Cars low on fuel
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MEL
Programs: VAG
Posts: 1,865
Cars low on fuel
I rented a little Kia Cerato from SYD the other day. Drove 66km, filled it up, it took 9.971 litres of fuel.
Now, either Kia is making small hatchbacks that use 15.1 litres per hundred km (that's 15.5 miles per gallon for you Yanks) or they gave me a car that was already kinda on the low side.
This is the second time in a row I've had this happen; I rented a Fusion in Hawaii and by the time I got out of the parking lot it was on 7/8ths full. I didn't have time or energy to go back and argue about it, but it cheeses me off.
Is there anything I can do about this that's likely to be worth the time and effort? I can't even find an email address for Hertz Australia to complain to, and darned if I'm going to sit on the phone for an hour to speak to some low-level customer service rep about it. Or should I just restrict myself to venting on the internet?
Now, either Kia is making small hatchbacks that use 15.1 litres per hundred km (that's 15.5 miles per gallon for you Yanks) or they gave me a car that was already kinda on the low side.
This is the second time in a row I've had this happen; I rented a Fusion in Hawaii and by the time I got out of the parking lot it was on 7/8ths full. I didn't have time or energy to go back and argue about it, but it cheeses me off.
Is there anything I can do about this that's likely to be worth the time and effort? I can't even find an email address for Hertz Australia to complain to, and darned if I'm going to sit on the phone for an hour to speak to some low-level customer service rep about it. Or should I just restrict myself to venting on the internet?
#2
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,159
Complain at return - you should either get a credit or a voucher.
When I have a car drop to 7/8 when I haven't driven far enough that it should have dropped, I take a photo with my phone of the fuel gauge and the odometer, giving you some form of proof that it dropped to 7/8 when you had only driven X miles.
I always make a point of resetting the MPG (or similar) and tripmeter as soon as I pickup (and on some cars, the "fuel used" counter) which will allow you to confirm that you didn't use as much fuel as it takes to refill.
When I have a car drop to 7/8 when I haven't driven far enough that it should have dropped, I take a photo with my phone of the fuel gauge and the odometer, giving you some form of proof that it dropped to 7/8 when you had only driven X miles.
I always make a point of resetting the MPG (or similar) and tripmeter as soon as I pickup (and on some cars, the "fuel used" counter) which will allow you to confirm that you didn't use as much fuel as it takes to refill.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,225
I've had this also, and it's infuriating.
But I'm not sure that there's much that it's worth doing about it. When a car is returned, they always check that the fuel gauge reads full, but I'm pretty sure they don't top it up. So, when it happens to me, I figure that the previous renter had worked out how far he could go while the meter still read full, and filled the car up that number of miles before the airport. I can't really blame Hertz for it, as it's one of their customer's petty frauds.
But I'm not sure that there's much that it's worth doing about it. When a car is returned, they always check that the fuel gauge reads full, but I'm pretty sure they don't top it up. So, when it happens to me, I figure that the previous renter had worked out how far he could go while the meter still read full, and filled the car up that number of miles before the airport. I can't really blame Hertz for it, as it's one of their customer's petty frauds.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott Gold
Posts: 349
The local HLE that my company rents from doesn't fill up after the previous renter. Frequently I receive cars with ~1/2 tank of fuel, but the clerks make a point of mentioning "make sure to return it with (the same amount of fuel)."
However, we also frequently prepay the fuel, which I have no idea how they figure out. Are they charging us the prepay on the entire tank, or only on the 1/2 that is already there.
However, we also frequently prepay the fuel, which I have no idea how they figure out. Are they charging us the prepay on the entire tank, or only on the 1/2 that is already there.
#5
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,159
However how it's supposed to work is that you get charged based on how much fuel is in the tank. If it's marked as 4/8 (ie, half full) then you should get charged for half a tank.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott Gold
Posts: 349
Can't you just check the receipt? Should be obvious if they have charged you a full tank or half.
However how it's supposed to work is that you get charged based on how much fuel is in the tank. If it's marked as 4/8 (ie, half full) then you should get charged for half a tank.
However how it's supposed to work is that you get charged based on how much fuel is in the tank. If it's marked as 4/8 (ie, half full) then you should get charged for half a tank.
Now that its been mentioned, I will inspecting the receipts closer, regardless of the fact that they are direct-billed to my employer. It just never really occurred to me before this that they may be over-charging for fuel.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
Had it happen to me with back to back rentals at ZRH. Before I left the garage the second time, I went back to the counter and got one of the staff to come mark my contract with 6/8 full. BTW, the contract showed that the car was 8/8 full.
#8
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Bristol, UK
Programs: Hertz Presidents Circle; SPG Lifetime Platinum; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 658
Ah, the "rental car full" syndrome.... happens almost always.
Discovered the answer in the latest Skoda Octavia. There is a display in the trip computer, if you cycle through it, for "miles since last refuelling". I showed the guys in Bristol North this, and explained how the car appeared to have done 21 miles when I collected it. Since the nearest fuel stations are about a mile away, someone was taking the proverbial.. at least 21 miles in an Octavia TDi is only about half a gallon.
Discovered the answer in the latest Skoda Octavia. There is a display in the trip computer, if you cycle through it, for "miles since last refuelling". I showed the guys in Bristol North this, and explained how the car appeared to have done 21 miles when I collected it. Since the nearest fuel stations are about a mile away, someone was taking the proverbial.. at least 21 miles in an Octavia TDi is only about half a gallon.
#9
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,159
Discovered the answer in the latest Skoda Octavia. There is a display in the trip computer, if you cycle through it, for "miles since last refuelling". I showed the guys in Bristol North this, and explained how the car appeared to have done 21 miles when I collected it. Since the nearest fuel stations are about a mile away, someone was taking the proverbial.. at least 21 miles in an Octavia TDi is only about half a gallon.
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Go to a gas station as close to the rental site as possible right after getting the car and fill up. Save that receipt to show exactly how much credit you should get.
I did this earlier this year with an Alamo rental, and they discounted with no questions asked.
I did this earlier this year with an Alamo rental, and they discounted with no questions asked.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,201
#13
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sydney, AU
Programs: QF SG,Velocity WP, HI Diamond, Accor Platinum
Posts: 399
Sorry to hear this happened to you Jorgen, I know now in Brisbane and most likely it is filtering to the other Australian airport locations is the requirement for all rentals on return to show the refueling receipt. This is to prevent cars like yours which may look full being allowed to be simply cleaned and sent back out on rent.
If there is any problems and you haven't left the parking lot you can speak to the member of staff who checks the paperwork or address it with the returns staff both can edit the contract so you won't be charged for fuel.
If there is any problems and you haven't left the parking lot you can speak to the member of staff who checks the paperwork or address it with the returns staff both can edit the contract so you won't be charged for fuel.