Whether traveling for business or on vacation, you might need to rent a car to get around while out of town. Hertz is one the largest car rental companies in the world, and there is a good chance that if you rent a car, it will be from Hertz. Unfortunately, many Hertz customers are finding inexplicable charges for failing to gas up rented Tesla cars, which are electric vehicles and cannot be pumped with gas.
Car rental companies prefer customers to return vehicles with a full gas tank. You may be charged a fee if you choose not to gas up the vehicle. One would think that electric vehicles do not come with such a fee, but Hertz seems to feel differently. Customers have reported being charged for not refueling electric Tesla cars despite the fact that these vehicles do not take gas. Unfortunately, Hertz does not seem interested in addressing the mistake, and many people have not gotten refunds. If this happens to you, you may sue Hertz for your costs. Whether you can succeed depends on your situation, and you should speak to a lawyer.
Speak to our personal injury lawyers to get a free, private case evaluation by calling The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797.
Hertz Charging Customers for Not Putting Gas in Electric Tesla Vehicles
Traveling can be a fun but also challenging experience. Depending on where you go, you might need to rent a car from a service like Hertz. Naturally, renting a car comes with various costs, including fuel. Hertz and many other car rental services want customers to refuel vehicles before dropping them. If customers choose not to refuel the car, it means someone at Hertz has to do it, and you may be charged a refueling fee. This has caused a strange problem with customers renting Tesla vehicles. Tesla produces electric cars that do not need gas, but Hertz still charges some customers a fee for not refueling.
In one surprising case, a Hertz customer was charged about $277 for not refueling their Tesla when returning it. The problem is that Tesla cars do not run on gas and cannot be refueled. There is no place to pump gas on a Tesla, so why on earth would Hertz charge customers for not refueling? This is where the problem goes from strange to legally troubling. Hertz does not seem interested in addressing the issue or refunding customers the unfair refueling fees. What do you do to get your money back?
If something like this has happened to you, you should consider calling an attorney. A business like Hertz should not be allowed to charge fees for things that do not exist. While Hertz does not seem to be intent on rectifying the situation anytime soon, our personal injury attorneys will work to get you back the money you are owed.
Can You Sue Hertz for Charing for Gas After Renting an Electric Vehicle?
You may sue Hertz if you believe that you were unfairly charged for something. If you had to pay additional fees for not refueling an electric vehicle, a lawyer can help you get your money back. Unfortunately, this might not be an easy case to deal with. Others in the same situation have reported that getting information or assistance from Hertz’s customer service is difficult. In some cases, customers are simply told that Hertz will not refund the money.
It is unlikely that Hertz will realize their error and return your money. As such, we must be prepared to take the matter to court, which might take some time, especially when dealing with a large company like Hertz. Large companies with a lot to lose sometimes resort to delaying legal cases for as long as possible in the hopes of waiting out plaintiffs.
If we make it to court, we need evidence of how you were charged and why the charges are bogus and should be refunded. Keep all records of your rental with Hertz. This includes receipts, any paperwork you might have received when you picked up and dropped off the car, and correspondence with Hertz representatives or customer service.
Damages You Might Claim in a Case Against Hertz Related to Unfair Charges
When filing a lawsuit, we need to articulate your damages so the court knows exactly what injuries or losses need to be compensated. In a lawsuit against Hertz for unfair refueling charges, the center of your case is the money you lost because Hertz charged you for not gassing up an electric car that cannot actually be gassed up. If you were charged $300, your damages should consist of at least that much money.
You might also claim other damages related to the case. While Hertz might have only overcharged you a few hundred dollars for the bogus refueling fee, you will probably incur other costs when you initiate legal action. Put another way, lawsuits are not cheap, and you can include your legal fees as part of your damages. After all, if Hertz had just owned up to their mistake and refunded you the money, you would never have had to hire an attorney and file a lawsuit.
Can I Get Compensation From Hertz Without Having to File a Lawsuit?
Lawsuits are known for being difficult, and many would rather do anything other than file a lawsuit. While Hertz does not appear to be cooperative on the issue of unfair refueling charges for Tesla vehicles, there is a chance that they may be convinced to settle. If you can reach a settlement agreement, a full lawsuit in court may not be necessary. However, Hertz might be unwilling to settle, and we should be prepared to take the case to court if it comes to that.
Speak to Our Personal Injury Attorneys if You Were Unfairly Charged by Hertz
Speak to our personal injury lawyers to get a free, private case evaluation by calling The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797.