"Yes, Hertz can impose a cleaning fee, regardless of the cause. But should it? That's another question, and I think the answer is no. The ADA prohibits treating service animals as pets, and the bill you received mentioned excessive pet hair in the vehicle. But pet hair is just a term Hertz is using to describe animal fur of any kind, regardless of the animal's purpose."
"What I found more problematic was that the car rental company didn't provide documentation that the $500 charge reflected its actual costs. When I reviewed the charge, it seemed arbitrary, an inflated version of its actual costs. We've been seeing a lot of car rental cleaning cases lately. These fees may represent a significant source of revenue to some car rental companies, so it's something to be aware of the next time you rent a car."
Hertz can lawfully impose a cleaning fee for animal hair even when a service animal was present. The ADA prohibits treating service animals as pets, but owners remain responsible for cleaning up after their service animals and may be charged reasonable fees. A $500 charge lacked documentation, time-stamped photos, detailed invoices, or proof of loss of use and therefore appeared arbitrary and inflated. Company employees acknowledged the charge seemed unfair but lacked authority to reverse it. Preventive steps include removing visible hair, vacuuming, carrying a lint brush, and documenting vehicle condition with photographs upon return.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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