NEVER use Avis.

I have had a horrible experience with Avis and Avis Knysna.

I had been in a car accident and needed to rent a car urgently as I was stranded in a place I had never been and needed to get to Cape Town. Distressed and traumatised from the car accident, I was grateful to have gotten a rental at such short notice in the December period. The Avis employee, Morne, was inappropriate at best in his customer service style and interpersonal interactions, but I didn't care much as I desperately needed a car. I agreed to pay R1287 for the car, drove it to Cape Town and returned it there within less than 24 hours. I was told that there was damage to the car and realised that Morne had not inspected the car with me before hand; he had just given me the keys to a damaged car and sent me on my merry way. I was so exhausted by the day's events that I didn't even think about it. I told them that I was not responsible for the damage, yet they insisted I sign. I signed adding a note that I was not responsible. Since then, Avis has been reserving various amounts on my credit card, differing from the amount I received in one SMS. I called to dispute and heard nothing back for 10 days. I called again after seeing that R5336 had been deducted from my credit card. All the while having no communication from them or any kind of explanation for these reservations and deductions, despite my attempts at following up and disputing their claim.

As a customer, I feel like I was taken advantage of when in an emotional and vulnerable state and that I have been ****med by both Morne and Avis. I feel that the correct procedures were not followed and deliberately so as to wrongfully accuse and charge me for damage that I did not cause. I personally feel that this is ********, yet I am told by customer services that there is nothing I can do if they decide that charges will remain. What a convenient way to take advantage of and **** their customers.

NEVER using Avis again.