Avis is screwing customers on this <75 miles fuel charge
#31
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Actually, it's close to 3x that. On 4/16, the fuel charge at LAX was $59.32 for 102 miles.
#32
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
When I fill a rental (assuming I'm relatively close to the return facility) for the last time, I keep the car ignition on to the battery that shows me how full its getting. As soon as it gets to touching the F I kill it and bring it back with it touching the F and show them the receipt, I say the pump stopped there so it must be full or there is a problem with you car.. never a problem after that
That's my biggest gripe since Budget/Avis started this program. I almost always drive the more than 75 miles, so the original rip-off part doesn't hit me.
But about half the time now when I pick up a car, it is already a hair below F. I almost always suck it up since it normally well above a 7/8 line. But I do a slow burn since I picture the previous renter getting stuck with a double-charge for burning like $5 of gas and I get stuck paying for the gas.
Another 1/4 of my rentals the needle dives sharply from F as I drive away. I make a point of filling the car at what I expect to be the half way mark of the rental. No shocker, I always "use" 1 or 2 more gallons on the outbound than on my return.
This is all new since the program started, I really thing the big rip-off is they charge low mileage renters that fee, yet they don't top the car off unless it is below something like 15/16 full.
But about half the time now when I pick up a car, it is already a hair below F. I almost always suck it up since it normally well above a 7/8 line. But I do a slow burn since I picture the previous renter getting stuck with a double-charge for burning like $5 of gas and I get stuck paying for the gas.
Another 1/4 of my rentals the needle dives sharply from F as I drive away. I make a point of filling the car at what I expect to be the half way mark of the rental. No shocker, I always "use" 1 or 2 more gallons on the outbound than on my return.
This is all new since the program started, I really thing the big rip-off is they charge low mileage renters that fee, yet they don't top the car off unless it is below something like 15/16 full.
#33
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Texas
Programs: AA 1MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 444
On the cars with an MPG counter, I always reset the average MPG and the trip odometer. When I fill it up, if I'm any significant amount off, I'll complain when I drop off the car.
#34
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles, MR, HH, ICH/PC, Avis Pref., Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,897
Avis now taxing the fuel charge
Full disclosure: I have taken advantage of the <75 mile refuling charge voluntarily several times - sometimes for convenience and sometimes it actually costs less (e.g. full size SUV driven 73 miles).
I had an experience last week at PDX that soured me on the deal. It turned out my client was fairly close to the airport so I only drove 50 miles for two days. I filled the tank before returning the car because the charge has now gone up to $13.99 so the cost difference is noticeable. I told the lady checking in the car that I filled it up (in most cases they will not add the charge). The charge was added anyway.
Here's the kicker - the charge was added pre-tax, so it was subject to 27% of additional taxes to make the charge almost $18.00! In previous rentals, the charge was at the bottom of the bill after the taxes that applied to the base rental. I did not notice it until later becuase the fuel charge was up towards the top of the bill with the other taxable items.
I had all my receipts and called Avis, faxed them the info and it is being taken care of with no hassle (good for Avis Customer Service!) but if the fuel service is now taxable as a corporate Avis policy, be careful.
I had an experience last week at PDX that soured me on the deal. It turned out my client was fairly close to the airport so I only drove 50 miles for two days. I filled the tank before returning the car because the charge has now gone up to $13.99 so the cost difference is noticeable. I told the lady checking in the car that I filled it up (in most cases they will not add the charge). The charge was added anyway.
Here's the kicker - the charge was added pre-tax, so it was subject to 27% of additional taxes to make the charge almost $18.00! In previous rentals, the charge was at the bottom of the bill after the taxes that applied to the base rental. I did not notice it until later becuase the fuel charge was up towards the top of the bill with the other taxable items.
I had all my receipts and called Avis, faxed them the info and it is being taken care of with no hassle (good for Avis Customer Service!) but if the fuel service is now taxable as a corporate Avis policy, be careful.
#35
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: 2011 Air: AA (Plat) UA (Prem); Hotel: HGP (Dia), HH (Dia), KIT (IC); Car: HZ (PC) AF
Posts: 688
I don't think Avis will "top off" tanks. However, I think that with the policy (and others that I've seen where you must present a receipt to show you filled the tank w/in 5 miles of the airport no matter how many miles you drove), they're trying to prevent ill will from the next person that picks up the car, drives 4 miles & has a less-than-full tank. I know I've been annoyed when this has been done to me. However, there are many flaws in their policy. Just because you have a receipt for gas (sometimes within 5 miles of the airport), doesn't mean anything. You could: 1. Drive through stations & grab an abandoned receipt; 2. Put a bit of gas in the car, but not fill it; 3. Fill the car & drive lots more before you turn it in, etc. I don't know that their is a solution to these items, but still shows that their policy isn't worth anything in reality.
And I have never heard about the w/i five mile rule. At some airports that's a stretch, next to impossible. I rarely have been challenge to provide a receipt when I say I've filled up the tank.
My problem with the policy is that even if (and, I mean if) the rep asked at check-in whether you filled the tank, the system automatically prints out a receipt that includes the gas billing if you drove less than 75 miles. Some savvy reps throw it away and override it. Some you have to catch and make them print a new receipt. Either way, what a waste of paper. When some retailers are printing two-sided receipts, printing two one-sided receipts when only one is required is a waste of resources. Perhaps that's part of Avis' daily 65 Energy Recovery Fee.
#36
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PBI / JFK, ISP, LGA
Programs: AA, AS, AV, B6, DL, F9, WN
Posts: 866
The last time I rented from Avis they added the fuel charge to my bill because I did not drive at least 75 miles during my rental. I went directly to the CS desk and they removed the charge without much of a problem.
#37
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,090
Same. Pickup/dropoff was in Manhattan (43rd and 3rd). Showed the guy gas receipt when dropping off, but he literally could not get the <75 mile fuel surcharge removed, even though he indicated I had filled up. Told me I had to go inside to have the agent at the counter fix the erroneous charge.
#38
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYR
Programs: US/AA-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, AVIS-Presidents Club, National-Executive Elite
Posts: 2,755
If you forget, you can call AVIS Customer Service, but you'll need to fax them a copy of the receipt. Its pretty easy though. I've done it a few times.
#39
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bellingham/Gainesville
Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion
Posts: 2,808
That's my biggest gripe since Budget/Avis started this program. I almost always drive the more than 75 miles, so the original rip-off part doesn't hit me.
But about half the time now when I pick up a car, it is already a hair below F. I almost always suck it up since it normally well above a 7/8 line. But I do a slow burn since I picture the previous renter getting stuck with a double-charge for burning like $5 of gas and I get stuck paying for the gas.
Another 1/4 of my rentals the needle dives sharply from F as I drive away. I make a point of filling the car at what I expect to be the half way mark of the rental. No shocker, I always "use" 1 or 2 more gallons on the outbound than on my return.
This is all new since the program started, I really thing the big rip-off is they charge low mileage renters that fee, yet they don't top the car off unless it is below something like 15/16 full.
But about half the time now when I pick up a car, it is already a hair below F. I almost always suck it up since it normally well above a 7/8 line. But I do a slow burn since I picture the previous renter getting stuck with a double-charge for burning like $5 of gas and I get stuck paying for the gas.
Another 1/4 of my rentals the needle dives sharply from F as I drive away. I make a point of filling the car at what I expect to be the half way mark of the rental. No shocker, I always "use" 1 or 2 more gallons on the outbound than on my return.
This is all new since the program started, I really thing the big rip-off is they charge low mileage renters that fee, yet they don't top the car off unless it is below something like 15/16 full.
#40
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 1
Just got back from a 1 day rushed trip. Prepaid Avis for use of a car for 8 hrs, drove less than 20 miles. I don't know how they can charge your card without approval but I drove to the airport, had to search for a gas station close by for the $2 gas, and have the kid in the terminal waste another few minutes clearing the attempted $13.99 charge. The creeps have a sign saying it is for convenience. I'm done with Avis.
#41
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,025
While I don't particularly agree with many rental policies, the terms of the gas options are spelled out on Avis.com (listed under USA->Special Equipment->Fuel Options) and at every location I've been to for the last year or so, they have a sign somewhere indicating the fee if you return without a receipt while driving < 75 miles. It's also located in rental pamphlets or on your contract. So by agreeing to the rental from them, they have your authorization. The same as if you damage the car and return it unrepaired.
#42
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYR
Programs: US/AA-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, AVIS-Presidents Club, National-Executive Elite
Posts: 2,755
Get real.
Oh yeah, and welcome to FT.
#43
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: CLT
Programs: Dividend Miles GP; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Silver
Posts: 74
While I don't particularly agree with many rental policies, the terms of the gas options are spelled out on Avis.com (listed under USA->Special Equipment->Fuel Options) and at every location I've been to for the last year or so, they have a sign somewhere indicating the fee if you return without a receipt while driving < 75 miles. It's also located in rental pamphlets or on your contract. So by agreeing to the rental from them, they have your authorization. The same as if you damage the car and return it unrepaired.
All true...but its still a crap policy. You return the car not full, let them charge the standard refuel charge. Avis knows a lot of business travelers frequently will have a car for only a day (maybe two) and put few miles on it, so they saw it as a way to make some extra $.
#44
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: 2011 Air: AA (Plat) UA (Prem); Hotel: HGP (Dia), HH (Dia), KIT (IC); Car: HZ (PC) AF
Posts: 688
A "few minutes"... Maybe it takes 20-60 seconds to clear it. Another minute if they guy has to get help... But really, did the wasting of 2-3 minutes of your life really make such an impact that you'll never use a car company again?
Get real.
Oh yeah, and welcome to FT.
Get real.
Oh yeah, and welcome to FT.
#45
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO, SJC
Programs: UA MM /Gold ; AS MVP Gold; SWA A LIst and CP; HH Gold; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Plat Elite
Posts: 588
Our company travel policy specifically states "do not buy fuel from car rental agencies". If I'm rushing to catch a flight and miss the extra charge, it's an extra step for me to have to call customer service and get them to take off the charge as my company no longer reimburses me for it. I understand the need for it but irritating nevertheless.
Due to the automatic fuel charge Avis has now dropped to being an alternate if Hertz, National or Budget (in that order) don't have cars.
Due to the automatic fuel charge Avis has now dropped to being an alternate if Hertz, National or Budget (in that order) don't have cars.