Had It Up To Here With Hertz - Buh-Bye!

[yohy?!]

<Rant Warning>

Previously I'd been very happy with renting with Hertz...

VS points earn was generous, upgrades from 5 star membership were almost every rental and gold service meant every time I picked up a car I simply walked in was handed the keys and left in seconds.

Since moving back to Aus. this has all changed and I've now moved my business to Avis due to the below changes:

• Removal of Gold service counter in Sydney Downtown - even though it shows up in my booking as receiving Gold service I now have to wait for other customers to be served and then endure all the usual up-selling cough to get the keys (scare tactics around paying for excess reduction, fuel purchase option blah blah blah)

• In addition they never get the frequent flyer number from my online booking even though it's clearly saved to my online profile and selected for every booking and decide that they need to reconfirm my credit card details every...single...time :evil:

• I contacted them after my last rental to claim mileage to A3 to be told "computer says no, they're not a partner" to which I sent them back the link to their own AU webpage that shows the earn rates...no reply

• Finally the SVA Single Vehicle Accident excess which doubles the standard excess is a joke and makes them seriously noncompetitive with other companies (Avis is a standard 3,000 which I can reduce to 300 for $8 a day through 1cover versus their 7000 odd in a SVA).

I rent approximately twice a month for personal use as I don't own a car and also once or twice for work.

 

[docjames]

Gotta say welcome to where I got to with them ~4 years ago (having been a longstanding loyal customer).

Avis have had 100% of my rentals since then.

The "final straw" was after a monumental stuff up (they applied my credit card details to a thrid party), then "compensated me" (in form of cash-off-rental voucher) when they then tried to tell me they couldn't apply on return (after I'd shown it at collection to be told they'd apply it at return) was the last ever rental I had with them.


I'm 100% satisfied with my decision and Avis have been fabulous.

No doubt there are "horror" Avis experiences around but it's been chalk and cheese for me.

 

[Anna]

I don't rent cars very often but when I do it's usually Avis. The only small issue I've ever had was returning the car full of petrol in Sicily and later finding an extra 10 Euros for "fuel" added to my credit card. I presumed this is a local scam at an amount that mounts up nicely per rental for them, but for the renter is too small to bother about chasing.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I think Avis is most likely the most professional of the Aussie rental mobs. The only downside is no loyalty scheme. I also eventually just got fed up with all the Hertz issues. Europcar is my choice for the moment (which can and may change the moment they stop looking after me and try some scam). As a reasonably frequent renter, I like the upgrades I usually get with Europcar.

 

[boomy]

As a reasonably frequent renter, I like the upgrades I usually get with Europcar.

Would you say Europcar upgrades are better then Hertz? I'm very underwhelmed by the boring upgrades I received this year. As someone who rents 2-3 times a week and never going for the cheapest car, I feel my business is not valued by Hertz anymore and maybe it's time for me to shop around for a hire-car company that takes better care of it's frequent renters.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Would you say Europcar upgrades are better then Hertz?

For me, without a doubt.

As an example, from the cheapest base car booking, my last 5 Europcar rentals have been 4 x VW Golf and 1 x Merc A180. I like the Golf and ROK always give me one now as they know I like them. The A180 was in CNS and to be honest, it was acceptable, but not as nice as the Golf (IMHO). Previous rentals have seen even me drive away in A4s from base rentals.

With Hertz, like you, I found when I did get an upgrade, it was generally underwhelming and yes, boring. Only once can I recall a decent upgrade where SYD gave me a Mini (Cooper S??) from a base rental. That was a bit of fun and ideal for Sydney.

Europcar is still haunted by the scam reports, which may well be genuine, but I have not experienced any such issues (touch wood) and the old Europcar computer glitches that used to regularly feature seem to have gone as well. All in all, I'm happy to stay with Europcar and push toward VIP status to see what benefits that may bring.

 

[boomy]

All in all, I'm happy to stay with Europcar and push toward VIP status to see what benefits that may bring.

Sounds like Europcar is getting better. How many rentals you need to get VIP status? I just hope it's more serious then Hertz President's Circle which is rarely recognised in Australia.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

How many rentals you need to get VIP status?

Europcar now has three status levels above the base club level, which are:
Executive - 10 rentals or 40 days in any given 2 year period (rolling period)
Elite - 25 rentals or 85 days in any given 2 year period
VIP - an additional 15 rentals over and above Elite in any given 2 year period

 

[drron]

I left Hertz several years ago for similar reasons.Also now with Avis whose service has been excellent.Usually upgraded.
No lining up.In Australia when you give your flight info there is an SMS telling you which bay to go to for your car.No longer have to go to the board to find bay.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

In Australia when you give your flight info there is an SMS telling you which bay to go to for your car.No longer have to go to the board to find bay.

Now that's a bonus. Is that at all locations? Presumable only in locations with security gate exits as the keys would need to be in the car?

 

[drron]

Well I usually only rent from SYD domestic so cant say it is anywhere else.