Big businesses are increasingly drawing criticism for deceptive practices, with car rental companies like Hertz coming under fire for questionable charges. A viral TikTok video highlighted a particularly egregious case where a customer, who rented a car from Hertz with a promise of “unlimited miles,” was slapped with a hefty $10,000 surcharge upon returning the vehicle. The issue arose when the customer, after driving what Hertz claimed was an excessive 25,000 miles, was told that “unlimited” didn’t mean what most would assume.
According to the video, the manager insisted that the customer had violated the rental agreement by driving too far, even though the promise was of “unlimited” mileage. This contradiction led to a heated argument, with the manager threatening to call the police when the customer sought clarification. While the math behind the claim was flawed — as driving 25,000 miles in one month would be practically impossible under normal circumstances — the real issue lay in Hertz’s refusal to honor its own policy.
The backlash was swift, and Hertz quickly apologized for the incident, stating that the customer would not be charged the $10,000 and that the franchisee involved would be addressing the employee’s conduct. This situation has sparked a broader conversation about the tactics used by big corporations to mislead consumers and the importance of businesses clearly defining their terms, especially when it comes to promises like “unlimited.”
Ultimately, this incident serves as a reminder for companies to be more transparent and accountable in their dealings with customers. If they are unwilling to stand by their policies, they shouldn’t offer them in the first place.