I suspect the source of my problem is a separation of Hertz companies by countries snd departments, but I’d appreciate an insights:

I returned a Hertz rental to the Bordeaux airport location January 2. All seemed well, the inspection discovered no damage, and the contract was closed. I received an email with a link to Hertz.uk to get the final receipt for reasons unknown. The linked-to form only retrieved two previous rentals. Other paperwork has Hertz.fr as the rental company. Some past rentals from the same location generated emails in German. Sometimes rentals in France that I arrange under my Hertz account simply disappear from my account, but the location has the reservation. Go figure.

Eleven days after the return I receive an email from [email protected] containing a bill in French from Hertz.fr. There’s an amount of 265 €, but no explanation of what the damage is. It also states that I don’t have to do anything; my credit card will be charged. Using the [email protected] address in the facture, I ask for an explanation and eventually receive a damage report containing both my rental details and pictures taken the day after the car’s return that are difficult to make out, but that seem to show tire damage leading to the tire’s replacement. The charge also includes loss of use for three days.

While waiting for a response, I call the rental office and ask about the damage. Staff pulled up the rental details and say there was no indication of damage and no money due. After receiving the damage report via email from [email protected] I call again, confirm the rental office has no information about damage, and ask what to do. I’m given a Hertz France customer service number. Unfortunately, my French isn’t up to the task so I drop the matter.

My credit card is then charged by Hertz France. I use the US number service number to follow up. At the same time, I email the Hertz France customer service, who respond by asking for something showing the credit card charge. I provide it along with the damage report. The US customer service get back to me saying they contacted the rental office and there’s no charge for damage. The French customer service gets back to me and denies there is a charge related to the rental.

It’s not a lot of money, but I am concerned about the lack of coherent information. The tire may have been damaged as I drove it by glass or something without my knowledge and the staff who inspected the car may not have seen it. I have no interest in dodging a legitimate damage charge and can probably get some portion reimbursed by my credit card issuer. But this is bizarre. I wonder whether there’s such a separation of departments and companies that somehow a damage report was generated snd processed, but nobody at the rental location or US or French customer service can figure this out. In the US, I’d dispute the charge with the information I’ve received and let Hertz get its act together and explain the discrepancy, but I’m in France and don’t feel like running afoul of laws that might be less favorable to such action.