What was the biggest rip off you ever had by what you would generally consider a reliable company in your travels?

Mine was at the hands of Avis in MXP.

I had made my reservation through the Avis Tel Aviv headquarters and had CDW included. However, I was given a written sheet saying that if I did not accept a further CDW in MPX I would be liable for a 300 Euro deductible.

When I picked up the car the agent didn't ask me about the deductible but checked on the policy that I had accepted it and that the charge was Euro 0. In other words, the contract said I was given it for free.

Two weeks after I returned the car my credit card was charged for Euro 1000. I called Avis Tel Aviv and they promised to look into it for me. They reported back that I had damaged the windshield and was charged for that.

This infuriated me because: 1. I knew there was no damage, 2. My contract said I had been given the complete CDW and 3. Even if I had not, I should have been responsible for only Euro 300.

I told this all to Avis Tel Aviv and they promised to check it out further. At the end, they told me that MXP refused to refund the money but Avis Tel Aviv gave me a check for it because they checked the rental records and found that the damage (apparently a tiny hole made by a pebble) had been made, and paid for, by the renter who had the car before me.

I continue to rent from Avis, but never again in Milan.

[This message has been edited by Dovster (edited 10-27-2003).]