OT: Avis Preferred
 

Does anyone have any experience of claiming the £20 under the Avis Preferred 3 minute promise?

The Avis website states:

I rocked up at NCL the other week, having booked a car through avisba.com. I'd entered both my BAEC and Avis Preferred numbers on the booking. I also have my credit card and driving licence details stored on my Avis Preferred account.

At the counter they had trouble locating my booking. In addition, they wanted to see a credit card and another form of ID (other than my driving licence). Then there was some paperwork to sign etc. before I finally managed to get my hands on the keys.

I don't mind queuing or waiting while my booking is processed, and I understand that Avis are not perfect, but I was a bit miffed at having to root around and dig everything out given that I remembered this:

I asked the reason why I'd had to show everything when all my details were already on record and the CS agent said that 'sometimes the computers don't talk to one and another'. Next time, however, I aim to follow their own advice:

Except, I don't think they'd appreciate you standing there with a stopwatch...

Palmer

Why not? At Heathrow they actually provide the stopwatches! There's a tray of them for you waiting as you arrive at the Preferred desk.

I've never had to claim myself, but was standing next to a chap a few weeks ago who said he had claimed about 15 vouchers and couldn't get round to using them (I think they are high street vouchers with a minimum spend requirement).

If so, that's pretty misleading :

* Or get £20 if you don't

implies to me that you get £20 proper, or at least a £20 voucher from Avis (no restrictions).

I've had the vouchers a couple of times, they were John Lewis vouchers and came by post a few days later.

I didn't use the stopwatch thing, as it was so obvious when the car was late. If the rental is done quickly, I wouldn't ask, whether it was 3 or 4 mins - but in these cases, they didn't have the car ready and so there was no discussion about the voucher.

I've been happy renting with them and continue to do so for all my personal car hire.

As usual we will give this a short run here before moving over to the Avis Forum.

Swanhunter
Moderator, BAEC

There is indeed a dedicated Avis forum which would make more sense to post this in, but you may actually have better luck trying here:

www.wetryharder.co.uk

yes twice, got a €30 (not a £20) voucher sent to me from Prague the first time and from Bratislava the 2nd time, when I rented a car the next time and presented the voucher they actually took £30 off :)

When do the three minutes start? As soon as you get into the queue or at the actual desk?

I believe you can request BA miles instead of a voucher. Off the top of my head it's 2000 miles and it requires you to email requesting the miles instead of the voucher.

as soon as you get your hands on one of the stopwatches they provide

Well I waited well over 3 minutes for my car overseas recently.

BUT, as they gave me a special rate saving me over £100 then I think it'd be mean to claim £20 for the car not being ready!

If you've got too much money, claim it and give it to charity.

It's an advertised guarantee, and they've let you down - they want to make it up to you!

So in the same way you book a ticket with BA in the sale or hotline and as it is £200.00 cheaper you dont bother to claim if the flight runs 9 hours late or they loose your luggage?

Rules are rules and if you returned the car back 60 minutes late they would charge you so go ahead and claim.

Oddest comment I have seen in ages!!!