I entered this Hertz location to rent a car. I was directed there by the Avis Car Rental location…read moreadjacent to Hertz. I was told that Hertz would be able to take my debit card to rent a car, where Avis requires a credit card, which I didn't have with me.
The reason I needed to rent a car was that I was in Stamford for a business meeting on Saturday, and had arrived via Amtrak, on Friday. As you may know, because of an accident on Amtrak in Bridgeport, CT, the Amtrak lines from Boston to New York City were closed indefinitely. I decided to rent a car and drive home to Washington, DC after my meeting on Saturday evening
When I arrived at the Hertz office, the clerk was assisting another customer. She offered him several choices in types of cars to rent. When it was my turn, I asked if I could rent a car. She told me that there were no cars to rent. When I asked why she offered the other customer choices if there were no extra cars, she replied, "Cars are for customers only." I questioned why I wasn't considered a customer like him, and she kept repeating, "Cars are for our customers only," and "We have no cars to rent.
I asked to see a manager, and she said there was none available. I asked for her name, and she said, "I don't have to give you my name," and proceeded to cover her name tag with her hair so I couldn't see it.
I went on my iphone and made a reservation for a car from that Hertz location, and received a confirmation number. I showed it to the clerk, and she told me that there WAS a car available. So it was obvious that she had lied to me before. I persisted and she finally gave me her name. It was "Omaira." I was directed to a sub-compact car, and hurried to my meeting.
I did not realize it at the time since it was daylight that the console light did not illuminate. For the entire 5 hour drive to Washington, DC, alone including rainstorms, I was unable to see my speed limit and my fuel gage. It was a terrifying experience.
I have never had this type of customer service experience in my life, and am surprised that Hertz would provide such terrible service in a crisis situation brought about by a tragic train accident.