Hertz - Really Crappy Service

I rented from Hertz last year over 40 times so I qualify for the uber service.

Terrible, terrible experiences with Hertz this week. My rental from Toronto airport was the template of poor customer servie. Name was note on the board, car was not ready, car received was a class below requested, and Never Lost was not available. I waited 30 minutes for a car and, you guessed it, the Canadians behind the counter who behaved like socialists offered no apologies. However, since I love all that is Canada, I warmly embraced them and wished them a wonderful day while strolling off singing "O Canada."

Huntsville was not much better. I received the lowest class available; seems there was a shortage. And, what really sucked, the air conditioner did not work. When I returned the car and mentioned the air conditioning, I had to ask twice if they heard me. Seems like they really did not care.

For the first time, I wrote a long note to Hertz detailing with experiences.

Next week, both rentals are with National.

[This message has been edited by PersonalCareChemist (edited 05-31-2003).]

removed as promised http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by cattle (edited 05-31-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PersonalCareChemist:
[B]I waited 30 minutes for a car and, you guessed it, the Canadian socialists offer no apologies.[B]</font>
How do you know they were socialists? Broad generalisation perhaps? Here is one for you. Take your pathetic, whiny attitude south of the 49th and never come back. Canada is a far much nicer place without people like you infecting it. FYI this is not a slam against Americans, some of my closest friends are, just a slam against small minded people like this guy.

This is an American that took absolutely no offense from your post, but thanks for your concern.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The service I received at YYZ Hertz (T2) about 15 times last year was just fine, so I've nothing to complain about. But for the record, when I do happen to be treated poorly by a merchant, I try not to hold it against the entire country. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

The slam on Canada sucks, IMHO it oughtta be removed. I love going to Canada...the people are great (a lot more laid back than some of us up tight anal Americans!). Neighbors to the north, try to pay no attention to this irresponsible drivel... it comes from a mind and heart smaller than your own.

.

[This message has been edited by cattle (edited 05-31-2003).]

In my experience also, Hertz at YYZ sucks.

But let's calm down people! Give PCC a break, sounds like he had a bad rental car week which can make any of us cranky-- hopefully he didn't mean quite what he said, and didn't intend this to be a diatribe against the entire nation.

In any case, Canada's a beautiful country w/friendly, fun people, and most people would agree I think!



[This message has been edited by kv99 (edited 05-28-2003).]

I love Canada, except for those unruly Montreal folks who boo at our national anthem and bully our kids at hockey games...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kv99:
In my experience also, Hertz at YYZ sucks.

But let's calm down people! Give PCC a break, sounds like he had a bad rental car week which can make any of us cranky-- hopefully he didn't mean quite what he said, and didn't intend this to be a diatribe against the entire nation.

In any case, Canada's a beautiful country w/friendly, fun people, and most people would agree I think!

[This message has been edited by kv99 (edited 05-28-2003).]</font>

Hertz at YYZ will suck even more. Counter at T1 is closed due to economic conditions. Also most of the rental companies have made a deal with the Big 3 to turn in their rental fleets at YYZ early so if there is a sudden upturn in business after June expect there to be shortages of vehicles.

.

[This message has been edited by cattle (edited 05-31-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Crampedin13A:
if there is a sudden upturn in business after June expect there to be shortages of vehicles.</font>

I think that won't be a problem after Health Canada changes the way they report SARS cases tomorrow. Not good http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cattle:

Can't help it. I have very un-Canadian grudge going here. I don't see PCC's post having been changed and who here doesn't check back to see if there are any responses
when they start at thread?

Seems to me that PCC is either a giant troll or to big to appologize for the remarks. I stand by my first post.</font>

Maybe PCC believes in his original remarks? Perhaps he perceives Canada to be socialist.

While I certainly don't agree with him and probably would't inject politics into a car-rental post, I don't edit my posts the minute another FT'er expresses disagreement with them.

PCC: You want to hear something ironic? Worst car rental experience I ever had was in NC (Charlotte). Freakin' banjo-playin', tobacco-spittin' NASCAR-lovin' rednecks made me wait 20 minutes for the bus and another 30 for a car, and they gave me a minivan even though I had SUV booked. I think the entire state owes me a refund.

As a frequent (10-15 times per year) YYZ renter, I agree with the orignal poster about the service at YYZ. It's average at the best of times. The car quality stinks (always dirty, and often smelling of smoke, even though I request non-smoking cars).

I've often had coupons not added to my record, or charges for "fuel top ups" which weren't needed, etc ONLY while at YYZ. This often requires a call to the gold line to get my bill adjusted, and that's just a big pain.

That said, I get upgrades at YYZ 90% of the time, and my problems have never been "major".

Most car rental staff at YYZ (regardless of rental company) are lousy. The staff aren't very Canadian-like, so I wouldn't hold it against Canadians if I were you http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Wow! Did I start something! Let me backtrack a bit here. I was not trying to slam all of Canada, but rather was making an attempt (obviously poorly) to compare the counter folks to those I come across in the socialist countries. That is, they have a job regardless of their performance, so their performance is poor.

Trust me, I love Canada with the exception of the counter folks at Hertz in Toronto and a bartender in Guelph.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FlyerAl:
Most car rental staff at YYZ (regardless of rental company) are lousy. The staff aren't very Canadian-like, so I wouldn't hold it against Canadians if I were you http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

I have to agree with FlyerAl. I have tried pretty much all of the companies at YYZ and they are all pretty dire. I don't hold it against Canadians though...hey, I even went out and married one! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I rented a card at YYZ thru Amex Centurion service last year :

- car was not upgraded (request from Centurion service, and vehicles were available..)

- they accepted to upgrade it, but charged a fee for the NeverLost (!)

- car was not really cleaned

[This message has been edited by ahrz (edited 06-03-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fredmartens:
The slam on Canada sucks, IMHO it oughtta be removed. I love going to Canada...the people are great (a lot more laid back than some of us up tight anal Americans!). Neighbors to the north, try to pay no attention to this irresponsible drivel... it comes from a mind and heart smaller than your own.</font>

I have had great experiences in Canada and generally view Canadians as super friendly people.
But speak for yourself when you say 'some of us up tight anal Americans'.

Hertz at YYZ can certainly use some improvement - I always seem to have to wait to pick up a car there (as a Gold). I didn't mind the comp upgrade from subcompact to convertible though http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I have had great service at YYZ T2. They always have everything ready and ususally have upgraded me to a Navigator from a regular SUV.

Agents in the Gold Centre could be a little more friendly but the service is always quick.

I was in YYC last week and had a great agent in the gold centre. Great personality, great service. Made my rental perfect!

I rent in YYC 4 times per month. While obviously a regular who gets treated great they always seem to be upgrading people when I get my car from the booth. Often quite a few happily surprised looks for from people http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

personalcarechemist,

You are sadly mistaken if you think you are going to find better service at any National Car Rental location!

Ha, ha, ha. This one really makes me laugh. I was a true believer in GREEN for many years (and the "capitalistic" idea of choosing your own car), but they wore me down again and again with such bad service at so many locations that I finally gave up and gave in to Hertz.

I hear your cries, but sadly think that Hertz is about as good as it gets in terms of providing good service on a half-way consistent basis in the auto rental biz.

They do have some bad policies (i.e., dropping your name off the board, etc.), but they usually try to help. I cannot say the same with National.