Overland West, Inc. dba Hertz Rent A Car Overcharged by 300% Belgrade Montana

I rented a car from Hertz and over the course of several months extended the rental by phone a number of times. I paid the contracted rate monthly on my credit card for three months and then without warning received a charge on my credit card statement for three times the previously agreed upon sum. The manager at the Hertz location said he would adjust this, but even after I made several phone calls, he never did. When I got the second bill for a similar amount, I immediately returned the car.

When I returned the car, I disputed the charges with the Hertz agent at the counter who told me, It doesnt matter whats on your contract, its whats in the computer that counts. Then he shredded my original contract.

Hertz turned in these inflated charges to my credit card with on file on the signature line, even though I never agreed to or even knew of any proposed increase in rental rate. Hertz is saying that the 300% increase represented their best rate for the season but in fact, at that time the same vehicle for the same period was listed on Hertzs reservation site for only slightly more than I was originally paying.

I disputed the charges with my credit card company, but they refused to reverse them because I couldnt produce my contract which Hertz had shredded. That Hertz had no contract, or any other documentation showing that I agreed to the excessive charges was apparently immaterial to VISA, and to Hertz management as well.

As a Hertz #1 Club Gold member, over the course of nearly a year I wrote numerous letters to Hertz and to Bank of America, starting with customer service and working my way up to their presidents. In every instance the letters I received back were curt and unresponsive. It seems as though the operative policy of these companies is to wait you out until you just give up and pay. Needless to say, I have cancelled my credit card and will never do business with either company again.