Complaint Review: overland west hertz

My wife and I rented a car via Priceline.com. Upon arrival at the Hertz Rapid City, S.D. airport car rental counter I presented my Priceline confirmation paper to a lady (name unknown to me; I saw no name i.d. tag).  This lady filled out the paper work.  I asked her to walk outside with me to check over the car.  She refused because it was raining and very windy.  She proceeded to tell me to just walk outside the front door around to the back of the building to the parking lot and look for space #2.  Just sign the inspection tag.  As I put on my glasses to read it over I noticed check if no damage box was already checked.  She said not to worry; these cars have minor dings, scratches and we dont charge for them.  She said to just sign the tag.  So I signed it per inspection to follow

 

My wife and I proceed outside with luggage in tow in the blowing rain out to the car.  We put our luggage in the trunk and walked around the car and noticed several scratches on rear bumper, chipped, nicked paint on trunk and hood along with a small dent on right side above front door handle.          

 

We then drove the car to the front of airport (close as possible to rental counter).  My wife stayed with the car and I went back inside and asked for some help from Hertz to come out with me to inspect the exterior of the car.  No one wanted to go out and inspect the car.  That was weird but I thought because of rain and they could see that I was wet.  A lady named Jessica said not to worry about minor dents and scratches.  I asked her to write down minor dents and scratches.  She grabbed my paperwork back as I fumble looking for my glasses.  And putting them on I notice that she did not write as I had instructed her.  

I asked for a pen and I added the word side and an X.  Again, I asked her to come out front and look at the car.  She refused.

Upon returning the car 4-6-10, again it was raining and blowing, I requested an inspection of the car.  The lady named Jessica said it was not necessary.  This time I demanded it.  She was visually upset that I wanted an inspection of the car.  Jessica came out, looked at the car and said wow, the dent above passenger side door handle wasnt there before.  I will have to check previous rental tag and check for damage remarks.  She checked and said there was nothing noted about it on any copies.  I showed her my copy and she did not care.  I asked to speak to the manager.  He came out and said there was nothing he could do until he researched it.

I 

left the Hertz counter to check in and check in my luggage for my return flight.  I then had a few minutes to go back to the Hertz counter with camera to take photo of car.  Now there is a guy outside taking photos of the car passenger door handle and mileage of vehicle.  Thats weird; I cant get them to look at the car when I rented it, but now upon return--they are out there. 

 When you compare the original car inspection slip (Exhibit A) and the copy of what OWHRCSD counter personnel have (Exhibit B).  Clearly, they do not match.  I have the original.  They wrote some extra stuff on their copy (Exhibit B) customer came back in stated and added two circles on the paperwork of the hood diagram. (There is no major damage to the hood. O.K?)  Whats up with that?

 

Renter signature states per inspection to follow.  OWHRCSD personnel refused to pre-check the car.  I asked and they refused.   Do not come back after the fact now and try to add a false claim.   Come on this isnt right.

In summary, rental counter was not that busy 4-2-10.  It is a 2 year old car with 48,356 miles.  I got a great rate from Priceline.com.  The counter people should have agreed to my request for a pre-departure walk-around inspection which they refused.