Zero stars! My disappointing Avis experience: After originally declining all additional insurance…read moreand other optional services during my online reservation with AutoEurope, the lady at the Avis check-in counter at the Milan Central train station location had apparently added every optional add-on possible to my reservation and when she showed me the contract to sign, she only showed me the Italian contract and failed to show me the translated version. When I questioned her about why the amount was so high, she told me it was due to the deposit that would go on my credit card for the vehicle. Having rented several cars from several different companies, this made sense to me and I signed the digital forms so that I could be on my way.
Upon arriving to the dislocated garage to pick up my vehicle, I was told I would be getting an SUV as the car I had reserved was not available. Because of the total distance and small Italian roads I would be driving, I asked if I could change to something smaller and more economical. The gentleman in the garage were super friendly and helpful and after a phone call, they got me into a Fiat 500 (their smallest car) which had not yet been cleaned from the last rental. After 1 day of driving, I realized that this tiny car wasn't suitable for all the highway driving I would be doing, so I was able to stop at the Marco Polo Airport near Venice and the helpful staff there got me into a larger more suitable Fiat for the remainder of my trip. At the end of my 8 day trip, I returned my vehicle without any additional damage, and with a full tank of gas. The friendly man at the return lot said the car looked perfect and asked me to sign a receipt that was 3 times more than my original AutoEurope reservation! Obviously confused, I politely declined to sign and he kindly directed me to the Avis desk inside the Bari Airport. Once inside the lady at the desk showed me the English translated version of my rental agreement and I found out that all the "Requested Optional Extras" that I originally declined online and never offered again had all been added when I picked up the vehicle.
These extras included a "Group upsell", "damage waiver", "windscreen protection", "theft protection", "Fuel up front", and "Additional products".
Once again, I never requested these, nor was I even given the option to accept or decline these options.
The lady at the desk inside the Bari Airport refused to help me with my complaint because it was "A different office that sold me the contract" and told me to call/email corporate if I had a problem.
I have since contacted Avis and have only been given a case number and told to wait up to 30 days for a response.
I've rented with Hertz, National, Alamo, and EuropCar. I even hold VIP status with two of them and have never been scammed into extras like this before. Avis should be ashamed of the service I received on this trip and I regret not sticking with EuropCar for my entire stay in Europe who at least had the decency to try to sell me extra insurance to my face instead of slapping them on behind my back.
Avoid this Avis at all costs!