Hertz PlatePass Class Action Settlement

Renters of a Hertz vehicle, between 7/1/06 and 3/31/10, who were billed for Tolls by the PlatePass system.

First Use of PlatePass – 67% refund of fees.

Subsequent Use of PlatePass – 38% refund of fees

Rental details or class action postcard

PlatePass is a system that automatically bills car renters for tolls incurred while driving along with an administrative fee. The administrative fee could often be much higher than the actual toll. For example on a $1 toll, the fee could be as high as $10.

Plaintiffs allege that they did not know they were being signed up to PlatePass and that the scheme was deceptive. Defendants deny the allegations. The parties both agreed to settle the case before it went to trial.

It seems like rental car companies hop from scheme to scheme. They rent the cars for ridiculously low prices, then try to make the money back with one silly novelty after another. $10/day for GPS or a car seat. $50 for insurance you don’t need. $8/gallon if you forget to fill up. Now this toll pass scheme.

I have a mental picture of Dr Evil and Mini Me at Hertz headquarters plotting one petty scheme after another to fleece a couple of dollars out of consumers.