<<No one checked the car with us and we were not provided with the picture of the car with any damage marked..>> That's when you go back to the office and tell them that you didn't receive it. That would have solved the entire problem. I agree that no one checks the cars with you anymore, but that's why if you find additional damage, they have someone walking around the lot that then comes over and checks what you've found, and marks it on the sheet that you were supposed to make sure you had. I'm sorry but if I saw a damaged bumper that I didn't cause, I wouldn't have driven out of there without documentation or a different car.

Avis O Tambo and Avis Windhoek does a pre check in my experience and if none was forthcoming I would insist on it before I signed off the vehicle release form !

The last 2 times we used Budget (which is what the OP said she used); They gave us the paper pre-marked/pre-checked and we checked the car out ourselves before signing off on it. If we disagreed with the findings (which we did both times) we called them over to recheck the car and correct it. But it really doesn't matter, the OP did nothing to protect herself and then complained about it after the fact.

A priori, so is a moot point and unsubstantiated. Lesson learned for next hire !

We agree: NEVER EVER rent from Avis/Budget in OR Tambo airport, Joburg. We rented a car for 9 days along with a modem that soon proved defective. When we returned the car, in order to process a complaint about the modem (and to catch a flight), we had to leave our paperwork at the return desk with the assurance that a receipt would be emailed. Not only was it not, but we were charged 3 extra days for the car (and no refund for the modem). We are still trying to work it out through our CC company...

Moral: NEVER trust that group to email you something important, get it in writing.

I am sorry that you had a bad experience with them as well. They know that you are under pressure to catch a flight or are tired from a long journey & take advantage. So unprofessional.

Another no no is to get at the airport at the last minute and with a rental car to return. However if those extra 3 days were charged at the end of your rental agreement you have your flight tickets as a proof you have left the country, and c/c company will be on your side disputing those bogus charges.

It’s pretty clear you got on an airplane so the extra days will be refunded. This is why we use credit cards but even if you called the customer service # in your home country, they would sort it out. Sounds like a transposed number to me - we are human (today is 14/3/18 in the rest of the world). But honestly, you left the paperwork on the counter? Who does that and expects things to go the way some minimum wage service person at the counter says?

What is a modem? A Wi-Fi hotspot or a gps? I’ve never heard of a modem in a car - maybe that’s why they’re not refunding the money - they don’t understand the problem? Since you rented with Avis, there are rental counters all over the country (it’s why I rent with them) and you could have gotten a replacement “modem”.

I’ve had good experiences with Avis in S Africa. No one comes on TA with any positive things to say. Once I returned a vehicle with a cracked windscreen and because we had taken out the insurance they said it was all covered and off we went. There’s always a scratch or two that we’ve caused so we have the car washed and any scratches buffed out - tip the guys at the car wash well and they go above and beyond. Never a charge. We had a flat tyre in Kruger and the Avis counter people at Skukuza were very helpful - even called us to make sure everything was going as planned, before and after the fix. Never had any added charges except for electronic tolls and possibly the stupid return gas tank full extra charge.

Sometimes we don’t always make great choices or don’t give ourselves enough time on holiday (and at home). We rarely get ripped off and there are ways to fix it after the fact. Yes, it’s inconvenient but none of us are perfect.

Hi

It's not just Avis and Budget, its ALL rental companies at OR Tambo. Theres obviously a scam taking place. I noticed on my 7th rental at OR Tambo that I was extensively over charged. I decided to run a test and so on my 8th rental I refused all add ons and took just the basic insurance cover that came with the price and nothing else. As expected when the invoice came through my email I was again over charged atleast three times the initial rental, not only that but I was further charged £6.75 (110 rands) of which no one could explain what the charge was for. I have rented from Alvis, Budget, Hertz, Bidvest and they all cheated. I have since got back some of the money from Hertz UK when I reported my findings to them.