Misleading Charges and Degrading Treatment at Hertz - San Pedro Location…read more
This is about the UNACCEPTABLE service I received at the San Pedro location (222 W 6th St, San Pedro, CA) by two individuals: Alvin and Giovanni. This isn't just about one inconvenience, it's about being MISLED, treated with disregard, and left feeling more like a transaction than a human being.
The rental was arranged through my insurance after a not-at-fault accident. Like many people in that situation, I arrived stressed, short on time, and just hoping the process would be simple. It wasn't.
First, the vehicle I was given was in terrible condition (see pictures attached); visibly dirty inside and out. Not just "well used," but genuinely FILTHY. I had to spend $50 of my own money just to have it cleaned so I could drive it without embarrassment. That should never fall on a customer, regardless of the circumstances.
But what left me truly frustrated was the way I was misinformed or worse, deliberately deceived about insurance. The employee handling my rental that day, Alvin, told me I was required to purchase Hertz's insurance coverage at an additional $30/day, even after I clearly explained I already had full coverage through my personal auto policy. No options were presented, no questions asked, just PRESSURE to accept and move on.
By the end of my 6-day rental, I had been charged $180 in unnecessary insurance fees that I now know were completely avoidable. This wasn't a misunderstanding, it was a misleading and aggressive sales tactic, targeting someone already in a vulnerable situation. That's not just unprofessional, it's EXPLOITATIVE.
To make matters worse, I just noticed an additional $373 charge applied to my card, for what, I honestly don't know. Mercury Insurance is covering the rental, so I'm baffled as to why I'm being charged anything beyond what I was pressured into. Yet again, no transparency, no explanation.
When I called that location to cancel the added insurance, I received no empathy, no apology, just cold redirection. I was told to return to the branch to make changes. When I did, I was told to locate the vehicle myself in a chaotic parking structure, circling three times while Alvin and Giovanni sat idly by. No assistance. No acknowledgment. It was dismissive, degrading, and honestly, SHOCKING.
This is not the level of service anyone expects, especially not from a brand like Hertz. I've rented cars from multiple companies over the years and have never encountered such an APPALLING lack of professionalism, care, or basic respect.