Hertz - Hertz Fuel and Service back to $6.99/gallon

FYI Guys no more Pay the Pump price at return

Well that was fun while it lasted. I was going to verify but hertz.com appears to be down. Thankfully I went in the back door on hertz.ca:

Refueling Options



Effective December 1, 2008, Hertz is discontinuing its Flat Refueling Fee and no longer basing its Fuel and Service Charge on local pump prices*.



Hertz has three refueling options available to meet your needs:



• You may purchase a tank of gas from Hertz at time of rental and return the vehicle with as little gas as you prefer. Please be aware that we are unable to issue a refund for unused fuel. However, this method eliminates the need for you to refuel the tank prior to returning.



• You can let us refuel for you and only pay for the fuel required to replace the fuel you used, and for the service and convenience of refueling the tank.



• You can stop and refuel the tank yourself, immediately prior to returning the vehicle.



Applies in Canada as well. At least they gave lots of prior warning :rolleyes:

What worries me is National (where I frequent) recently dropped their refueling fees as well...I hope they don't match the trend... :(

Hertz have an interesting scam at LAX. I returned a rental car with a full tank and a receipt for the gas but the receipt I was given included a $17.99 refuelling fee. When I queried thsi I was told this was "standard" :mad:

After a few sharp words it was reversed!

Hertz have an interesting scam at LAX. I returned a rental car with a full tank and a receipt for the gas but the receipt I was given included a $17.99 refuelling fee. When I queried thsi I was told this was "standard" :mad:

After a few sharp words it was reversed!

Sounds like they're trying something Budget and Avis do, EZEFUEL or whatever it's called. I know the program started at around $9.50, but ouch that's steep...

I just had this problem at San Jose. I made the reservation before 12/1 and was not given any notice. My first notice was when I was driving out of the lot, at 10pm, and saw a notice on the booth that the refueling price was $7.99. As I was driving 90 miles to Monterey I called reservations. First agent didn't know what I was talking about. Second agent said that it had changed on 12/1. What about reservations made before 12/1? "They should have sent you an email (they didn't) and there should have been a notice on the hang tag (there wasn't)." Sorry, we can't help.

Hertz have an interesting scam at LAX. I returned a rental car with a full tank and a receipt for the gas but the receipt I was given included a $17.99 refuelling fee. When I queried thsi I was told this was "standard" :mad:

After a few sharp words it was reversed!

I returned yesterday and LAX and just pulled my receipt after reading this. I did not get hit with this charge. (Granted I think it's a horrid location! Thier idea of an upgrade is a car that doesn't have mildew, but...)

Interesting. I was in HNL Nov 20-27 and I didn't return my car with a full tank - and they charged me $4.39 a gallon to refill tank for a total of $16.99 in fees for this service.

Sanosuke!

I think this is all very sneaky...before Dec 1 it was pump price plus $6.99. Today it is $6.99 a gal (at least at OKC). A quick glance at your rental agreement and it's easy to mistake the $6.99 a gal for the $6.99 service fee that used to be in a similar place on the agreement. As mentioned in this thread, there is no signage at the OKC station and they were unwilling to waive the fuel charges.

I always thought that, before the $6.99 flat fee, the post-return fuel was the local gas rate plus a premimum. With gas in OKC around $1.50 that's a very hefty premimum. If I wasn't any smarter, I'd say this is a pretty good fake-out.

I always thought that, before the $6.99 flat fee, the post-return fuel was the local gas rate plus a premimum. With gas in OKC around $1.50 that's a very hefty premimum. Yes, sounds like someone probably made a mistake updating the information in their system. Even when gas was $4+/gallon, I don't think Hertz was charging $7 for fuel service.

I just had this problem at San Jose. I made the reservation before 12/1 and was not given any notice. My first notice was when I was driving out of the lot, at 10pm, and saw a notice on the booth that the refueling price was $7.99. As I was driving 90 miles to Monterey I called reservations. First agent didn't know what I was talking about. Second agent said that it had changed on 12/1. What about reservations made before 12/1? "They should have sent you an email (they didn't) and there should have been a notice on the hang tag (there wasn't)." Sorry, we can't help.How exactly would you have liked them to help you? You can still return the vehicle with a full tank and Hertz will charge you exactly $0.

Was really sorry to see the "flat fee" and a reasonable price go away. For a business renter this was a perfect answer (and a good part of why we started Using Hertz). $6.99/gal is a little ridiculous (ok a lot ridiculous)....over $4 a gallon fee, insane!

Yes, sounds like someone probably made a mistake updating the information in their system. Even when gas was $4+/gallon, I don't think Hertz was charging $7 for fuel service.

How exactly would you have liked them to help you? You can still return the vehicle with a full tank and Hertz will charge you exactly $0.

In theory yes. But as I stated originally I returned a car to LAX Hertz with a full tank and was still charged a "standard refuelling fee" of $17.99. Hertz customer services have since apologised

The best scam I saw recently was at HNL. I didnt fill the car before returning so was paying the refuelling cost ; when I checked the bill, the charge on the slip for refuelling was at a higher rate than that listed on the board

I complained and at 1st the person tried to deny it was wrong but eventually accepted it was wrong and refunded the charge

Dave

Wow, 7 bucks a gallon? This is way out of line!
Jeez.

This was great while it lasted... Really the only positive enhancement in the industry in quite a long time, and then they take it away. :(

I rented in FLL two weeks ago and while the gauge read "Full" it was not. When I had driven 132 miles, I filled it and paid $12. I then set the odometer back and noticed that it continued to read "Full" for 42 miles. When it got to 145 miles, I filled again, this time at a cost of $10.

Basically, this meant that when I got the car it was missing about 6 gallons of gas.

To be certain I would have no problems in FLL, I didn't stretch things to the maximum but I did fill it about 25 miles away from the airport. Of course, when I returned it, it read "Full" and I didn't get charged anything.

I rented in FLL two weeks ago and while the gauge read "Full" it was not. When I had driven 132 miles, I filled it and paid $12. I then set the odometer back and noticed that it continued to read "Full" for 42 miles. When it got to 145 miles, I filled again, this time at a cost of $10.

Basically, this meant that when I got the car it was missing about 6 gallons of gas.

To be certain I would have no problems in FLL, I didn't stretch things to the maximum but I did fill it about 25 miles away from the airport. Of course, when I returned it, it read "Full" and I didn't get charged anything.

Mustang?

Mustang?

Mazda 6.

I received this email last night from Hertz.....


Refueling Update

Hertz has discontinued the Flat Refueling Fee and is no longer basing the Fuel and Service Charge on local pump prices. This affects all North American corporate-owned Hertz locations. For information about our refueling options, click here. http://offers.hertzgold.com/offer4.aspx?offerid=339&langcode=en&UID=453508362931238A3E663A1A

Privacy Policy

This e-mail was automatically generated from a non-response mailbox. To contact us regarding this message or your Hertz #1 Club Gold membership, send an e-mail to: gold_service@hertz.com. We will respond to your e-mail promptly.

To stop receiving future #1 Club Gold e-mail messages from Hertz or to update your e-mail address, please log onto hertz.com to access your #1 Club Gold Profile and change your option in the "Customer's Choice to Limit Use of Data" section.

To stop receiving any electronic mail message from The Hertz Corporation and its subsidiaries, the primary purpose of which is the commercial advertisement or solicitation of a commercial product or service, please paste this address into your browser: unsubscribe.hertz.com.

The Hertz Corporation
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PO Box 269033
Oklahoma City, OK 73126-9033
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® Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.
© 2008 The Hertz Corporation.
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Sorry, I didn't see this thread.... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hertz/894603-hertz-fuel-service-back-6-99-gallon.html

Mods Please delete or Merge.

I believe the reasoning was that gas prices were so high, Hertz created this program so they would'nt be charging 18.99 / Gallon. NOw that Gas prices are falling harder then Britney, they are reverting back to their old ways.

don't like it at all :td::td::td:

Refueling Update

Hertz has discontinued the Flat Refueling Fee and is no longer basing the Fuel and Service Charge on local pump prices. This affects all North American corporate-owned Hertz locations. For information about our refueling options, click here (http://offers.hertzgold.com/offer4.aspx?offerid=339&langcode=en).

Just got that email too from Hertz four days after yours. :( Lucky me that I seldom rents from Hertz. :)

This was great while it lasted... Really the only positive enhancement in the industry in quite a long time, and then they take it away. :(

Agreed. I used it every time I rented and often rented from Hertz simply because I knew that returning would be less complicated than anyone else. No more.

I just got that e-mail too. Only took them two weeks until after the surprise policy reversal came into effect... :rolleyes:

I rented in FLL two weeks ago and while the gauge read "Full" it was not. When I had driven 132 miles, I filled it and paid $12. I then set the odometer back and noticed that it continued to read "Full" for 42 miles. When it got to 145 miles, I filled again, this time at a cost of $10.

Basically, this meant that when I got the car it was missing about 6 gallons of gas.

To be certain I would have no problems in FLL, I didn't stretch things to the maximum but I did fill it about 25 miles away from the airport. Of course, when I returned it, it read "Full" and I didn't get charged anything.

Happens all the time...

Happens all the time...

You're completely right -- it does.

That is why I now simply make certain that I check how many miles I can drive without having the gauge look like the tank is not full. I then make certain to fill it at the most convenient time for me, assuming that I am below that mileage limit, before returning it.

If I know, for example, that 42 miles will still look "full" I will return it anywhere from 1 to 30 miles from the airport and not worry about Hertz's charges.

I just got that e-mail too. Only took them two weeks until after the surprise policy reversal came into effect... :rolleyes:

Same here.

I would have thought that with the falling gas prices, the $6.99 charge would make up a greater percentage of the refueling cost - making it more of a profit center. But, at the end of the day, they must have realized that they were leaving too much money on the table in terms of these fees.

I don't know why people return their car with less than a full tank anyway. It really isn't that much of a hassle to return a car with a full tank - and all of the refueling charges, to me, seem onerous - with the pre-paid fuel the worst. I always thought that if they could offer some kind of serious discount to the local pump price ($1.60 locally - so, say a discount of $1.50/gal), more people would choose this option since they think they're getting a discount. Since most people (almost no one) is going to return the tank completely empty, they would make up the difference of the full tank as pure profit. Instead, when I rented earlier this week, the pre-paid charge was at $1.65/gal. It just seems silly to pay that.

Too funny, now the attention of the world is on the economic 'crisis' and not gas anymore...

I guess Hertz figured out it could go back to gouging...

Same here.

I would have thought that with the falling gas prices, the $6.99 charge would make up a greater percentage of the refueling cost - making it more of a profit center. But, at the end of the day, they must have realized that they were leaving too much money on the table in terms of these fees.

I don't know why people return their car with less than a full tank anyway. It really isn't that much of a hassle to return a car with a full tank - and all of the refueling charges, to me, seem onerous - with the pre-paid fuel the worst. I always thought that if they could offer some kind of serious discount to the local pump price ($1.60 locally - so, say a discount of $1.50/gal), more people would choose this option since they think they're getting a discount. Since most people (almost no one) is going to return the tank completely empty, they would make up the difference of the full tank as pure profit. Instead, when I rented earlier this week, the pre-paid charge was at $1.65/gal. It just seems silly to pay that.

In real terms, yes, it's not a huge hassle to gas up a vehicle. I like taking prepaid fuel so that I can drive straight to the airport and not have to line up at the gas station. As far as a refueling fee, I NEVER take a car back without filling it. That's just asking for it. I have, however, taking it back at 7/8 if I'm running late for a flight. I had a Mazda3 once, and 1/8 of a tank was about 6.5 litres. So with the refueling fee at $2.75/litre, it cost me just under $18. But given the amount I'd driven and the gauge's slowness, I'd probably have spent $11 or $12 to fill it up myself anyways, so not a big deal. If you're bring the car back at 3/8 then yeah there's no way around it, but if it's a short haul I measure it based on convenience.

I returned yesterday and LAX and just pulled my receipt after reading this. I did not get hit with this charge. (Granted I think it's a horrid location! Thier idea of an upgrade is a car that doesn't have mildew, but...)

They (Hertz LAX) once gave me a car with a community of fire ants living in it. It took me a while to figure out what the burning, itching, and stinging was.

Now - what bothered me was not so much the ants; every company is going to have problems and mistakes beyond their control. What really bothered me was that when I brought the car back, two or three staff members simply couldn't understand what the problem was. It was this weird combination of disinterest and crappy listening skills -- after I told the first return agent what the problem was, I got the: "was the car OK for you, sir?" Even after repeating myself, "did you add gasoline?" ... uhhh.

And an odd cavalierness .. as if they couldn't really comprehend why I'd bother to return the car because of fire ants.

I went inside and got it straightened out, but wow.

The flat rate refilling fee was one of the best changes I've seen from Hertz. They fill the tank for you and charge the going rate for gasoline. I've been using that option during the last three months. It's worth it for me to pay the flat fee of seven bucks and not have the hassle of looking for a gas station near a unfamiliar airport. Not to mention that some gas stations near the airport are rip-offs themselfs. I remember one near the Orlando airport a few years ago, the first one driving north from the terminal, that charged $2.00 more per gallon than the newxt gas station a few blocks further up the road. Preying on the tourists I guess.

A far as the new policy is concerned.

It's NOT worth it to bring back the car and pay $50 bucks in overpriced gasoline however!
Bah! :mad:

You're completely right -- it does.

That is why I now simply make certain that I check how many miles I can drive without having the gauge look like the tank is not full. I then make certain to fill it at the most convenient time for me, assuming that I am below that mileage limit, before returning it.

If I know, for example, that 42 miles will still look "full" I will return it anywhere from 1 to 30 miles from the airport and not worry about Hertz's charges.


Exactly. Whenever I rent a car, I stop at a nearby gas station and truly fill the tank. (But never stop at the gas stations that are very near to the rentals because those gas stations are usually higher-priced since they can overcharge the people who are returning the rental cars!) I set the trip odometer to zero and then see how far I could go before the needle drops below "F".

My favorite scenario was with the older Mustang Convertibles (around 2005 or so). I used to fill the tank in Laguna Beach, CA and drive all the way to the Hertz lot at LAX -- and the needle would still be on "F", 55 miles later!

I didn't get the email notification of this until Monday, two weeks after the policy change. :td: on them.

The "pump rates" deal wasn't perfect, but did save a bit of time for a nominal cost, good if in a hurry. The gouging returning isn't all that surprising and certainly not customer friendly (http://www.wanderingaramean.com/2008/12/hertz-reverts-to-their-gouging-ways.html), but such is life.

This change is dissapointing. National doesn't give me this overcharge.

This is to clarify that the Flat Refueling Fee charged by Hertz is discontinued. Hertz will no longer base the Fuel and Service Charge on local pump prices, except in Hawaii and Maryland. Since different policies apply in Hawaii and Maryland, you may check with those renting locations for local pricing. For more information about our refueling options, click here.

Too funny, now the attention of the world is on the economic 'crisis' and not gas anymore...

I guess Hertz figured out it could go back to gouging...

+1 $6.99 is almost 4X today gas price. :mad: