by Janabeth Greer

Created on: April 28, 2009

Hertz Rent-A-Car is a disappointment and a company that I will avoid in the future. My dad was 92 years old and in failing health. However, he was determined to make one more visit to NJ from Florida to meet his only great-granddaughter and stay in the home he and his father had built. Although I own a van and a new HHR, I decided to fly to Florida and rent a full-size car for what would very likely be Dad's last road trip.

Dad loved to drive and travel. He always had full-size station wagons or land barges. I meticulously planned the trip, deciding we would drive over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and take the ferry into NJ, making it much more interesting than a fast trip up I-95. I arranged for a waterfront handicap room and through AAA, reserved a car from the Tampa Airport with Hertz. I even called Hertz directly to confirm there would be no problem renting a land barge for a one-way trip.

I arrived in Tampa, proceeded to the Hertz counter, and was greeted by Rym, short for Rude Young Man. I had rented with Hertz previously and the paperwork was quickly completed. Rym got the keys for a full-size vehicle and was in the process of handing them to me, when he snatched them back and asked "Are you going out-of-state?" Since we had already confirmed I was dropping the car off at the airport in Atlantic City, NJ, I thought this a bit unusual. With my affirmative response, he informed me I could not have the full-size car he had assigned me. Rym needed to give me a vehicle that was from out-of-state. Essentially, I would be used to head the vehicle towards its home base. Under no circumstances could I have a car from Florida.

"OK", I said, "just give me an out-of-state full-size car".

After a thorough computer search, Rym grabbed a set of keys and informed me I would be renting a Toyota Sienna minivan......from Colorado.

"I don't think that's a good option", I told Rym. He tried to convince me that it would have more than enough room for Dad's luggage, wheelchair, and walker.

"I'm not concerned about the capacity. I'm concerned about the height of the vehicle and Dad's ability to get in and out," I explained.

"It's the same height off the ground as a car", lied Rym.

"I don't mean the vehicle clearance. It's the height of the seat that I'm worried about. I have a van and Dad had difficulty getting up to the seat. If I wanted a van, I wouldn't have rented a car", I patiently explained.

"Well maybe you should have driven your van then", retorted Rym.

"I confirmed

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>