Lowcountry lawmaker, others accuse rental car company of overcharging thousands

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – One particular Lowcountry lawmaker claimed he was just one of a selection of persons who had been recently victims of a automobile rental rip-off.

South Carolina Point out Agent Wendell Gilliard mentioned vehicle rental enterprise Avis despatched him a huge fix bill for damages to a rental car or truck he claims weren’t there when he returned the auto to the Charleston Worldwide Airport.

The monthly bill totaled more than $20,000 in damages. Rep. Gilliard says he received the bill weeks afterwards in March despite returning the automobile it in mint affliction

“Took the car or truck back no difficulty, got my receipt, it was a couple of hundred dollars,” said Rep. Gilliard.

Gilliard rented a Lincoln MKZ via Avis for two times and returned it on January 27th. Weeks later on, he was despatched a monthly bill by the organization alleging countless numbers in harm. Gilliard explained his accountant known as him proper absent.

“She calls me back and claims hey are you sitting down? I reported very well why what’s erroneous now? She says it is not twenty-one hundred dollars, it is 20-just one thousand bucks,” suggests Consultant Gilliard. “I explained you’ve obtained to be out of your mind, you are kidding me.”

Consultant Gilliard wasn’t by yourself, he says he’s heard from at the very least 7 other folks who gained comparable letters from Avis alleging considerable problems to a automobile they rented and returned at the Charleston Intercontinental Airport. Among the people with similar ordeals was Whitney Borreson who returned a auto a few days prior to Representative Gilliard.

“No problems in anyway to it, anything was great,” states Borreson. “I still left it there at the airport like I should’ve. It is like effectively this is preposterous, I did not trigger any destruction to this automobile.”

Borreson was billed approximately $3,000, she says she complained and the costs were being later dropped. Consultant Gilliard asked the airport to open an investigation into the expenses. From it, authorities uncovered virtually a dozen autos that had been taken by Avis employees and utilised for own causes.

“It was some staff members just after a buyer like myself experienced dropped the car off, they would get in the cargo party and whatever,” suggests Agent Gilliard.

Consultant Gilliard suggests he’s even now fighting the $21,000 demand and ideas to draft condition legislation to shield renters. He has also contacted the Improved Small business Bureau and asked the South Carolina Legislation Enforcement Division to open an investigation.

“This thing is more substantial than what it appears to be like like on the surface and we’re heading to get to the base of it,” says Consultant Gilliard.

Consultant Gilliard is hopeful he can solve the concern with Avis’s company business to avoid filing a lawsuit in court docket but says he will if desired to get well the rates. Consultant Gilliard says at least 7 other folks have attained out indicating they experienced equivalent encounters.

Information 2 achieved out to Avis relating to the allegations, a company consultant sent us the pursuing statement: “Avis Spending budget Group has contacted the clients impacted by this subject to solve the issue.”