Please do better.

Review of Avis Car Rental – George Airport, South Africa

My experience with Avis at George Airport has been nothing short of frustrating. From the moment we landed, things went wrong. Despite confirming our booking, we had to wait over two hours for a vehicle that should have been ready. The staff were unprofessional and unfriendly, and the entire process felt disorganized.

We returned the car in better condition than we received it — fully refueled and spotless. All was well. I was assured on multiple occasions that my account was settled, and this was also confirmed in the official statements.

Then, four months later, I received a sudden and aggressive email threatening legal action over a small amount allegedly still outstanding — the first time I had heard of this. I immediately tried to make contact using the details provided, but no one was answering the phones, and it took nearly a week to get a reply. When someone finally did respond, it was with a sarcastic and dismissive tone, attaching the statement as if that excused the complete lack of prior communication.

My questions remain:

Why was I not informed earlier if this was truly outstanding?

Why threaten legal proceedings without making any effort to contact me beforehand?

Why take days to respond if the matter was so urgent?

And why the unnecessary sarcasm?

The entire experience has been a struggle from start to finish. I’m not writing this to be nasty — but rather to warn others. Avis has not only been inefficient but also unapproachable, unresponsive, and at times outright rude. I can handle delays and admin errors, but the attitude and lack of customer care are unacceptable.

If you value your time, money, and peace of mind, I strongly recommend using another rental company. Sadly, I won’t be returning to Avis — and judging from similar experiences shared by others globally, I know I’m not alone.

Avis, please do better. This was avoidable.