Normandy Report: Post-script - There's Hertz... not exactly.

(Or, The $100 quarter tank of gas.)

I mentioned that I was cutting it close on my timeframe getting back, right? And alluded to credit card problems? Yeah... that kind of bit me in the butt.

I'd hoped to be able to get back to Beauvais on one tank of gas, but as I was rolling along the Calvados coast, it became evident that wouldn't be the case. I stopped and filled up in a small town and figured I'd just have to top off when I got back by the airport. I was proud of myself for noting when I left that there was a station right near where I came out of the airport, so I figured I'd be all set.

Well, as I was rolling into Beauvais, it was just after 8pm. My flight was at 9:50, so I was already at about the time that I would've liked to be checking in. But, small airport and all, I figured I was still okay. I made the mistake, however, of assuming that a town the size of Beauvais (moderately large, but not a really major city) would have fairly good signposts to the airport.

Not so much. And, I found out as I was rolling in, that the directions I'd printed off consisted of "Now entering Beauvais; Turn left". No indication of what I was turning left onto, or what signposts to look for.

So, I lost about 20 minutes driving around Beauvais trying to find the airport. I finally get near by it and pull into the gas station. The station itself is closed, but it's a modern BP station with Pay-At-The-Pump. No problem. Until the card reader rejected my card. Every card I had.

There were no other gas stations in sight, and at this point, I do not have time to try and find one, so I take the car in, with the tank 3/4 full, hoping that they'll let it slide or that I can convince them to cut me a break, as the fee for not returning it with a full tank is 73 euro.

I pull in and the Hertz "return" booth is empty. I go around to the main rental office and there are about half a dozen people in line in front of me and two clerks slowly working the desk. I stood in line there for about another 20 minutes. I finally hand over the keys and contract and the desk clerk has to go check the car. He comes back five minutes later, hands me the receipt to sign and says I'm all set.

Now at this point, I'm down to only about 45 minutes before my flight is scheduled to leave, so I didn't pay particular attention to the bill. The desk clerk didn't mention anything about the gas, so I figured it wasn't a big deal and hastily signed off on the bill.

I got home later and took a look.

An extra 73 euro tacked on. That's $101 and change. For a quarter of a freakin tank of gas.

Yeah, my own fault for signing without looking at it, but even if I had, I'm not sure I'd have been able to argue it down. I signed the agreement ahead of time that I'd pay 73 euro if I returned it without a full tank, and I'm not sure how understanding they'd be if I tried to talk my way out of it.

Just another sign of why car rental companies are among the most evil, bastardous, blood-sucking businesses out there.