• vortic@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    I get why they’d use something like this to save money and time but, is suspect that correct use would include a human check before charging people.

    We need to start pushing for laws on this kind of thing. Automated checks are fine if you, as the company, trust they won’t have too many false negatives. If you aren’t checking for false positives, though, you should be heavily fined for each false report. $25,000 per false report sounds like a good place to start. Hopefully that would be large enough to not just be the cost of doing business.

  • bcgm3@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    Oh, so Hertz has gotten wise to… every online platform that exists: Outsourcing all responsibility for their user-hostile bullshit to some vague “system” that cannot be held accountable.

    I’m so sorry but the advertised cost has doubled because… Computer says so! No, sir, there’s nothing I can do, sir, you see it’s the system.

    And you can’t go anywhere else, because everyone else is doing it (or soon will be) too!

  • llama@lemmy.zip
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    3 days ago

    They know it doesn’t work this is just a cash grab by rental car companies hoping to squeeze extra profit knowing most people won’t fight it under the guise of digital transformation.

  • /home/pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    5 days ago

    I will bring this up again like I did my last post concerning Hertz.

    While I was in Albuquerque, NM getting off the Amtrak train, I reserved our rental car from their website and went to the nonexistent address with no phone number or anything. After half an hour we called another Hertz and they basically told us to piss off and call the location we booked the car. I have few brands that I boycott and now they will be Nestle products (and sub companies) and Hertz.

    • BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Yup intentionally using dogy tools to extract more money from people under false pretenses, at this point I’m boycotting any company that claims to use AI, fuck em all

      • RagingRobot@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        Good luck trying to boycott a car rental company, as far as I can tell they are all actually the same company with 5 different “brands”. You rent from one but when you show up they send you to another one who has the car. It’s crazy.

            • medgremlin@midwest.social
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              3 days ago

              It’s been around for quite awhile. I use Turo more than I use regular car rental services because you actually get to choose what car you’re getting and the prices are better.

    • InFerNo@lemmy.ml
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      4 days ago

      Those do exactly what they’re supposed to do. They’re even explicitly advertised as providing new revenue streams.

  • GaMEChld@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    I wonder what a credit card dispute would result in here. Underutilized feature when businesses pull shady shit. Think I’ve had 6 or so disputes over the years, never failed.

    • TeddE@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Too many people these days don’t use or have access to credit cards for services like this. Many people I know only use bank debit cards, or worse, use the debit preloaded cash cards issued by their employers’ payroll service provider.

      Credit cards motivate banks to help you, because if you won’t pay, and the business doesn’t pay, the bank has to take the hit.

      Debit cards will work as well if your bank values it’s reputation - but not all banks do.

      And I would not trust a preloaded card provider to assist. You are neither their business partner nor their customer and that puts your interests at the bottom of a very long list. You have to hope some law is on your side or that your issue is so trivial that resolving it is more cost effective then dealing with you.

      • Wispy2891@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        in this case, hertz doesn’t rent to who doesn’t have a credit card

        debit = no rent

        • phutatorius@lemmy.zip
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          2 days ago

          debit = no rent

          Funny, I rented from Hertz about two weeks ago and there was a big sign at the counter explaining their terms of business for renting with a debit card. And it didn’t say “We don’t do it.”

          • Wispy2891@lemmy.world
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            2 days ago

            It’s more a case by case situation, not universal. In a place where car thefts are rampant they wouldn’t offer that, for example

            And the initial deposit is massive

        • TeddE@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          I should have remembered that. I had to lend my card out to my friend who was in a credit lock at the time they needed a rental. Still, I don’t think my advice is invalid, just irrelevant here.

      • kingthrillgore@lemmy.ml
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        3 days ago

        You CAN dispute debit card charges, but the process is typically done through the vendor of the card, CPI or Fiserv. Contact your bank.

        • TeddE@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          Yes. I agree - on paper all three have a chargeback process that appear similar enough. However, assuming you aren’t a financial expert who never needs help, I’m discussing the behind the front politics at play and each group’s motivations to go above and beyond.

      • outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        4 days ago

        Credit cards are also an instrument of christofascist pedophiles who want to ban all pornography and ‘pornography’ (they consider the existence of queer people to be porn)

      • Underwaterbob@sh.itjust.works
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        4 days ago

        Huh? I don’t think I’ve ever used a rental car service that didn’t require a credit card. Exactly so they can charge for this sort of thing.

        • rmrf@lemmy.ml
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          4 days ago

          Virtually any place that accepts a credit card will accept debit cards, too. Actually, most debit cards can be processed as credit cards. The comment you responded to simply highlighted that this trick is much easier to pull with credit card than a debit card, as the creditor hasn’t yet been repaid for the credit issued.

          • Wispy2891@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            it’s because with credit cards they can check the credit limit, then be sure that the card can pay the insurance deductible in case of crash

            instead with debit i can rent a car, close or deativate the card, crash/total the rental car and then avoid paying any extra fee

            most rentals don’t rent with debit cards because they want to be sure, and who accepts debit:

            1. they preauthorize thousands of dollars instead of hundreds
            2. they only rent the lowest end of the available cars
      • Verqix@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        I don’t understand how this works out badly for the person using a debit card. You pay for the vehicle and if they try to make you pay more you ask for proof and if you don’t get it you walk away.

        Or do they require a collateral fee when renting?

        • TeddE@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          It’s about who’s lawyers you can rally to your defense in a dispute.

          With a credit card you’re spending the bank’s money. If you can convince the bank you’re in the right, it’s you and the bank’s lawyers recovering the bank’s money.

          As a debit card user, the banks will support your legal rights, because it’s good business for your clients to prosper. While the bank’s lawyers won’t go to bat for you, many will be willing to give you quasi-legal and quasi-financial tidbits or point you in the right direction.

          As the bank’s client’s employee, you’re basically on your own. Good luck.

        • zourn@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          The other thing not being mentioned is that credit cards and debit cards have different legally required protections.

  • Vanth@reddthat.com
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    5 days ago

    I am 0% surprised that Hertz would be the first in the US to roll this out. Expecting a Steve Lehto YouTube video about it within the next three days …

  • flop_leash_973@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    You mean an LLM that doesn’t have the ability to understand context fails to make decisions that require context to do properly? Shocking /s

  • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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    5 days ago

    I’d ask for the stupid AI scanning system to scan my car before I agree to renting it. Once they sign off on the ‘all clear’ notification from their AI scanner before rental, then I’d consider renting it … but after reading this headline, I’d probably just tell them, I’m spending a few hundred dollars more on renting a car from someone else.

    • Clasm@ttrpg.network
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      5 days ago

      Just spit balling here, but they probably tune the AI for different thresholds between return and rent out so that they can rake in the damage fees for things that “weren’t there” during the first AI scan.

    • johntash@eviltoast.org
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      5 days ago

      You should also ask for a copy of the pictures or videos it takes while scanning so you can reference when returning.

  • AlecSadler@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    5 days ago

    Okay so…in the rare event I need to rent a car, any suggestions on who to use that isn’t Hertz and sister companies?

    • callouscomic@lemmy.zip
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      5 days ago

      I’ve had a lot of good recent experiences with Enterprise (in the US). There’s some interesting services like Turo, but I can’t bring myself to try it yet. Weirdly too personal being other people’s cars.

      • PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        Enterprise and Alamo is owned by the same family which means they aren’t beholden to public shareholders. Usually this means the company is ran better and not as haphazardly as public ones tend to be.

      • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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        4 days ago

        I imagine Turo is now very similar to AirBnB in most areas, as in these are dedicated rentals, just owned by individuals instead of chains.

    • BigDiction@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      I rent through Costco and try to pick Alamo when possible. Avis is decent but they often share a line with Budget which can take forever.

      I’m not a loyalty member of any brand for reference.

    • Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz
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      5 days ago

      SIXT and TURO. Maybe price out renting the big truck from Lowe’s/home depot. Or a haul. Both might be cheaper than hertz/enterprise depending on your area.