Avis class action claims company imposes unfair fuel charge for self-service option

Avis class action overview: 

• Who: Plaintiffs Tyler Livingston and Donald Veach filed a class action lawsuit against Avis Budget Group. 
• Why: Livngsont and Welch claim Avis and Budget improperly charged customers a fuel service charge, despite them choosing the self service option that should have negated such a charge.
• Where: The Avis fuel charge lawsuit was filed in federal court in New Jersey.

A new Avis class action lawsuit claims that Avis and Budget improperly charged customers a fuel service charge even when they choose the self-serve option of refueling a rental vehicle.

Consumers have the option of self service, paying for a full tank of gas or paying an EZFuel charge for driving fewer than 75 miles. But those who choose self service are still charged the Avis fuel charge, the class action says.

“Consumers who utilize the self-service option are ultimately forced to pay for fuel twice,” the Avis class action says. “First, they pay to fill the rental vehicle with fuel before dropping it off, as required by the self-service fuel option. Second, they are required to pay the fuel service charge after they return the vehicle.”

Customers filled tanks, received Avis fuel charge anyway

Plaintiffs Tyler Livingston and Donald Veach were both verbally told that they filled their rental vehicles’ tanks before returning it but later received receipts that included a fuel charge, according to the Avis class action.

Livingston says on two occasions, he filled up one mile from his rental car drop-off location at Albuquerque International Airport, and an Avis customer service worker verbally confirmed his rental car’s tank was full. However, Livingston’s receipts for the rentals showed he had not fully filled up; he was charged $12.16 and $3.12 for fuel service on the two occasions, the Avis class action says.

Veach returned a vehicle to Budget with a full tank, which was acknowledged as full on the receipt, but was still charged $15.99 for fuel service, according to the Avis fuel charge lawsuit.

Avis Budget Group agreed to pay $45 million to resolve claims in a now-closed settlement that it charged renters hidden fees for electronic toll payment services.

Have you received an Avis fuel charge for taking the self-serve option? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Joseph G. Sauder, Matthew D. Schelkopf, Joseph B. Kenney and Juliette T. Mogenson of Sauder Schelkopf LLC.

The Avis class action lawsuit is Livingston, et al. v. Avis Budget Group Inc., et al., Case No. 2:24-cv-05203, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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