News and notes from around the interweb:
- Not just Hertz, AI damage scanner out of control at Sixt meanwhile, here’s what a $440 damage bill from AI looks like at Hertz – a scrape. Do you really think Hertz is even repairing this? It seems like the only correct approach – if you’re going to rent from Hertz – is taking the collision damage waiver and playing adult bumper cars?
- Gross. I’ve reported problems with the new buy on board beef sandwich as well.
Sad, because before US Airways management took over American sold Marcus Samuelsson pastrami and chicken salad sandwiches that were actually pretty good, and a really nice spiced nut mix also.
- LaGuardia Central Terminal… not safe for work, but funny.
- The face of modern credit card fraud.
A Chuck E. Cheese employee in full costume was arrested by Tallahassee officers for credit card fraud
https://t.co/EBln5jLq0v pic.twitter.com/q6QREZJZAi
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 24, 2025
- New Washington Dulles master plan might end people movers (‘mobile lounges’) (HT: Paul H)
- New Lyft feature lets riders pick favorite drivers and ones they don’t want to be paired with again
- .
Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: Yes, Hertz AI Scanner is Scamming Customers.
Recommendation: Friends don’t let friends rent from Hertz.
Next!
Very much a scam… or just bad business! They are taking advantage to do nothing but add to their bottom line.
Their entire business is buy a car, rent it out, depreciate it, sell it… built into that equation is those minor to medium nicks, scratches and dings… They heavily write off those deductions… They keep tight numbers on when to sell the car and for how much that makes the equation balance in their favor.
Now, they are adding an additional revenue stream; similar to a checked bag fee. They will NOT use the money to repair the cars in most cases… but still use their tried and true lifecycle of buy a car, rent it out, depreciate it, sell it. These new fees will not change their cycle; they will still get all the benefits; PLUS the additional income.
This just means more money for their pockets… happy investors (maybe)… unhappy customers… maybe less customers…
Hertz, the leader in AI scamming technology (sarcasm).
Three words: class action lawsuit
Alamo lhr charged me $300 for the same scratches
Told them I want the tire
@Parker — I like your style! Count me in. I look forward to my juicy piece of the settlement… *five years later* $0.29. Thank goodness those attorneys will make $8 million each for their ‘sacrifice.’
Pardon my cynicism; this is actually a way to force change; but it’s not a panacea, folks who get screwed are still likely to get screwed. Look out for yourself if they try this on you; fight it, every time.
Never Rent From Hertz.
Hertz *insert thumbs down*
I’m so glad the IAD people movers might be on their way out but I’ll miss them when they are if that makes sense. If only you could walk to the United terminals…
(C & D* to clarify since you can walk to a bunch of United flights)
Would this be covered by the credit card rental car coverage since they say it damage?
@L737 — ‘Aerotrain’ instead?
Three golden rules of travel — 1) don’t fly on Frontier, 2) don’t stay at a Marriott, 3) Don’t rent from Hertz
@Parker The entire reason why this is exists is because a class action lawsuit is impossible due to Hertz’s Class Action Waiver in its Arbitration Agreement. How this is permitted to exist is beyond me, but that is the reason why there is no class action lawsuit which would certainly end this practice.
@Ron — On your 2nd point, you’re making @Gene happy.
@Mac – Hertz’s own contract evidently still carves out property damage claims from arbitration, meaning if their AI ‘scratch detector’ shakes you down for $440, you can drag them right back into court instead of a secret arbitration room. Andrus Anderson Defeated the Hertz Arbitration Clause back in 2020 on exactly this basis. Maybe the AI should scan their fine print before it tries to scam customers.
@1990 — Yes, I like the aerotrain! I often bypass the mover and take it instead (like to get some steps in after a flight) but it can be a trek depending on your arrival gate so not ideal when traveling with someone (don’t want to walk) or if someone is waiting to pick you up (don’t want to wait)
@L737 — Yes, it is good ‘exercise’ for sure. Long hallways. Timing is everything with rideshares, too. Like, I know some folks wants to book their Lyft/Uber as soon as the plane is arrives to the gate, and I’m like… ‘what if they have an issue with the jet bridge…’ (and we miss the 5-10 minutes waiting time for the ride.) I mean, it’s probably just a $3 penalty, etc., but still.
The comment on them not repairing it I actually think would be a good policy. If they’re not going to fix it then the damage didn’t meet a threshold to matter and have an actual market priced transaction to indicate something that needs to be made whole. Maybe it adds up to make the car less valuable on resale but come on now.
In any case, absolutely do not rent from these places until they can probably test them and have a good escalation appeal process.
Secondarily, rental cars should be more durable. Bring back one of those Saturns with undingable doors and for goodness sake the door handles and trunk access areas should not be fragile easily scratchable paint.
@1990 id join it for the sole purpose of stopping this stupidity. So many untested boundaries in how we use AI. Going to be interesting.
@Parker — It seems much of this is really just attempts at scamming an extra couple hundred or thousand dollars off unsuspecting customers for mere ‘dings’ and ‘scratches’ that would not usually be claimed if a human had to actually ‘deal’ with it. If consumers pay without contesting, then this may be come the ‘new normal.’ So, yes, we should definitely fight this, because if Hertz succeeds at this scam, then everyone will copy them. Ironically, it’ll ruin their business, because no one will want to rent a car if they have to such frivilous fight claims every time.
Since most of us use credit cards with rental car liability insurance, I’d imagine many of these claims go through that process anyway; ultimately, it may become a ‘battle’ between the rental agencies and our credit card’s claims processors and underwriters, unless those credit card companies (and their affiliates) decide that they, too, can summarily deny claims (following our ‘beloved’ health insurance companies lead), throwing this all back, once again, to the unsuspecting, nearly powerless consumers. This is yet another example of why I tirelessly advocate for consumer (and worker) protections on here all the time.
@ Ron — You nailed it! @1990 — Bingo!
Hertz WAS pretty much the only car rental company we used pre-COVID. Now, we just try to avoid ever renting a car, and if we do, NOT with Hertz.
I wonder how much these “AI” set ups cost? I imagine that once the big banks/insurance companies sue Hertz for fraud and obtain a massive settlement, they will be stuck with a big investment in this crappy technology. Just imagine if they instead invested this money in improving the experience of the customer and their own employees.
At $440 for a wheel cover scrape that no one will see, if they rent the car 100 times the car is paid for. The scam that keeps on scamming.
Just got nicked $200 for an equivalent unseen wheel-scratch at SIXT this weekend. Bastards! They need yet another class-action suit to end this stickup job. I have vowed to reduce my involvement with Hertz thanks to this development (eat it, Mr. Ackman!), and I swear I will never rent from SIXT again following this travesty. I am now firmly going to steer my business needs over to Uber/Lyft and let their rental-car industry wither. Life’s too short to spend battling over minutiae with these shysters.
@Gene — Soon enough, it’s just gonna be their AI fighting our AI, like in the Star Trek episode “A Taste of Armageddon” where two planets engage in a completely simulated war, where their computers decide the “casualties.” The inhabitants then peacefully report to disintegration chambers to fulfill their computer-determined fate. Live long and… nevermind.
Over my dead body will I ever rent from HERTZ again in my lifetime
Truly frightening.Uber never looked so good
Will credit card rental insurance pick it up under their Insurance?
Over my dead body will I ever rent from HERTZ again in my lifetime
Truly frightening.Uber never looked so good
Will credit card rental insurance pick it up under their 3rd party Insurance?
I thought so. You can replace the entire wheel for 1/2 the amount.
But as others have said, they won’t do anything, just rent it out with the ding.
Never rent from Hertz.
I haven’t rented from Hertz since they accused innocent renters of stealing their cars. I am surprised that anyone (other than the uninformed infrequent traveler) still rents from them.
I wonder how many are really getting these bill and if we’re really getting the right information.
I’ve rented from Hertz three time in the last 4 months and was never charged for damage including about 2 weeks ago when I was in Atlanta where supposedly many of these charges are coming.
What happens if it’s raining when I return the car? Does AI count each drop as damage?
Why would a credit card company have Hertz Presidents Circle as a benefit? If anything, it is detracts from the credit card value.
Why anyone with a brain would rent from Hertz is completely beyond me.
Would getting the extra “full collision waiver” take care of these ludicrous charges?