Hertz promotional code ripoff

[Warks]

This one is for any Hertz people watching.

I recently did a survey after a rental and received a promotional code to use for my next rental as a thank you. I tried using it on a two week rental but couldn't, no problem there, it might be too much for that length of rental.

I just looked at one of my normal two day rentals I do for my work travel. I put it in with the CEB Five Start discount checked and then put in the promo code. When I got the prices I thought they looked a little higher than normal. I removed the promo code and the price of a two day rental of an intermediate car went DOWN by $17. What sort of a scam is this?

I want to complain to Hertz but I can't imagine they respond to anything via their 'feedback' page if they are anything like Avis who have never replied to anything I've sent them.

Anyway one to beware of.

 

[AdMEL]

What do you mean by CEB Five Start discount?

Hertz changed the way they apply discounts a while ago (18-24 mths) so that when most promotional coupons are entered, the CDP rate discount is removed, so it reverts to a PC discount off the standard rate, so if the CDP rate is lower than the PC rate, it will default to the higher rate. Some CDP's and PC's still apply together, but only one's that Hertz want to. I assume this was to stop heavily discounted CDP rates being discounted further by a PC, e.g. One day free off a 50% discounted rate. I use to often do that - it was great while it lasted!

 

[Warks]

That should have read "CEB Five STAR Discount" - I don't even know what it stands for but it was automatically checked. I have some sort of club membership through VA - I guess it's that. It is checked by default so without the PC number I got the best price but when I added the number it went up. It's a separate entry point so it's not as though it stops you entering multiple discounts.

Probably a glitch but it's not exactly a good advertisement.

 

[AdMEL]

That should have read "CEB Five STAR Discount" - I don't even know what it stands for but it was automatically checked. I have some sort of club membership through VA - I guess it's that. It is checked by default so without the PC number I got the best price but when I added the number it went up. It's a separate entry point so it's not as though it stops you entering multiple discounts.

Probably a glitch but it's not exactly a good advertisement.

I'm not aware of the discount you're referring to, or the separate entry point!

In my examples above, you can still enter both discount codes, but one cancels the other.

 

[quokka77]

I used the Amex Platinum code and another PC number I got off flyertalk, and together the discount made the Hertz.co.uk rate on a weekly US full size rental (pay on pick-up) comparable with that offered by Argus and Netflights (pre-pay). Hertz uk would have been considerably cheaper had I not added child seats and a gps (which are cheaper via Netflights / Argus). ~$550 all in I think.

Anyone got any good tips on where to credit the miles (would prefer Enrich or Velocity, but not sure if I can get miles as well as use my funky PC code)?

 

[JohnK]

I received a promotion code as well for doing a survey.

Doing the survey was their way of saying sorry the car was not full of fuel when we gave it to you but here is $5/day discount (good for 5 days I think) for being a good sport about it.

So I hire a car with Amex Platinum CDP and the promotional code and the rate is more expensive than the Amex Platinum CDP. Hmmm. So much for the $5 discount....