Found these terms that are identical on both AAA and Hertz sites where they promote their partnership. The guy at Hertz is just straight up making up terms when he tries to tell me that it doesn't matter that we both have active AAA memberships because the computer was not auto zeroing out the authorized driver. I bolded the main relevant wording.
My plan right now is to ask for the main manager when I return and if gives me same BS, then I guess I have to escalate. The terms are written out precisely for benefits there including the $5k damage maximum for CDW using the code, but somehow he's telling me the terms of the AAA free driver isn't spelled out more than it is there.
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/renta...-deals-near-me
Discounts apply to pay later base rate. Discount will vary depending on date, location, length of rental, car class & other factors. Taxes and fees excluded. AAA Club Discount Code (CDP) must be included in reservation. Benefits available at participating Hertz locations in the U.S.; Canada and Puerto Rico. Twenty-four (24) hour advance reservation required. Additional driver and young renter must be a AAA member, have a credit card in their own name and meet standard rental qualifications. Child safety seat is subject to availability. Gas savings is only valid when prepaid fuel option is purchased. Customer’s responsibility for damage to the rented vehicle is limited to $5,000, provided there is no violation of the terms and conditions of the Rental Agreement. If Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) is purchased in connection with the rental, Hertz will waive the customer’s financial responsibility for any loss or damage to the rental vehicle, provided there is no violation of the terms and conditions of the Rental Agreement. At the time of rental, present your AAA membership card.
Edit:
I'm wasting far too much time on this but at the same time, when I get worked up like this, I partially enjoy reading the fine print and arming myself with the knowledge for my case.
I read the Rental Terms
https://www.hertz.com/us/en/about-us/terms-and-conditions
I'm armed with more information that I'm going to unleash on the manager upon return. This is a summary of my quick reading of the arbitration clause. I didn't care enough to read it several times but my quick understanding is as follows.
As others have said, Hertz basically forces you to settle disputes under arbitration. You can't file a class action against them or otherwise sure them in court. There is an exception for small claims court, which my $75 , if this location is foolish enough to not refund when I return, would obviously fall under.
Another key point is that before you formally initiate the arbitration, you basically first have to request this informal resolution procesd with Hertz. My reading of it was you send them a letter to start the informal dispute process and within 30 days, you either do a phone call or video conference and they attempt to resolve the issue there. Only after you exhaust that option can you file formally for arbitration and the terms of method of doing that are specified in that link.
It will be interesting if the manager stands by telling me I have to pay the authorized user fee bc our AAA membership cards have different club codes. I'll tell him that I read the terms and it's no where in there and he'll be able to tell that I actually did read the fine print when I mention that he's gonna force me to either file small claims since I can bypass arbitration that way with this amount, or I can initiate the informal resolution process before I send the letters to file for arbitration.