About two years ago I was awarded gift certificates though my work. I used some of these gift certificates to rent a car through Avis in Sacramento, California. Avis insisted that I pay for the car in advance, because I was paying with a GC.
All was fine, I returned the car, and discovered that the rate I was quoted was incorrect. I asked the counter for my change, which was abrubtly refused. I made a fuss and the rental agent went into the back room. He returned with a stack of numbered gift certificates. I had no problem with this, as I never payed cash for the car.
Last week I need to go to a wedding and my car was not going to make it there, so I called Avis to make a reservation. When asked how I was going to pay, I told them I had Avis gift certificates that I was going to use. The man on the phone said fine, there is no problem with that. When I rented the car the manager of the store asked me if the credit card I used to reserve the car was how I was going to pay. I said no, I am going to use Avis gift certificates. I asked her if she needed them and she said NO.
I returned the car 24 hours later, and attempted to pay with my AVIS ISSUED GIFT CERTIFICATES. I was told that I had to present the cards before renting. I turned to the manager, who was at another terminal and asked her why she said she didn't need them the other morning. She stared at me blankly, and continued working with another customer.
When I started to make a stink, because I would never have used avis if it wasn't for the gift certificates. When I told the counter girl about how I was overcharged in the first place, she responded by saying "our office didn't do it." I feel like I have been put at the mercy of a self preserving corporate policy, and avis does it's best to "try harder" at keeping my money.
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