Hertz robbing the poorest of the poor

I recently hired a car from an on line company called airport rentals (airportrentals.com) I refused the offer to insure the excess of 13000 rand. I was contacted via telephone by airport rentals New Zealand office tand offered the insurance at a discounted rate of 120 rand per day. I again refused the insurance. At no point was I informed of the deposit required by the car hire company. I often hire cars and expected the car hire company to hold about 6000 rand on the card and this monies are released immediately on return of the vehicle. The care hire company was HERTZ. When I collected the vehicle I was informed by HERTZ that they will hold 17000 on my card and only refund me after 21 days of returning the car. I enquirer what if I don’t have the monies available and they told me that the holding deposit will reduce to 1650 if I took the insurance with them directly. They informed me that the insurance would cost 268 per day. This is manipulation and unfair as it forces clients to take the insurance at a ridiculous price. Remember they are only insuring the 13000 excess and charging 268 per day. One can insure a care for a whole month at this price. When I asked them why they will hold 17000 if the excess was only 13000 they said the balance was for petrol. I informed than that a small car will not take 4000 rand petrol to fill the tank. It is clear that this Company is enforcing *********, unfair practice, and ensuring that clients take the insurance by making the holding deposit excessive and unaffordable to the majority. The fact that they emphasize that you will only get your refund in 21 days proves this *********. Also the fact that they only reveal the deposit required Only when you collecting the car means that they are making every effort to ensure that one takes this massively expensive insurance. They need to indentify their industry. Is it car hir or insurance. Also they employees are arrogant and in no uncertain terms tell you that you have no choice. Big thumbs down to HERTZ I have reported both these companies to the consumer council of South Africa HERTZ is still holding my 17k