Avis Damage Scam
Yesterday | 4:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: San Juan, PR
Programs: AA EP, DL D, UA 1K, B6 M2, Hyatt GLB, MR AMB/LT, IHG P/A, HH D, FndCd, Sixt D, NTL E, Hz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 465
Avis Damage Scam
Rented for a week at Las Vegas 26 April to 2 May, returned 1 May.
I just got a letter (dated 13 May, postmarked 15 May, received 22 May) declaring damage and demanding almost $1300 for a dent. The record included 3 photos (VIN sticker, dashboard/ODO, and steering wheel), none indicating any damage (and horribly low res as well). I tried calling them twice, got bounced around and "our systems are down", opened two tickets via email and the online portal (once it came back up). No damage happened to the car, none was noted at return.
Emailed the branch operations manager (who had emailed me with a "follow up/review" email...)
My plan is to contact Nevada Consumer Affairs on Wednesday, along with Nevada DMV, and US FTC (where I "know some people, thank God..."), since this seems to be a pattern of behavior
by rental car agencies. It's on an Amex so I'll just dispute any charges but looks like I'm done with renting from Avis; not merely with "mistaken damage" but how they handle damage/claims generally. But if I can get regulators involved and definitively solve this problem for others, will be quite happy to do so.
I just got a letter (dated 13 May, postmarked 15 May, received 22 May) declaring damage and demanding almost $1300 for a dent. The record included 3 photos (VIN sticker, dashboard/ODO, and steering wheel), none indicating any damage (and horribly low res as well). I tried calling them twice, got bounced around and "our systems are down", opened two tickets via email and the online portal (once it came back up). No damage happened to the car, none was noted at return.
Emailed the branch operations manager (who had emailed me with a "follow up/review" email...)
My plan is to contact Nevada Consumer Affairs on Wednesday, along with Nevada DMV, and US FTC (where I "know some people, thank God..."), since this seems to be a pattern of behavior
by rental car agencies. It's on an Amex so I'll just dispute any charges but looks like I'm done with renting from Avis; not merely with "mistaken damage" but how they handle damage/claims generally. But if I can get regulators involved and definitively solve this problem for others, will be quite happy to do so.
