Remember when car rental companies insisted their new AI “scanners” wouldn’t lead to bogus charges? Surprise, surprise: They’re charging you for whatever they want — real or not — and hoping you won’t fight back.

They really are just making things up: Lately, I’m seeing more and more stories about car rental companies inventing charges — whether for cleaning, damage, or smoking. These fees are expensive and notoriously difficult to dispute, which puts the impetus on you to overdocument and question everything.

• Document before you go: If a car looks fine enough, take videos and photos before you drive off — and for any notable damage, ask a rental agent to note it.
• Return it directly to a person: To avoid surprises, try returning the car directly to a staff member — it could help minimize surprises.
• If a BS fine appears, call: Rental companies count on people not contesting fees — call and demand evidence.
• If all else fails, chargeback: In many cases, rental companies will dismiss the charge because they have no proof — but if they insist, dispute it with your card issuer.

What To Do If You Have To Rent

I was recently reading a story by Elliott Report’s Christopher Elliott on “car rental rage.” Elliott lays out the reasons for the anger — they should sound familiar: “long waits, dirty vehicles, and aggressive upselling tactics” — and I’m partial to the response.

• If you’re unhappy with a car, you can usually ask for another — but I’ve heard recent stories of agents rebuffing requests, meaning you might need a backup plan.
• Elliott says that travelers are now making multiple reservations to cover their bases — that way, they can walk (literally, to a competitor) if things go sideways. Cancellations are generally free.

This is just how it is now: I wonder if a lot of this ensloppening of brands just comes down to “we do it because we can.” I’m not sure if it’s brand-specific or more common on franchise lots, but the assumption seems to be that travelers won't push back. In any case, the correct response whenever any company tries to take you for anything is to respectfully and articulately work it out — and when that fails, let the chargeback gods handle it.

Have you had fee problems with a rental company? We want to hear about it. Email rhea.lobo@finks.ai with your story.