- Report: #1297672
Complaint Review: Hertz - Nationwide
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Author Confirmed
Why?
Hertz
Nationwide, USA
Web:
platepass.com/locations/faq/renting-with-hertz/
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Hertz PlatePass Hertz automatic toll bridge rip-off Nationwide
I noticed an unfamiliar charge on my Visa bill nearly 2 months after I rented a car to travel to the San Francisco Bay Area from Hertz. The billing entity was Platepasshertztolls and the charge was $17.15. I had passed through the Golden Gate Bridge once, and the bridge toll is $7. In the past, I had receiced a bill directly from the GG Bridge Authorityfor the $7, so was surprised to find a $10.15 additional charge. I contacted Hertz, whose representative told me that I had authorized the charge on "page 3" of their rental agreement, and that the charge was "not from Hertz", but from "a separate company", PlatePass. PlatePass' site had the same colors and font as Hertz, and I believe it is a Hertz shell company.
They impose an extra $4.95 per day for every day of a Hertz rental contract if the car passes through at least one automated bridge toll. The limit is $24.75. If I rented a car for 5 days from hertz and went through ONE automated toll gate, I would have to payan extra $24.75, in addition, of course, to toll fees. This is a huge corporate rip-off. The charges are delayed, so the billing is weeks after the fact, and I find it unfair and possibly illegal for Hertz to be charging the fee for every car rental day, even if the rented car only passes a toll bridge on one day. Citizens who rent a car have no input or control over whether or not a bridge toll is automated.
If there is a legitimate cost associating bridge tolls with car rental customers, the bridge authorities should be responsible for that cost, which would be pennies. Large corporations like Hertz should not be allowed to charge this exorbitant and hidden fee which far exceeds the toll charges for doing pennies worth of work. Hertz's response was ridiculous, stating that they "offer" PlatePass' services. This is truly an "offer you can't refuse" if you want to rent a car from them, so that is the deception on PlatePass' site and the same language exactly appears on Hertz's site. This is a rip-off pure and simple, and affects millions of unsuspecting car rental customers!
