After thoroughly investigating car rentals in Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica in December, 2009 I made online arrangements with credit card pre-approval of $404.12 through American Express, I decided on Hertz (or should I say Hurt$ ) and upon depature the total was $681.00+..!!

I arrived in Liberia @ apprx 9:30 pm and was picked up and rushed to the agency..This was my first encounter with Mr. O.L. Vargas..They rushed me so much they actually left one bag on the curb at the airport to which I had to return and get, and thankfully it was still there..

He demanded that I presign a BLANK credit card slip, to which I refused..I said I would once I returned the car..He then said I had to leave the lot and he put my bags outside the gate in the dark on the highway..I was in tears...Obviously I had to consent to his terms as there was NOTHING nearby let alone telephones to make alternate arrangements..

He asked me about insurance and I said my insurance covers all vehicles that I drive including international travels, and he said to return the car full of fuel. Besides the fact when I actually left it was 1/2 full, I did fill the tank 10 minutes prior to return of the vehicle and I showed him the receipt..Get this, he thanked me for the gas and refused to take the $59.99 fuel charge off the receipt.! Never mind the fact the car was incacble of holding that much fuel, when in fact it was closer to 2 tanks of gas ..

I had arranged for an economy car as my needs were for local business only, so I received a manual Peugeot that was an ABSOLUTE wreck..The key did NOT work on the drivers side so I had to climb over the passenger side and the gearbox..Throughout the 2 weeks I had 2 tires that had slow leaks so I was constantly looking for fuel stations ( which is no easy task in Costa Rica ) to fill the tires..It left me incredibly insecure of my safety.

And now Hertz who asked for 2 weeks to investigate these allegations, in one day denies any liability ..."Our records indicate the difference between the approximate total quoted and
the amount billed is due to the Third Party Liability and Fuel Purchase Option (FPO)." ! Basically all they did was thank me for informing them of their inferior vehicles..

Oh yea they also put an unauthorized possiblity of charges for $1500 on my card...I find this so incredible astounding and I guess typical of Hurt$..

Oh yea, upon return to Sacramento airport at 11 pm. two weeks later Enterprise gave me a 2009 Ford Escape for $23.99 a day with NO hidden charges...

For your own safety and economic future NEVER rent from HURT$