a 17 year Hertz gold member.  

I got a phone call from them several days later.  They claimed the return woman said that we said “you caught us“ when she pointed out the damage.  I explained the car was not damaged nor in a position to sustain that damage while I had it.  I was somewhat heated given they took a very accusatory tone, but then they got very belligerent and rude.

They sent me an invoice for $1200.  I had a recent accident where my pickup was backed into and damaged (dented, not just a scratch) and the local shop billed the other drivers insurance $600.  When I looked at the invoice, it had service charges, car down time charges, lots of auxiliary fees in addition to a ridiculous repair fee.

i refused to pay and now they are pursuing a credit collection service that is leaving obnoxious, rude, and bullying voicemails constantly.

I would have paid a few hundred dollars even though I didn’t damage the car just to avoid the hassle, but I’m not paying that ridiculous charge for something I did not do.

I’m wondering how many others are getting the same bill as I am.

After 17 years of being a heavy Herz customer, they’ve lost a longtime faithful customer who never rented from anyone else.