Today in Atlanta I decided to extend an Avis rental by one day. The original rental was $69, all in, for the original one day period. The "old fashioned way" to have done this would have been to say nothing and just to come back when I come back. But I decided to use the phone system instead...

The automated voice gave an extended total price of $150 plus a $10 reservation change fee. This would have meant the base rental went up by $81 (all-in except the change fee) for the second day. I decided to abort that and I called back to get a live agent.

I checked on line and saw a one day rental from Atlanta starting today would have been $59 all in. Then I called the phone agent and explained the situation. He would not adjust the $81 for the second day and passed me to a supervisor, who went over the situation and also would not adjust the charge downward.

Avis' practices are misleading. When they extend the rental they are saying the change is costing $10. But they are also raising the rate, not to the current rate but to a rate even higher than either the current rate or the original rate.

The cost of the change is effectively $21 to $32, depending on how you look at it, and not $10.

I'll get the money back, just by pointing out short gas fills and defects on the cars over the next few weeks, or complaining about service. That's unfortunate, because I usually take those things in stride renting 50 rental cars a year from Avis.

As a side question, how about just returning it late with no notice (in the US), I wonder?