EZEFUEL ?
 

I am not an Avis renter, but I had to rent from them in MIA on 10/9, as Hertz was sold out.

I found out they have a new "EZEFUEL" policy. If you drive less than 75 miles, you will be automatically charged $13.99 for gas, even if you fill up the tank yourself.

This is essentially a forced prepay fuel charge. You have to agree to this on the rental agreement.

The only way to remove the charge is to go inside the customer service office (after getting receipt at the return lanes) and get a rep to remove the charge.

This can add upto half an hour because you have to get in line again.

The outside reps who normally print the receipt cannot remove the EZE FUEL charge. Only the inside office ones can.

I have been told that this has been instituted company wide recently "as a convenience to customers" (read increase revenue).

I simply cannot believe this.

Can anyone confirm this ?

It's been policy for over a year. Have a read of the T&Cs.

If you "convince" the outside rep that you filled it up *before* he adds it to the bill, he won't add it to the bill. I always have my receipt in hand, and it has worked out fine.

Only place the return rep hasn't removed it was DFW where the guy couldn't print me any receipt.

I just say I got gas immediately. They print the receipt with the charge, then again without it.

I rent every week and usually only put 35-50 miles on the car.

The outside return rep always removes my EZ Refuel Charge as well. I just say "I got gas" and i've never been asked to produce a receipt. They take it off without a problem.

One time they printed me a receipt with it, and when i pointed it out to the rep, he reprinted me a receipt with it taken off.

So... for SURE, they can eliminate the charge from the outside return rep.

Several of my rentals with Avis proceeded like this when I returned the vehicle:

1) Did you fill up the tank?

Yes

2) Rep checks the fuel level in the car

3) Rep prints receipt and hands it to me

4) I question the EZFUEL charge

5) Rep asks to see a receipt for the fuel purchase

6) Rep prints a new receipt

The point isn't that they will take it off if you ask. The point is that you shouldn't have to ask and you shouldn't have to show a receipt. (Maybe not everyone has been asked for a fuel receipt, but I have several times.)

Avis knows the gas tank is full without having to ask you. The charge should be automatically removed if the tank is full. End of story.

Not everyone checks their receipt before they walk away, especially at airport locations if you are trying to make a flight. It's a gimmick to get more of your money.

I have written to their customer service regarding the issue, and I don't rent from Avis anymore.

Every rental for the past year for me goes like this....

Me: Hello, I filled up the tank on the way back.

Attendent: Ok... [checks mileage and fuel level then prints receipt]... Have a nice day.

Me: [looks at receipt, no EZEFUEL on it] Thank you.

Never had an issue with this... at least not at OGG, HNL, SFO, SJC, OAK, DAY, IND, CMH, MSP, STL... those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Well... Except that the terms & conditions of your rental state specifically that in order to have the EZ Fuel charge removed from your bill, you must return the tank full and show a fuel receipt.

So yeah, not quite end-of-story. If its their policy, and you choose to rent from AVIS, you need to follow their rules.

I've never had to go into the office after the return lane to have the reps outside remove the fuel charge. I usually show them the receipt as they walk up and say that i've filled up the car. Sometimes they ask where (as in how far away) but still never had a problem.

I think you are missing the point - they are saying it's a stupid policy. Not questioning whether it is policy or not or whether you need to follow policy or not.

I can kind of see the other side of it too though. I've gotten into plenty of rental cars from a variety of agencies that indicate full when I leave and then drop down to 7/8 within a short distance. This policy does help mitigate that, in theory. Still, I see it too as unnecessarily penalizing the honest renters out there (such as those posting here). I'd use the EZEFUEL feature myself if I'd driven close to the limit...it'd probably cost me almost the same amount to refuel myself (depending on the vehicle) and that way it saves me having to stop.

I personally love the policy. i don't have to spend time refueling when I drive less than 75 miles and it's lowered the amount of times I get the car "full" and drive 5 miles and it's at 7/8.

A colleague of mine had a rather hilarious story to tell over lunch. He was always getting these charges on his recpt and he never bothered to check when he returned the car. His firm had a more strict expense policy and he had to eat this cost more than once.

Finally to get even, he rented a fullsize using a free rental day coupon over the weekend, got upgraded to a huge SUV, proceeded to siphon off all the gas from the car into his two personal cars and returned the car with maybe a gallon or less in it.

This time he happilly paid the EZFUEL charge. I was in splits all afternoon. :D