Below is the letter written to Hertz. I was denied any restitution in a letter sent by mail. I feel that this was wrong and hope that you can help...
----- Original Message -----
To: CustomerRelations@Hertz.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 3:54 PM
Subject: Christmas Gouging
First, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas at Hertz. Now with that said, I hope I can explain my situation to the degree that it has impacted my family.
We rented a car through Priceline for 3 days for a total of $53.64. (request #110-995-762-60). On the morning of the third day, a snow storm canceled our flight home and we were told that there would be no way to get home that day (Christmas Eve). Instead of returning the car (our contract was still good until that night), we called Hertz to see if we could drop it off in a different location. We could drive from MSP-STL and still have the car back by the end of the Priceline contract. We were told on the phone that the cost would be $379.25! RR 526785560 We were shocked! They said that it was because of the Priceline contract, they couldn't help. The family elected to get home so we drove. When we returned the car (on the 24th @14:33 within the contract time, we were told by the Hertz staff that they never saw a charge this high! (actually they have been the only reasonable one's through this experience). I then called reservations and found out that I could have rented a car directly for half that cost using no discounts! Why didn't the Hertz representative explain this when I called. I would have returned the car from priceline, and just re-rented it right back.
So, after the fact, I have been getting the big run-a-round. I have been pushed from Hertz STL to Hertz MSP to your billing dept for over 5 hours of work. Then on to hertz pushing me to Priceline and now back again! The last information I was told that it will be sent to your accounting department. I am now awaiting a reply.
My children just received a eye widening experience on how big business treats it's customers on Christmas! There is no doubt that my wife and I will remember this. My kids on the other hand, could not believe what happened to the degree that they will remember how HERTZ basically robbed them on Christmas! Hertz still has a chance to make good if they want to. However, if I have to take this to the legal level, I will not change their way of thinking - a whole new generation against HERTZ.
All we ask that the charge be reasonable. We had the car rented for that day anyway. It was just the change in drop location. I understand that there should be an additional charge - a reasonable one, say $100 - for the change. Please prove to us that big business does care about families on Christmas!
Thank You For Your Understanding.
Read Next Complaint >>
