Recall on rental car. Must drive 1 hour each way. Suggestions?
Sep 19, 2014, 4:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 568
Recall on rental car. Must drive 1 hour each way. Suggestions?
My wife is currently renting an Avis car and received a call today from Avis insisting that she drive 1 hour each way to the nearest rental facility to exchange her rental car. Her current car is being recalled. She asked for them to drive to her and exchange cars but they said that they weren't equipped to do so.
Originally she was scheduled to return the car on Sunday but now she needs to extend the rental until Tuesday. Avis normally would change the return date without a hassle. However, because of the recall, they said that they would not extend the return date unless she drives the 1 hour each way to return the car.
Finally, they want to charge her an additional $100 for the 2 day extension.
I don't know if she should ask Avis for any compensation for driving 1 hour each way to exchange cars or for a discount on the 2 day extension.
Any thoughts?
Thank you in advance.
Originally she was scheduled to return the car on Sunday but now she needs to extend the rental until Tuesday. Avis normally would change the return date without a hassle. However, because of the recall, they said that they would not extend the return date unless she drives the 1 hour each way to return the car.
Finally, they want to charge her an additional $100 for the 2 day extension.
I don't know if she should ask Avis for any compensation for driving 1 hour each way to exchange cars or for a discount on the 2 day extension.
Any thoughts?
Thank you in advance.
Sep 20, 2014, 8:52 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
I'd check how much a new rental would be versus the extortionate $100 penalty. Unfortunately, with her wish to extend, they have her over a barrel WRT the fee.
Wonder what would happen if she told them she didn't feel safe driving a recalled car all that distance and hinted about "penalties" Avis might be subject to.
Wonder what would happen if she told them she didn't feel safe driving a recalled car all that distance and hinted about "penalties" Avis might be subject to.
Sep 23, 2014, 9:57 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,103
I have no idea if Avis would agree to this or if this would work for her schedule, but can she try to find a nearby dealership to fix the car? If it's a recall, they should fix it for free.
Oct 29, 2014, 5:24 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Plat; Starwood Plat, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 24
Avis' computer system is programmed to not allow any extensions of a rental where the car is in a recall status in the computer. Even if you fixed the recall at a local dealership, Avis has no record of it on their systems, so the car will remain in safety recall status on their computer system. Standard procedure in this case is to allow the customer to return the car at the scheduled return date if the customer doesn't want to drive the car back. You could always call the roadside assistance folks and tell them you don't feel safe driving the car, or that theres something wrong mechanically with it ;-)
