Is this just a sneaky way for them to charge my credit card if I don't show up for my reservation? Since my CC is in their system if I don't show up, I am assuming they are going to start charging my card automatically. Has anyone had any experience with this. The reason I ask is I will be renting at KOA and Avis has the best rate but I have heard bad things about Avis at this location. I signed up for Preferred, but then I have read that they still make you come inside anyway at this station. I have a backup reservation with Enterprise, no CC required, if AVIS is totally out to lunch, but now I am thinking they will charge my card if I blow them off.

Unless you are booking a reservation that requires prepayment or is otherwise non-cancellable, which is not the stsandard, then no you will have no problem.

I have never been charged for a no show reservation, just because they have my credit card. They need authorization to charge it, which would be your agreement based on actually picking up a rental or agreeing to a rental that had a no show charge in the rules.

Rental car companies do want to move in that direction but so far on the whole have been unsuccessful with it.

Hi all,

Note that Avis has started adding a no-show fee indication for rentals booked on some of the European sites (for example, Switzerland). (And yes, this includes a rental in the US booked from Switzerland.)

So yes, they are moving in that direction, and I'm sure it will come to the US at some point.

Now, as a disclaimer, I've had the notice on my rentals, but as I've not been a no-show yet, can't tell if they apply it.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

Thanks for the info. I am always worried when they have my CC info on file that they can hit me with some sort of hidden cancellation fee. I am sure I checked some boxes with some fine print that I never read when I signed up for Avis Preferred and I was worried that I had Authorized something I didn't realize I was Authorizing. I am sure eventually the rental car companies will start charging some sort of cancellation fee in the US if they are doing it overseas. Especially given how they have stuggled financially in recent years.

Hi,

Just for reference, here's the text I get on my bookings:



http://yfrog.com/jnavisnoshowj

From the currencies used, it may only apply to rentals in Europe, as there is no price in dollars.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

They will still make you come inside anyway at any station on your first Preferred rental, and based on my experience, also perhaps your first Preferred rental after you change your linked credit card.

Preferred is go-straight-to-your-car only starting with your second rental.

There are some small Preferred stations where there is no board and the car keys are not in the car, and you have to go to a special Preferred counter where they have the car keys behind the counter. But that is a separate issue. In that case, you still don't need to fill out paperwork the same way you do when you first rent (or when, apparently, you've changed linked credit cards).

(I've always has the "same" card linked for my rentals, but once or twice the card number has changed due to fraud detection and the bank issuing me a replacement card with a new number. I don't remember previous cases, but certainly after the last time I did this, I had to go to the Preferred counter and sign some quick stuff at a location where I otherwise bypass all counters completely.)

If AVIS is going to charge for no-shows. What happens if there are no rentals during a pickup? (Happened to me at a local AVIS in NYC)

Are they going to pay me?