Hertz Rent A Car

The folks at hertz were VERY accommodating with my request. I showed up with a reservation at Islip on Friday with a return at same location on the following Sunday. The next day I decided to drive back from Maine with my cousin. Anticipating a hassle and increase in price for dropping off at the Portsmouth ME airport, the representative informed me that there was to be no unnecessary charge and I was able to drop the car that day and save $ 50. How cool and reasonable! I’m going with Hertz on my next rental.

Rented a car while mine was in the shop. This experience we nt from bad to worse in less than 24 hours. When I picked up the car no one walked out to the car with me. I was told there was a minor scratch but really there was a significant dent. Went back in asked for someone to come out and go over the car with me. I was told thats not neccessary they’ll take my word for it. Hmm? Ok. Start driving the car and it stinks! Smells like a casino bar on a sunday morning! Anyway I notice when I get home the fan stays running. Hmm? It was late I had other things to worry about. Next morning heat takes a long time to warm up and I notice the temperature gauge acting wonky. Needless to say on my way home in the blizzard the car is overheating and I have no heat! Of course no one is at the rental store I call roadside they say if I can make it home they will pick up the car at my house. Then call back no tow service because of the blizzard! Oh and I have to continue to pay for the car until they can pick it up! Oh and I forgot to mention the 5 times I got hung up on or transferred by customer service! Never rent from Hertz again!

New manager Andrew demonstrates his people skills likely learned from a tough life. He doesn’t recognize frequent travelers or acknowledge their continued loyalty. Had an experience where they have me a Dodge Challenger by mistake. As I driving off Andrew and Maria run out to inform me they gave me the wrong car. I attempt to negotiate (come on, l’ll get out of the car if you give me a different upgrade from the Jetta). Andrew wasn’t having it, made a threat to report the car stolen, threw some curse words in there so I drove away with my original contract in hand.
Aside from this horrid experience, they aren’t passing out car upgrades to Gold members like most other locations. The process is slow to pickup and slow to return. If you leave a pair of shoes in the back, don’t rely on the Hertz policy to hold lost items for 30 days because your shoes were tossed in the trash when they cleaned it (according to one of the workers in their extended lot). If you are lucky, they didn’t clean it and they may still be in the trunk or backseat. Lots of smoking cars. Location to airport is convenient, which is the primary strength.

Small rental facility a near 100 feet away from the terminal. When you drive into the rental car return, you are not greeted by anyone to scan your vehicle and print out a receipt right then and there. Here, you simply park your car, write down your mileage, parking slip number and walk into to terminal to provide the information to an agent.
It was certainly a departure from what we’re used to when we rent from Hertz but it was painless to return our vehicle.

I am not one to bad mouth any person or company but I do feel obligated as a consumer to point out things that may have room for improvement. I rented a car for one day from Hertz and found that they now charge a maintenance and usage fee. I understand wear and tear due to depreciation; but my M&U fee was twice as much as my rental fee! Then I called to inquire why the fee was so much and they said it was a ‘key punch error’!? What does that mean? Aside from trying to rob Peter to pay Paul, it was a great Dodge Ram and an okay experience, but I like my money.