You must have heard the name of Hertz, it is a big rental car company. But did you know that Hertz is now using AI scanners to check its rental cars? Yes, and because of this scanner, a strange situation is being created with many customers. According to the latest news from The Drive, this AI scanner finds small scratches or dents in the car, and then passes on a large bill to the customers. So, let's understand what this news is all about.
First, let's understand how Hertz's AI scanner works. When you rent a car from Hertz and return it, the car is subjected to a special scanning machine. This machine checks every inch of the car with the help of AI. A small scratch, a slight dent, or a trace of paint - nothing escapes its notice. The Drive report says that this scanner is so fast that it captures what is not visible to the human eye. But that's the biggest problem.
Now you must be thinking that it is a good thing to check the car, what is bad in it? The problem begins when customers are billed for losses that they may not have incurred. For example, suppose you rented a car, drove it carefully, and returned it. But the AI scanner spotted a small scratch on the bumper of the car, which is so light that you did not notice at first. Hertz can now recover the full cost of repairing that scratch from you. And it doesn't come cheap. The Drive reported that some customers received bills ranging from $500 to 000, just for minor damages.
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Another thing that is surprising is that many times customers do not know why they got the bill. According to Hertz's policy, if the AI scanner catches something, the company deducts money from the customer's credit card without informing them. One customer told The Drive that they received a $700 bill, but they didn't know where the damage was. When they asked Hertz, the company simply said that the AI scanner had caught the dent. No photo or proof was shown to the customer.
So are these AI scanners just to annoy customers? It's not so. Hertz says these scanners are designed to keep their cars safe and check for damage accurately. The company claims that earlier tests were done on the trust of humans, in which mistakes could have been made. Testing with AI scanners is fast and accurate. But customers say that this scanner is stricter than necessary. It is not good to keep such a big bill for small things.
Now the question is, if you rent a car from Hertz, how to save yourself from this trouble? The news of The Drive gives some tips. First, check the car thoroughly before renting it. Take a picture of every scratch, dent, or mark and show it to Hertz's staff. Secondly, take pictures even when returning the car, so that you have proof. Third, if you find a bill that you don't agree with, question Hertz. Ask for a written response from their customer service if needed.
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One thing is clear from this news. As much as technology can help, it can also cause problems. Hertz's AI scanner might be beneficial for the company, but it's becoming a headache for customers. The Drive report says that many people are now thinking twice before renting a car from Hertz.
Source: The Drive
