Hertz

Hertz Hertz and PlatePass Scam Orlando, Florida

11th of Jan, 2011 by User392826

I'd like to alert everyone to a scam by Hertz, in case you happen to rent from them. I'm sure other rental agencies have something similar but I'll tell you what we encountered when we rented from them at the MCO airport in Orlando recently.

Theyuse something called PlatePass, which you can use to drive right past toll booths without slowing down or even diverting off the highway to the toll booth area. If you're not careful the toll booths come up rather quickly and if you get caught out in traffic and cannot get over you'll end up using PlatePass whether you want to or not.

You will encounter two toll booths between the airport and DisneyWorld. There is a $2.50/day service fee for using PlatePass, in addition to the toll charge. Your credit card will automatically be charged. If you did not rent with a credit card you will be mailed a bill from PlatePass several weeks after you return home.

Here's the scam. If you use PlatePass even one time you will be charged $2.50/day foryour ENTIRE rental period, up to a maximum of $10/month, in addition to any toll fees. It does not matter if you used PlatePass on the first day of your rental or the last. To avoid the PlatePass service fees be sure to always use the drive-up toll booth window.

Here's my question. Does anyone know what would happen if someone just ignores the bill they get from PlatePass? Would it go on their credit report or what?

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Comments

4942 days ago by Krvossen

I also just experienced this scam with Hertz while visiting Disney. We went through the first toll booth perfectly because there was a toll booth to drive up to but the second toll booth you have to exit off of the highway to pay the toll. This wasn't explained to us by Hertz ahead of time & we are from Ohio where when you have to pay a toll on the turnpike you have to go through a toll booth. The very unfortunate thing is that my parents, who also rented from Hertz, were behind us & followed us right past the exit to pay the toll. We called Hertz immediately & they told us that we'd need to dispute the charge once we got the bill. Well we just got the bill & we tried to dispute it but they won't budge.

This will be my last time that I rent from Hertz.

4935 days ago by Bobnardo

I rented Hertz in Orlando (Disney trip) back in April 2010 and was hit with the same scam. I paid all my tolls with cash. I later got a bill for $11. I called PlatePass and asked them to prove that I didn't pay the toll. They said they have pictures that are taken by the toll booth. They said they would email them to me. They never emailed them (guess they couldn't find them) and I never paid. They kept sending me bills (7 total) and I tossed each one. It's been over a year now and I have not heard from them anymore. Nothing on the credit report either.
If you know you've paid your tolls then I would make them prove that you used their service.

The next three cars I've rented since then, I have purposely avoid Hertz. I was once a loyal customer but it isn't worth the hassel or risk.