I rented a car at the Columbus Ohio facility on December 30th 2013 for 2 days. It was snowing. When I went to pick up the car it was very cold and I got a car with 29,xxx miles. I am a presidents circle member and have been renting with Hertz for about 20 years. For a PC member, that was a high mileage car. I have noticed that I had been receiving cars with higher and higher mileage most of the time. I was renting from this facility and returning to this facility. I check a car thoroughly when it is a one-way rental, as the receiving facility may be unfamiliar with the car. Typically when I am renting and returning from the same facility, I will give the car a cursory glance to make sure there is no major damage. At the Columbus Ohio facility I didn't see any major issues, a scratch, which for a car with 29,xxx rental miles is pretty typical. About 5 weeks later I get a bill and papaerwork indicating I did damage to the car. The bill was for $1846. Pictures they included show a car that is covered with snow parked in an open parking lot. I had returned it to a covered facility.
I opened a claim with the credit card company I use, as it has primary coverage, though I have never had to use it before and I have had the card for 18 years. I sent an email to the CEO, with no response received, and it has been for two weeks. I did not do any damage to the car, but Hertz is trying to grab/steal $1846 for alledged damage to the drivers side panel and the front panel. Very frustrating as I am careful where I park, with both rental cars and my own. While taking pictures before and after each rental would be helpful. Given renting 40 cars a year, I don't beleive it is practical. Is there something else I should be doing to expunge this claim or other experience where people have successfully fought back on wrongful claims? Thanks for any advice.