Hertz NeverLost Spycam
Oct 7, 14, 11:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
Hertz NeverLost Spycam
I am a regular renter from Hertz (President's Circle). This week after the usual excessive wait for the Hertz airport shuttle, I got into a rental car at O'Hare airport. I immediately noticed the new NeverLost and I was completely shocked to see a camera built into the device looking at me. The system can't be turned off from what could tell. Further investigation revealed that the camera can see the entire inside of the car. I know rental car companies have been tracking the speed and movements of their vehicles for years but putting a camera inside the cabin of the vehicle is taking their need for information a little TOO FAR. I find this to be completely UNACCEPTABLE. In fact, if I get another car from Hertz with a camera in it, I will move our business from Hertz completely. I influence car rentals of many others and I don't think anyone would want to be on camera while they are driving around or sitting at a red light. Given what Hertz has invested in this system, I wonder how much consumer pressure will make them to pull the plug on this. Business is built one customer at a time and they will no longer have me as a customer. What are your thoughts?
Last edited by Rut Dog; Oct 9, 14 at 12:57 am
Oct 8, 14, 7:44 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 1,086
Oct 8, 14, 7:56 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,424
Oct 8, 14, 2:31 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 785
I believe that the camera is for video chatting with a Hertz rep if you need assistance. It is a pain that these can't be turned off. I had one with a faulty touch sensor so I had to basically drive from Hartford, CT to DC with the system beeping every 5 seconds... And I couldn't really swap out the car as I was very very tight on time...
Oct 8, 14, 8:37 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,147
There's at least some states where it'd be illegal for them to record with that camera. Chevy's run into this issue with their valet mode in the corvette that was designed to record when you put it into valet mode, and they're having to disable that. So my guess is they're likely not going to be using it to spy on you.
Oct 8, 14, 9:11 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 4
The camera and the mic can be turned on remotely by Hertz but they can't be turned off by you. I wish the federal legislators take notice of this and outlaw these types of efforts by corporation to get information about you one way or another.
Oct 9, 14, 7:12 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 1,086
There's at least some states where it'd be illegal for them to record with that camera. Chevy's run into this issue with their valet mode in the corvette that was designed to record when you put it into valet mode, and they're having to disable that. So my guess is they're likely not going to be using it to spy on you.
Oct 9, 14, 8:30 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Blair and Brown's Broken Britain
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,128
It's funny but people give away so much personal stuff via social media, phones, etc. but the thought of a camera tickles a nerve.
Oct 9, 14, 3:20 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: HHonors Gold since '02, Hertz President's Circle since '07
Posts: 3,223
Oct 11, 14, 1:24 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 785
I had one in a LaCrosse and the touch sensor kept sensing something and kept beeping for me... Had another new NeverLost in a Camry - no beeping, but still couldn't turn it off... Tried everything...
Oct 11, 14, 10:30 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVPG, DL KM, Bee Six, Bonvoy Plat, Choice Gold, Avis PC, Natl Exec, Greyhound Road Rewards Z"L
Posts: 15,948
You know, a little post-it note (or the rental contract, even) could go a long way here...
As for the microphone... if the car has Bluetooth then it too has a microphone already built in. And we've been driving these cars (and requesting cars with Bluetooth!) for years.
What are they gonna watch me do anyway? Ask someone on the street for directions?
"NeverLost is a failure!"
-J.
As for the microphone... if the car has Bluetooth then it too has a microphone already built in. And we've been driving these cars (and requesting cars with Bluetooth!) for years.
What are they gonna watch me do anyway? Ask someone on the street for directions?
"NeverLost is a failure!"-J.
