Driver fury as Hertz’s new Orwellian scanners trigger instant $400 fines for barely visible scuffs

Hertz faces a wave of online reactions.

Critics are aimed at the rental company after several customers say they were charged hundreds of dollars for minor damage reported by new AI inspection scanning systems.

On Reddit and Facebook, cars tenants now call for a boycott, accusing the rental giant of using AI to detect trivial damage and invoice steep costs – while making it difficult to speak with a live agent.

“I’m just not comfortable with the new technology that can report dirt or something that can be rubbed as damage,” a client posted on Reddit.

Another Reddit user wrote: “The report is half of the problem. The other problem is hertz using the AI ​​to submit the complaint. What about traditional bumps smaller than the size of a balloon or ticket-size scratches? I can’t even talk to an agent live.

This week, the company confirmed to Dailymail.com that it had billed a driver $ 440 for a scratch of an inch on a wheel. The paving, generally caused when a driver brushes a sidewalk during parallel parking, was reported by the scanner.

The bill included $ 250 for damage, $ 125 for treatment and administrative costs of $ 65.

Another driver claimed to have obtained fees of $ 195 for a tiny bump when he returned from a Toyota Corolla.

An Hertz user said he received $ 195 costs for this breach after having returned his car

Each driver’s experience is part of a larger technological deployment in Hertz, which recently joined Uveye, a startup that builds high -speed automated inspection systems.

The tenants drive their cars through the scanners twice: once when they pick up the vehicle, and again when they return.

Drivers will receive a copy of the previously scanned damage, confirmed the company at Dailymail.com.

Hertz wants to use the scanners at 100 rental locations by the end of the year.

In April, the rental company told Dailymail.com that it deployed technology to improve vehicle safety, and not invoice customers for minor cosmetic damage.

The company said its policy had not changed, despite the fees of $ 440 and $ 195. He indicates that most of the drivers who used Uveye scanners did not receive a charge.

“More than 97% of digitized cars with this technology have not detected any billable damage, which proves that a large majority of rentals are without incident,” said a company spokesperson.

“The damage caused by vehicles has long been a common point of pain through the car rental industry for customers and businesses.

Uveye, a technological company based on AI that scans vehicles for damage, has teamed up with several companies for technological inspections

Hertz, a well-recognized brand with celebrity partnerships (including Tom Brady, seen above), is faced with heat on social networks

The company said it wanted to implement scanners in 100 lots, including several popular airports – it already works in Atlanta

“At Hertz, we use this technology to approach this friction head on and our objective is to always improve the customer experience while ensuring that customers are not billed for damage that they have not caused and providing greater transparency, precision and speed to the process when they do.”

In April, the company also told Dailymail.com that the systems will ensure that their customers are still receiving safe cars.

Uveye scanners can more precisely assess the damage caused by the sub-body and the tire tread degradation than human inspectors.

But independent analysts fear that the technological solution does not inspire a ton of human confidence.

“A line is crossed when AI applications become too aggressive and prioritize efficiency on equity and customer satisfaction,” said David Linthicum, an IA analyst, in Dailymail.com.

“Customers appreciate human equity and interaction.”

Hertz refused to comment on this article. Instead, the company highlighted its derogation from the damage caused by losses, which generally costs between $ 20 and $ 30 per rental day, in order to avoid surprising costs.

But as the company faces a counter coupling, drivers receiving damage fees also say that they will consult other rental companies.

“I will no longer use Hertz,” said Corolla tenant on Reddit. “Contacted customer service, and they said they stay on the verge of AI.”