🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <4tua8i$jjr@dfw-ixnews8.ix.netcom.com>, mkarim@ix.netcom.com(Mark Karim) says:
>
>In <32009062.2DD3@drev.dnd.ca> Irene Abi-Zeid
><irene.abi-zeid@drev.dnd.ca> writes: 
>>
>>Our story is quite incredible but true. Three years ago, my husband
>and 
>>I travelled to France. We rented a car from HERTZ in Deauville, 
>>Normandy, for a week. When we came to return it, the garage was
>closed, 
>>they closed on wednesdays, a fact of which we were not aware. We had a
>
>>train to catch for Paris, so we parked the car at the train station,
>put 
>>the keys in the glove compartment, locked the doors, and left a
>message 
>>on HERTZ's answering machine regarding the car.
>>
>>Two days later, before taking the plane home from Paris, we called
>HERTZ 
>>to verify that everything was in order, and HERTZ informed us that
>they 
>>did not find the car. We went to the Police station in Paris to make a
>
>>declaration of theft, we were not too worried since we had purchased 
>>full proof insurance with no deductible.
>>
>>A couple of weeks later, we received a call from ROYAL BANK VISA 
>>informing us that our credit limit had surpassed 7 000 dollars (where
>it 
>>was supposed to be 2 000). We learned that HERTZ had tried to pass 5
>000 
>>dollars on our VISA. Of course we refused to pay, since we could not
>be 
>>held responsible for 7 000 where our limit was only 2 000 dollars, and
>
>>VISA refused HERTZ's transaction. However, on the next bill, we found 
>>out that HERTZ was able to pass 1200 dollars on our VISA. All
>throughout 
>>the month, HERTZ kept on trying different decreasing amounts until one
>
>>of them got authorized by VISA. We had to pay that amount because we
>had 
>>signed a blank VISA bill (you must do so if you want to rent a car,
>even 
>>here in Canada).
>>
>>The story only gets better. Apparently, HERTZ found the car, it had
>been 
>>in an accident. So they sent us the bill for it. We refused to pay,
>they 
>>sued us in France. We hired lawyers in Canada and in France, and we 
>>lost. We were condemned to pay 15 000 dollars (the value of the car), 
>>plus the interest on that money on a 2 years period, plus HERTZ's
>lawyer 
>>fees. We decided to appeal. So far this has cost us over 4500 dollars
>in 
>>lawyers fees and it will cost another 3 000 dollars. We are hoping
>that 
>>the decision will be reversed.
>>
>>HERTZ Canada (Customer service in Toronto) has always refused to help
>us 
>>or to intervene. We would like to bring our story to the attention of 
>>the public, because this could happen to anyone.
>>
>>-- 
>>Irene Abi-Zeid
>>email: irene.abi-zeid@drev.dnd.ca
>
>
>
>HERTZ should be ashamed of themselves for this ridiculous harassment...
'

That's really an unbelievable story and I would think that Hertz
World Headquarters in the US will probably come through in the end.
They should, at least.  But, although it is too late to help you,
I would like to add something that might help others in the future
to avoid a similar nightmare.  I lived in France for over 10 years and
interpret French-English so I do have some understanding of that country.
The French are very people-oriented and personal relationships and
interpersonal communicaition skills are very highly valued.  In my
experience renting cars in France, which I did on numerous occasions,
I have learned that the rental agencies frequently have a verbal 
agreement or understanding with a trusted neighboring establishment or
individual who would be authorized to receive the keys to the vehicle when the 
agency is closed.  I remember renting a car once in--I think--Avignon
and was told to return the keys on Sunday evening to the manager of
the "Buffet de la Gare." There also may be, as in the United States, 
a drop box.  It would be wise to inquire at the time of rental.  Under any
circumstances, leaving the keys in the glove compartment is not a good
idea.  

Ronald Kenyon  Washington, DC