AVIS screwing costumers with EZ-Pass charge
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: AMS,BRE,ABE
Programs: AY-G, TK*S, AB-S, EY, LH, DL, UA, BA, AA, all hotel programmes
Posts: 1,345
AVIS screwing costumers with EZ-Pass charge
Well, arriving in EWR from transatlantic and finally finding a car on the lot in the rain... (1st car wasnt there), short check of car, then we drive to PA. At the delaware river I count three quarters and want to hand them to the lady and she screams at me that she doesn't want it, I paid with easy pass. So, this box was open and now I see that and realise that I will have to pay 2,50 per rental day (and I booked the car for a week) on top of the 75 cents bridge toll. Great deal. Do they leave that thing open on purpose to screw foreign visitors? Shall I dispute the charge on my Amex or write a letter (to whom?).
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYR
Programs: US/AA-Platinum, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, AVIS-Presidents Club, National-Executive Elite
Posts: 2,755
Arent there HUGE stickers on that car that say, "Don't stop at the toll booth, drive straight through". There's usually one on the visor, another on the windshield, signs in the pickup area.... plus that HUGE box thats affixed to your window should be a clue... especially since you're from NYC and know about easy pass, I would think you'd have noticed something.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
#5
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 8,289
I am surprised it is $2.50/rental day, even if you only use it on one day.
Hertz charges on day of use only.
Terms are found here
http://www.avis.com/car-rental/conte...d=T4M08S02#top
Its too bad that EZ-pass takes 24 hours to activate/change the car/license. I still have one from when I had a car in New York and tried to use it for a weekend rental but the EZ-pass agent told me it would not work for the first day.
Hertz charges on day of use only.
Terms are found here
http://www.avis.com/car-rental/conte...d=T4M08S02#top
Its too bad that EZ-pass takes 24 hours to activate/change the car/license. I still have one from when I had a car in New York and tried to use it for a weekend rental but the EZ-pass agent told me it would not work for the first day.
#6
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,037
Not true. It's $2.50 PER DAY, regardless of use. If you have a week long rental, and the thing sits in a garage for 5 days, you're still out $10. That's how they screw you.
Last edited by aisleorwindow; Jul 17, 2009 at 7:28 am Reason: changed amount to reflect $10 max.
#7
Join Date: May 2004
Location: PWM
Programs: Marriott Platinum Hyatt Diamond Hilton Gold SPG Gold National Executive Avis Preferred Hertz Gold
Posts: 633
Have to disagree--I've had the ezpass in the car but kept closed for my three day rental and was never charged---twice now. I have ezpass in my personal car which I love---however no problem with Avis--as a matter of fact I once exited at an exit in Florida with no attendents--cash only-- and since I didn't have any change I just drove through--was only $.25--but was never charged.
#9
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,037
So, it's an "all or nothing" deal.
#10
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DAY, CMH, IND, SDF, CVG
Programs: DL PM & Kryptonium, Hilton Diamond, National Exec Elite
Posts: 392
Arent there HUGE stickers on that car that say, "Don't stop at the toll booth, drive straight through". There's usually one on the visor, another on the windshield, signs in the pickup area.... plus that HUGE box thats affixed to your window should be a clue... especially since you're from NYC and know about easy pass, I would think you'd have noticed something.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: AMS,BRE,ABE
Programs: AY-G, TK*S, AB-S, EY, LH, DL, UA, BA, AA, all hotel programmes
Posts: 1,345
I've rented plenty of Avis cars with the EZ Pass box. I know how it works. However, I have yet to see a car with any kind of notice, signs, sticker or anything that tells you how it works. If you aren't from a city with toll stations, you might not know what it is and how it works. They also don't tell you how to get a total of your charges for your expense report either.
#12
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GVA
Programs: BA Gold, LH FTL, KL/AF Ivory
Posts: 1,878
A couple of months ago I rented an Avis car at EWR which had the EZPass box in it. As I drove towards the Avis lot exit, it dismantled itself and fell apart. I asked the guy who checks your paperwork as you leave the lot what it was and he explained. However, there was no explanation on the box itself and I agree, that some explanation should be provided.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 544
I've been renting with Avis for well over 10 years consistently now and recently had my first issue with EZ Pass. Although the device was closed, the EZ Pass was still being "read" by the toll booths. It happened on day 1 of the rental and the toll collector told me he could reverse the charge on the EZ Pass while I paid him cash. The next day, I pull up to grab my ticket on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the ticket won't come out but I notice that the EZ Pass light at the ticket machine is green so I quickly understand that the EZ Pass has been "read" once again. As I exit, I ask the toll booth collector if he could reverse the charge and I'll pay cash. He asked if I have a ticket and since the answer was no, he couldn't do it. Anyway, the charge is $2.50 a day even if you only used it for one day as I had a $5.00 charge for that one $3.75 toll .
One thing I did learn from that toll is that you can actually remove the entire EZ Pass from the device as it is stuck via velcro. The toll booth collector actually told me this. I would recommend removing the EZ Pass and putting it into the glove compartment. From this one experience, I learned that eventhough the EZ Pass may be in the protective holder, there is the possibility that it can still be "read".
One thing I did learn from that toll is that you can actually remove the entire EZ Pass from the device as it is stuck via velcro. The toll booth collector actually told me this. I would recommend removing the EZ Pass and putting it into the glove compartment. From this one experience, I learned that eventhough the EZ Pass may be in the protective holder, there is the possibility that it can still be "read".
#14
Join Date: May 2004
Location: PWM
Programs: Marriott Platinum Hyatt Diamond Hilton Gold SPG Gold National Executive Avis Preferred Hertz Gold
Posts: 633
I'm renting later today and while checking my reservation it mentions that they only charge $10 maximum for up to seven days--4x2.50
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
You might want to consider editing your FT profile then. I can see how the other poster got confused, since under "Location:" you list NYC first, likely to imply to many that it's your home base.
I do wish FT would split apart "home base" and "current location", since it does seem half of FTers use "Location:" one way and the other half use it the other way, and hard to tell which is which.
I do wish FT would split apart "home base" and "current location", since it does seem half of FTers use "Location:" one way and the other half use it the other way, and hard to tell which is which.