Avis in Chile, don't even think about renting from them

Avis Car Hire
★☆☆☆☆
1.4
10.0% of users recommend this
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  • Value For Money

GlobeHopper's review of Avis Car Hire

“Avis in Chile, don't even think about renting from them”

★☆☆☆☆

written by GlobeHopper on 15/03/2013

I've been having a winter getaway in Chile since the first week in February. During that time I reserved Avis cars for 4 separate roadtrips.

On the first trip (Patagonia) everything was OK.

On the second trip (Santiago and points north) I had a Group C car reserved but the manager stated that I would have to take a smaller Group B car at the same price because they were out of Group C cars. I had to explain to him when something like this occurs an upgrade is given and not a downgrade. After explaining this to him several times in a louder and louder voice he relented and got me a Group D car.

On the third trip (Santiago and points south) I didn't notice that the gas tank was 10% full until I got to my hotel. The rental contract stated it was 100% full. Wasted 2 hours going back to the airport to get the contract amended. The lot manager said no, that he would not amend it. Again, it took a temper tantrum for him to write down on the contract that the gas tank was almost empty.

The fourth trip (La Serena and points north) was (and still is) by far the worst. I went back to the Avis office yesterday because the Check Engine light was on. They reset the light. Now the kicker: They said that the scratch which was previously there and made by a previous client and was marked as a defect on the Vehicle Condition Report was now bigger. They informed me that I would have to pay for a new fender and its installation (way over US$1000). Just an hour ago I hired a lawyer who is going to file criminal fraud charges against them. Thankfully they started their ripoff attempt 2 weeks before I'm due to go back home, otherwise there is no way this would have been settled in time when I dropped the car off at the airport. That would have been a terrible way to miss a flight and all the trouble I would have had getting new reservations with a deeply discounted airfare.

As far as I am now concerned these guys are the worst ripoffs I have ever seen anywhere in the world. Stay FAR, FAR AWAY from Avis (and from their co-corporation Budget) everywhere on Earth. What an incredible hassle.

  • February 2013

    Date of hire (month/year)

  • Chile, various cities

    Country & City of hire

  • Customer Service

  • Value For Money

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