Hotwire and Avis car rentals

Hotwire and Avis car rentals

August 24, 2005

Stay away from Hotwire and Avis.!.! Hotwire and Avis car rentals have formed an alliance that is created to rip you off at every opportunity. I used Hotwire.com to rent a car for $24 from Avis at 7am for one day at the Gerald Ford Intl Airport in Grand Rapids Michigan. I used the car all day as planned, returned to the Avis desk at the Grand Rapids Michigan at 9pm, informed them that I was done with the car and returning it early (before 24hrs).

The young lady at Avis said "OK" and proceeded to print the charges for $65. I told her this was incorrect and she said "Oh, you must have booked this with Hotwire" and explained that I had violated my agreement by bringing the car back early. I told her I thought it would be easier for me and them to return it "early" as I was no longer needing the car, so I asked her to give me the keys back and I will bring the car back at 7am (24hrs) next morning.

She said she couldn't do that but I could talk to the supervisor tomorrow at 7am (my original designated return time). So I returned at 7am the next morning and discovered from the Hertz people next door that no one works at the Avis desk until 8am.

I couldn't hang around so I returned (again) the next day to speak to a supervisor, and he told me that he couldn't do anything because 24hrs had passed since the booking and nothing could be changed after 24hrs. What a rip off! They charge you extra before 24hrs, then they are not available at 24hrs, then say I didn't see them before 24hrs?????

Stay away from Hotwire and Avis.

Rick Click this link to e-mail the message author: Email User