“I wish I could give no stars. In April 2022, I booked a flight to Ireland with Aer Lingus, who quoted a price for two weeks of car hire with Avis.
As I have mobility issues, I was using a wheelchair. I arrived at the Avis desk. I was asked if I wished to take out the fully comprehensive and given a price which I accepted. I was asked to sign the paperwork the rep told me what I was signing for in each box. I was given the keys and drove away.
Two weeks later, I returned the car to a facility outside Dublin Airport. The vehicle was checked, and I was told the cost would be taken from my card and the deposit would be unlocked.
The following week I saw that my card had been debited, but after the exchange from Euro to pounds, the figure was over £300 more than I was expecting to pay. I rang the Avis Customer helpline to find out why Avis had debited so much from my card.
The Customer Service rep organised a copy of my bill to be sent by email, saying he could not see all the charges and needed to contact Dublin Airport.
When I examined the bill, I found that the Car Hire price was over £150 more than what was agreed by Aer Lingus and on top of the Fully Comprehensive I had been charged over £180 more for windscreen and break down cover, which was not covered in the Insurance. The rep at the Avis desk in the airport had not explained this. I have since learned that it is a trick where the agents get an extra commission for each sale.
For the next month, I received emails from the Customer Service rep after having to chase him constantly. I was told that I had signed for the extra Insurance and they were closing my complaint. No reason was given why the Car Hire figure quoted by Aer Lingus was higher than agreed. I sent yet another email asking the question and informed them that I had a witness who would send a statement regarding what the Agent told me I was signing for and the price he gave me for taking out the Insurance. Their reply was here is a copy of your invoice.
I am now commencing a court action to get a refund of what was overcharged.
I will never deal with Avis again because of their agent's deviousness and appalling Customer Service.”
“I booked a reservation at Avis to pick up a car at the Malaga airport 03/31/20.
The reservation was confirmed by email, but they didn't give a car! They simply was closed due to coronavirus. But sixt was working.
I was abandoned by the company at the Malaga airport, in the covid19 pandemy!
Avoid this company!”
“Van booked and paid for two weeks in advance, to be picked up at Humberside airport in the morning, 17.30 the day before I picked up the vehicle they rang to say it was no longer available, no alternative offered left me in the lurch at such short notice. Will never use or recommend them again ever.”
“BEWARE OF Avis rentals.
Our booked car was filthy & stank of smoke, so given keys to cleaner one. On returning the car, they charged my card huge amount, AFTER we signed original papers and agreed price online.
WARN others to Google & read independent reviews before renting.”
“I have been trying to sort out a problem I have with my credit card not being accepted without telephone authorisation at the collection point, despite having paid successfully for the car online, my bank says there is no problem with the card and Avis say it is my bank! This has now happened to me too many times and I will not be booking with them again. The answer from their customer services took over 2 weeks for an email response and it was quite obvious that the representative who answered me had not read the email. It is discourteous and not what you expect from such a large firm. I joined up to their preferred service to make my time at the desk quicker and time and time again it takes longer than going through the ordinary desks.”
