Hertz - Be Careful on US site for PrePaid Rate Quote




bk3day
Jan 5, 09, 1:52 am
Apologies if this is old news but If it wasn't for the odd error message I got (that the PC code used wasn't valid with the Rate Code - NPP :confused:) I would never have noticed that the website was quoting me a prepaid rate that comes with cancellation penalties :eek: :td:

Unlike the UK site where there are big buttons with accompanying rates for both the prepay and "pay at counter" rates, the US site only has a barely visible and easy to overlook link.... "I prefer to pay at the counter, please quote me a non-prepaid rate" located right above the "Sort Vehicle" box

Hope this helps someone avoid a very nasty surprise.

fwiw, here are the PrePay T&Cs

Approximate rental charges are based on available information at the time of reservation for renters age 25 and older. For minimum age requirements please see "Rental Qualifications and Requirements" link below for details. Please note that for renters under age 25 an additional daily age differential charge may apply. Additional fees or surchages may be applied at time of rental.

Please note that at the time of rental you will need to present a current driver's license and a valid major credit card. Hertz locations also accept most, but not all, debit cards. Use of a debit card to rent a vehicle is subject to a review of your credit history. A few locations do not accept debit cards at time of rental. If you have questions about the acceptability of your form of payment, call Hertz.

1. No refunds or credits for unused rental days.

2. Prepaid rates cannot be combined with any promotional offer.

3. Rates exclude vehicle licensing recovery fee, airport facility use fee/customer facility charge, hotel concession fees, other cost recovery fees, governmental surcharges, taxes or other optional items such as child seats, luggage racks, refueling items, insurance, NeverLost or optional refueling. or one-way charges for which the renter may be responsible. Excluded services cannot be prepaid; if accepted, must be paid locally at time of rental.

4. Changes to a reservation may be done at Hertz.com using the ‘Modify/Cancel’ option. Any changes to the reservation may impact the rental charges. If a prepaid reservation is cancelled more than 24 hours before the pickup time, a $5 cancellation fee will be assessed. If a prepaid reservation is cancelled within 24 hours or if it is not picked up at all, a $10 fee will be assessed.

5. Approximate rental charges are based on available information at the time of reservation for renters age 25 and older. For minimum age requirements please see "Rental Qualifications and Requirements" link below for details. Please note that for renters under age 25 an additional daily age differential charge may apply. Additional fees or surcharges may be applied at time of rental.

6. The customer will be asked to enter a valid credit card number at the end of a change to a prepaid reservation. This must be the same credit card that was used for the original reservation. If the customer wishes to change the credit card, then the original reservation must be cancelled (see terms and conditions for Cancellations) and a new reservation made.

7. Standard rental qualifications and rental period restrictions apply.

8. CDP: A CDP code can be added to a reservation. However, there may be circumstances in which this CDP code is linked to a negotiated discount or rate that does not match Hertz retail prepaid rates. In this circumstance, the customer will see the error message: 'No prepaid available'. The customer may cancel the original reservation (see terms and conditions for Cancellations) and make a new reservation adding the CDP number.

9. A valid drivers license and credit card must be presented at the time of rental to cover any reasonably anticipated charges which have not been included in the prepaid voucher.

10. All rentals are subject to Hertz standard terms and conditions of the Hertz Rental Agreement in effect at time and place of rental.

11. Rental days are based on 24 hour periods commencing at time of pickup. Additional days will apply if the rental is kept longer than specified (additional days begin after a 29 minute grace period and will be billed at a higher rate).

12. This program is available at participating cities/locations.

13. Voluntary upgrades will be charged at locally applicable rates.

14. Please Print your Prepay Confirmation and Present at the Counter.

15. Debit Cards and Hertz Credit Card are not a valid form of payment for prepaid rates.

Please note that at the time of rental you will need to present a current driver's license and a valid major credit card. Hertz locations also accept most, but not all, debit cards. Use of a debit card to rent a vehicle is subject to a review of your credit history. A few locations do not accept debit cards at time of rental. If you have questions about the acceptability of your form of payment, call Hertz.

A Frequent Flyer Surcharge of up to $1.00 per day up to a maximum of $5.25 per rental may apply when renters choose to take miles or credits from a U.S. Frequent Flyer program.


JLewisinSyr
Jan 5, 09, 6:00 am
On the website, I see both pre-paid in non-prepaid. As for the 29 minute grace, that is standard now with Hertz.

Dovster
Jan 5, 09, 8:36 am
3. Rates exclude vehicle licensing recovery fee, airport facility use fee/customer facility charge, hotel concession fees, other cost recovery fees, governmental surcharges, taxes or other optional items such as child seats, luggage racks, refueling items, insurance, NeverLost or optional refueling. or one-way charges for which the renter may be responsible. Excluded services cannot be prepaid; if accepted, must be paid locally at time of rental.


Every rate you get includes different things. Any time I rent from Hertz in the US (as an Israeli), my charges include vehicle licensing recovery fee, airport facility use fee/customer facility charge, and all insurance.

I recently used the UK site to pre-pay for 10 days in FLL. (The US sites and the Israeli office charged much higher rates.) Although the site said that all of the above were included, the confirmation letter I received did not.

I asked UK Hertz to give it to me in writing, and they sent me the following:


This note confirms, that your booking below is a fully pre paid and fully inclusive.

All taxes local surcharges, vehicle liscency fee, reg fee, airport fees
are included.

All insurance including LDW limited damage waiver LIS liability insurance
supplement.

No additional charges are to be made.

However the location will take a deposit for a full tank of gas and 1 days
rental, fully refunded once the car is returned on time with a full tank of gas.



As it turned out, I did not need to show the letter to anyone -- it was in my contract when I arrived. The only problem I had, and it was a small one, was that as an Israeli renting through the UK site, I could not have my Gold # 1 number included and did not receive any credit for the rental.


clarence5ybr
Jan 5, 09, 11:41 pm
Unlike the UK site where there are big buttons with accompanying rates for both the prepay and "pay at counter" rates, the US site only has a barely visible and easy to overlook link.... "I prefer to pay at the counter, please quote me a non-prepaid rate" located right above the "Sort Vehicle" box

Hope this helps someone avoid a very nasty surprise.Happened to see this thread today, so I was paying attention when trying to book a rental just now.

Booking for next month, and for the first time ever, I'm seeing a prepaid rate popping up by default. What's really frustrating is that when I click the "I'd prefer to pay at the counter, please quote me a non-prepaid rate." link, the rates don't change, and when I get to step 4, it's showing a pre-paid rate!!:mad: I have tried deleting cookies and using a different browser, but I still get the same problem.

clarence5ybr
Jan 6, 09, 1:19 pm
On the website, I see both pre-paid in non-prepaid.I used live help to figure out what why I could only get prepaid rates [see my post above for details]. Apparently the CDP code I was using was locking the website into giving me a prepaid rate. I was told they are aware of the bug with this particular CDP code and are working to fix it. Sure enough, if I log out from Hertz.com, the website quite prominently displays both pay now and pay later rates for each vehicle when I enter the same rental criteria. Logged in with my CDP entered, it only shows the prepaid rates, with no choice.

So, until they fix the bug, my choices are to rent without the CDP code or to make all my reservations over the phone.

Oh, and one tidbit from the website FAQ that I didn't see in bk3day's listing of prepaid T&Cs:

Question
Can I still book a prepaid rate and receive Gold Service?

Answer
Hertz prepaid rates require presentation of a voucher at the rental counter at the time of vehicle pickup, so Gold Service is not available when renting on a prepaid rentals.

ijgordon
Jan 11, 09, 4:34 pm
Oh, and one tidbit from the website FAQ that I didn't see in bk3day's listing of prepaid T&Cs:

Question
Can I still book a prepaid rate and receive Gold Service?

Answer
Hertz prepaid rates require presentation of a voucher at the rental counter at the time of vehicle pickup, so Gold Service is not available when renting on a prepaid rentals.

That's just asinine. I don't have to show Hilton a voucher when I pre-pay for my hotel room. :rolleyes:

yyznomad
Jan 11, 09, 4:47 pm
The only news to me are the cancellation fees.

Everything else is run-of-the-mill-plain-jane-status-quo to me.



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