A word of warning -- just last Friday, more than one year and nine months after my last rental in Munich, I was informed when trying to pick up a rental car at DFW that I was on Hertz Europe's "Do Not Rent" (DNR) list. As a result, there was a hold on my DFW reservation and my Gold Rewards account (and my 8000+ points), and I had to speak to a woman on the phone in Oklahoma who explained that the chargeback of 834.59 euro from my Munich rental in January 2014 had placed me on the list.

That I'm a President's Circle member (who has had 68 sometimes $$$ rentals since the Munich rental) didn't matter. I received no notice from Hertz in any way of the DNR listing other than literally at the Gold desk where my name and *** was on the board, prompting me to speak to an agent. I had to scramble to rent an alternate car from Budget once I realized that I wouldn't be able to get my rental from Hertz without paying the 834 euro scam fee.

As I posted in this thread, I was told upon returning the vehicle that I would not be charged for the (tiny) scratch on/under the front bumper. Nevertheless and without notice to me, I was billed an extra 834 euro for damage (I only found out what it was for when I went and downloaded an updated receipt on Hertz.com). I asked Hertz for info, but Hertz in Oklahoma had none and Hertz Germany would not respond. I filed a chargeback and won, receiving a letter from Chase stating that Hertz had agreed to the chargeback. I also received an email from Hertz Germany asking why I "disagreed with the charge for the rental" and wrote back with the same documentation I'd sent to Chase, and explaining it wasn't the rental but the damage charge. I never heard back from Hertz Germany.

Nevertheless the amount was sent to collections around the end of December. I followed up in writing, didn't hear back. I have all these emails.

That was it. Nearly a year has passed. And now, without warning, DNR.

So, given the number of reports of chargebacks I've seen on this forum for similar incidents, be forewarned... if Hertz Europe puts you on their DNR list, you might find yourself unable to rent a car. Not a big deal at DFW. Potentially a big deal if you're at an outstation and no one else is around or has cars.

The agent on the phone told me to email [email protected] -- I did so today, including the same documentation I'd sent in the past, and requesting in a short email to be removed from the list because (1) I was told affirmatively that I wouldn't be charged for the "damage," (2) my bank letter (attached) confirmed that Hertz agreed to settle the matter, and (3) I never received any of the ordinary documentation or notice that would support either charging me the 834 euro or adding me to a DNR list. We'll see what happens.

If anyone has any insight into a legal avenue (consumer protection bureau), etc., please share. The German EVZ appears to help only residents of Germany or individuals who have not yet completed a purchase, but I haven't yet looked thoroughly.