Avis car rental through BA
Apr 29, 2019, 7:01 am
#76
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Bucks UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 88
The fee that Avis charged me, was to cover the admin costs, police, who was the driver etc.
In the end they waved half of the fee away.
Apr 29, 2019, 7:14 am
#77
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
Could it be tolls? I've had a few of those come through after the all clear. The Avis website is pretty good at detailing charges which can help discussions with BAH
Apr 29, 2019, 7:24 am
#78
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold, LH SEN , A3*G & others less exciting that don't fit in my wallet
Posts: 1,657
Speaking from, ahem, experience this will be the admin fee for them processing a traffic fine ( responding to a request from the police for driver details ) ... you'll likely not hear anything else as the authorities will not bother chasing foreign renters for fines ( the size of the fine is likely small so not worthwhile ) ... in some parts of the garden route in particular there's a lot of speed cameras and it's not hard to get caught
[ If you still have the rental agreement you'll probably see this 'processing fee' listed - it's fairly standard ]
[ If you still have the rental agreement you'll probably see this 'processing fee' listed - it's fairly standard ]
Apr 29, 2019, 9:28 am
#79
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
I fully understand that I may be responsible for a future charge, but I don't like the way the charge is made without any notification beforehand. We had a puncture in SA, which the chap at the return desk said we wouldn't be charged for, and then got an unexpected charge a few days later - which turned out to be the 'admin charge' for having the puncture! Also had a (very) late charge in Italy, which I think was also an admin fee for responding to a fine. In both cases they were unexpected, at suspicious times (one was immediately after having my card declined at a cash machine) and in both cases I was own the brink of stopping my cards.
May 8, 2019, 12:40 pm
#80
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 30
In belfast a 'city surcharge' of £54 was added to my BA Avis rental, I challenged it with Avis Customer services but they wouldn't budge. As its clearly stated on the drop down box of the particular car model you are booking on the BA car hire site that airport/city/location surcharges are included in your voucher cost, I have now taken it up with BA as clearly this is not right.
May 8, 2019, 3:23 pm
#81
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Germany
Programs: BA GGL, CCR - TK G
Posts: 809
I had this 550 too from 14month ago rental in cpt it's the handling fee for a speeding fine I had long paid.
Dec 5, 2019, 1:54 am
#82
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver (temp demotion), *A Silver, HH Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 490
Just adding another data point with an after the event charge. Drop off to Avis in DUR after five days of hire in November 2019. All super speedy. I then got hit with a "cleaning charge" for approx £20. I am now waiting for it to be re-credited as a 'gesture of good will' from Avis. It's not the money but being billed for something that could easily have been told to us at hand-over (even though I would have said that the car was as clean as could be expected after five days on rural SA roads).
It won't put me off hiring via BA/Avis (note that I made sure that my booking reference was the Avis one so I could deal with them and the BA involvement was simply to provide a voucher).
It won't put me off hiring via BA/Avis (note that I made sure that my booking reference was the Avis one so I could deal with them and the BA involvement was simply to provide a voucher).
Dec 5, 2019, 3:06 am
#83
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Germany
Programs: BA GGL, CCR - TK G
Posts: 809
Just adding another data point with an after the event charge. Drop off to Avis in DUR after five days of hire in November 2019. All super speedy. I then got hit with a "cleaning charge" for approx £20. I am now waiting for it to be re-credited as a 'gesture of good will' from Avis. It's not the money but being billed for something that could easily have been told to us at hand-over (even though I would have said that the car was as clean as could be expected after five days on rural SA roads).
It won't put me off hiring via BA/Avis (note that I made sure that my booking reference was the Avis one so I could deal with them and the BA involvement was simply to provide a voucher).
It won't put me off hiring via BA/Avis (note that I made sure that my booking reference was the Avis one so I could deal with them and the BA involvement was simply to provide a voucher).
Dec 5, 2019, 4:38 am
#84
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 160
We've had some excellent deals booking Avis through BA for our last few US vacations.
My only grievance is that I always have to phone to get the booking added to my Preferred account and I can't add Roadside Assistance until I pick the vehicle up.
And make sure you don't get charged again when returning the car!
My only grievance is that I always have to phone to get the booking added to my Preferred account and I can't add Roadside Assistance until I pick the vehicle up.
And make sure you don't get charged again when returning the car!
Dec 6, 2019, 8:40 am
#85
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,221
Having used Avis in the US on BA Holidays bookings, I would strongly recommend not taking up the roadside assistance that is offered as an extra at pick up. When I read into it, it only covers four roadside situations: namely, keys locked inside the car, flat battery, running out of fuel and attending to a flat tyre/tire! Given that these are largely under the drivers' control, at $7.99/day (offered at LAX) it seems poor value.
Dec 6, 2019, 1:53 pm
#86
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: LAX
Programs: BA Bronze-soon to be Silver!
Posts: 21
When I read into it, it only covers four roadside situations: namely, keys locked inside the car, flat battery, running out of fuel and attending to a flat tyre/tire! Given that these are largely under the drivers' control, at $7.99/day (offered at LAX) it seems poor value.
Dec 6, 2019, 2:06 pm
#87
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Milton Keynes
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 373
It's basically insurance so expensive if you don't use it but invaluable if you do!
We had a flat tyre (which you can't control) in the middle of nowhere!
Of course I couldn’t shift the wheel nuts.
A phone call and we were up and running in 45 minutes.
And with a chronic lung condition it was worth every penny (cent).
We had a flat tyre (which you can't control) in the middle of nowhere!
Of course I couldn’t shift the wheel nuts.
A phone call and we were up and running in 45 minutes.
And with a chronic lung condition it was worth every penny (cent).
Last edited by chrismk; Dec 7, 2019 at 4:57 am Reason: Original response was alcohol fueled!
Dec 7, 2019, 9:48 am
#88
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,221
It's basically insurance so expensive if you don't use it but invaluable if you do!
We had a flat tyre (which you can't control) in the middle of nowhere!
Of course I couldn’t shift the wheel nuts.
A phone call and we were up and running in 45 minutes.
And with a chronic lung condition it was worth every penny (cent).
We had a flat tyre (which you can't control) in the middle of nowhere!
Of course I couldn’t shift the wheel nuts.
A phone call and we were up and running in 45 minutes.
And with a chronic lung condition it was worth every penny (cent).
Now, compare this to Europe, where many cars no longer have spare wheels; having instead, what can be best described as, a can of gunk and an electric pump! I would gladly pay extra for the reassurance of an actual spare wheel!
Dec 7, 2019, 10:21 am
#89
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Milton Keynes
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 373
Very true. On this occasion it was a space saver wheel which managed the 100 miles to Orlando but we had to get to the airport next day and swap the vehicle.
My wife is a wheelchair user so the cover is a bit of security. Of course when we started to take out this cover the £ was much stronger so it wasn't so expensive!
My wife is a wheelchair user so the cover is a bit of security. Of course when we started to take out this cover the £ was much stronger so it wasn't so expensive!
Mar 9, 2020, 4:50 pm
#90
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,639
I have an Avis pre-pay reservation in Italy that I want to cancel.
Looks like if I had booked direct with Avis there is now a waiver to get a refund: https://www.avis.co.uk/avis-coronavirus-advice
However I booked through BA.com (not the Avis BA website or with a flight as a BA Holiday), does anyone know if BA honouring this waiver/policy too?
If I want to call BA about it who do I speak to? BA Holidays?
Looks like if I had booked direct with Avis there is now a waiver to get a refund: https://www.avis.co.uk/avis-coronavirus-advice
However I booked through BA.com (not the Avis BA website or with a flight as a BA Holiday), does anyone know if BA honouring this waiver/policy too?
If I want to call BA about it who do I speak to? BA Holidays?