I just returned form a trip where I made a reservation in Costa Rica and the trip was estimated to cost $192 dollars (I have the confirmation email). Taking a cab to the hotel from the airport was about $120 each way so I decided to rent a car instead.

When I show up at the location I am told there is an additional mandatory insurance I must purchase for $18/day. I was not informed of this anywhere on the reservation I had made! It was nearly midnight and I basically had no choice at that point if I wanted to make it to the hotel. The insurance ended up costing just as much as the car itself on an eight day rental! Doubling my final bill to nearly $400! I get back to the states and call the Hertz number, but they say then cannot see the invoice and advise I work with the location directly.

I was not informed there would be additional charges, especially to such a degree, or else I would not have made the reservation. Not telling the customer until she shows up in the physical office is incredible deceptive practice as you no longer have any other options. Even in going through hertz.com now I can find no reference to this additional charge. I did find a different site: http://www.costaricarentacar.net/insurance.php but it quotes insurance as $10/day for cheap cars which is almost half of what they charged me on the spot.

I plan on contesting the difference between what I was promised vs. what I was charged with my credit card company. Has anyone had to deal with this before?