On 19/10/2013 at around 9:30, I picked up a rental as arranged by my insurer. As per the contract, the vehicle was to be returned on 26/10/2013 at 9:30. At the time I paid a deposit of R1000. I picked up my personal vehicle from the repairers on 23/10/2013 at around 16:00. On the 24th at 9:00, I received an SMS from AVIS reminding me that the rental needed to be returned on the 26th. I then got another SMS at midday saying that the rental needed to be returned on the 24th i.e. that same day. I returned the vehicle after work at around 16:00. The receptionist at the branch said the vehicle was due at 9:00 that morning so it was late. I showed her the SMS's and she said she would sort it out. When my deposit was refunded, an amount was taken off as a fee for a late return. I phoned the call centre and after a lot of back and forth they said the insurance cancelled the contract so to take it up with them. My issue is that it is very bad service to send misleading SMS's. They only sent me an SMS to say the vehicle was due after the cutoff time and I don't have a time machine to return the vehicle so its very unethical to charge a late fee if you only notify the person after the time.
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