Car Hire firm to charge for No Shows

Avis is to become the first car rental firm to charge customers for no shows.

Those who don't cancel prior to the allocated pick up time, or don't turn up within 24 hours thereafter, will be charged £40.

The charges will start to apply to Avis rental locations across Europe throughout this year. Customers will be asked for a form of payment at the time of booking.

Group commercial director Wolfgang Neumann attempted to justify the charges by pointing out that hotels already charge customers for no-shows unless they cancel reservation in advance.

We are taking this action to improve vehicle availability for our customers, particularly during peak season, and to use our fleet more cost effectively.""

""Charges for cancelling a rental booking are 100% avoidable if customers think ahead and that's something we believe this measure will encourage them to do.""

""It is also a fairer system for customers who diligently collect their cars and simply echoes standard practices across the rest of the travel industry.""

Avis pointed out that customers can still cancel reservations without charge up until the reserved pick-up time.

Of course some travellers are prevented from collected their hire car through no fault of their own, such as flight or train cancellations that delay their journey. Insurewithease travel insurance includes up to £5,000 cancellation cover.

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