Shocker: Avis Car Rental Bars Israeli Executive from Renting

Observer.com ^ | 11/22/15 | Ken Kurson

[Nachum]

On Saturday evening, Dov Bergwerk arrived at the Avis branch on West 76th Street and Broadway. Accompanied by his wife Ruth, the Bergwerks were planning to join friends for dinner in Westchester. Mr. Bergwerk, a senior vice president and general corporate counsel at the Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva, got out his driver’s license, reservation number and “Wizard” loyalty card – he’s rented from Avis dozens of times before – and anticipated the usual smooth transition into a nondescript mid-sized sedan.

That’s when the trouble started.

A reservation agent named Angelline declined to honor Mr. Bergwerk’s reservation, saying that it was company policy not to recognize Israeli documents. Stunned, Mr. Bergwerk explained that he had rented from Avis many times, including a car from that very same office on Thursday, November 19 – only two days earlier.

Mr. Bergwerk asked Angelline to access the profile attached to his Wizard card, which shows that he is an executive at a giant multinational company who has no regulatory issues and has rented from Avis, including at that very branch, many times without incident. She refused. They argued.

Eventually, a manager was called. Shamoura took the side of her reservation agent, also refusing to honor Mr. Bergwerk’s reservation or recognize his documents. Stunned and stranded on a Saturday night in New York, Mr. Bergwerk called the Avis main number and got through to customer service. The representative confirmed to him that the Israeli license was an acceptable form of ID and also mentioned that he could show his passport to ameliorate any ID concerns the on-site employees had. Mr. Bergwerk put the customer service representative on the phone with Shamoura, the branch manager, and at this point the story evolved. She now claimed that she was declining to rent the Bergwerks a car

[EinNYC]

Here is corporate information:

Chief Executive
Ronald L. Nelson
CEO
6 Sylvan Way
Parsippany, NJ 07054
ronald.nelson@avisbudget.com

[GOYAKLA]

Why I do business with Enterprise is great SERVICE and the following!
Story at link.
https://www.enterprise.com/en/about.html

” One man’s vision is how the Enterprise story begins. Back in 1957, a decorated WWII Hellcat pilot returned home after serving over the skies of the South Pacific. This man, a true innovator named Jack Taylor, had a steadfast dedication to his country, his family and the dream of starting a business.”

FBO&AVIS

[RWGinger]

Post 10
thanks for that link.
I could not open a summary of her case.
What was it? Discrimination?
How wonderful it would be if this couple sued HER for discrimination.

thanks to all who took the time to email or call AVIS

[kempster]

New Slogan. AVIS! We’re Number 37.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Black, aggressive, female has its “privileges” eh?

[Fred Hayek]

Avis and Budget just got added to my business Go To Hell list.

[GOYAKLA]

Sea World is looking for a new Shamu!
Shamoura, sounds like where she got her name.

[goldstategop]

A company that treated me like this, I would tell them, I will take my business elsewhere.

If they don’t want me, I will also tell my friends and others about them.

Enough incidents like that, it will go out of business.

[Howard Morrison]

http://www.avis.com/car-rental/content/comments-feedback.ac?navId=T5M12S00

Use this link for Avis Customer Service. Send a message about how this man deserves a public apology and these employees need to be disciplined for fired.

[BIV]

I emailed Avis and asked when an apology would be forthcoming.
I encourage other FRiends to do so as well. Thanks

[null and void]

If they don't want me, I will also tell my friends and others about them.

I would tell everyone in my department that if they rented from Avis, they would have to pay for the rental out of their own pockets.

[sopwith]

I just emailed the CEO. With a note and this thread.

[GOYAKLA]

JE SUIS Dov Bergwerk!

[old curmudgeon]

If Avis is smart, they will give him as a minimum one free year of rentals in that location.

[BipolarBob]

Thanks for the info. I just sent a memo to him he won’t like.

[Tau Food]

You know, I would not be surprised if these particular employees are ignorant of the details and that they only know that Israel is somewhere in the Middle East, “where all the problems are.” Who knows? It is hard to imagine employees doing this, but crazy things happen out there.

[American in Israel]

I rent Hertz around 30 times a year and was searching for a cheaper alternative for next year, now Avis is flat off the list. I get sick of lowlife employees on power trips. The fact that management stood up for her shows the sickness runs very deep. At this point I don’t care if they apologize, they have shown their teeth.

[aquila48]

See post 10 for potential reason.

[EinNYC]

I just fired off an angry email to the CEO of Avis. If they receive a large amount of such emails or phone calls, then Angelline and Shamoura will more likely receive their just deserts--being fired.

I have personally experienced horrific treatment at the hands of some airline employees. My brand-new suitcase had just been torn apart--literally--by some retardate TSA agent. Two black female customer service reps for the airline could not stop laughing at this incident. When I got angry at their callous disregard for my loss, they tried to hide their name badges, just as these two losers at Avis tried to do. Didn't do them any good. I was able to track down their names by other means and got them fired.

[BipolarBob]

I just received my email back - undelivered. Reason? (reason: 554 5.4.6 Too many hops). Now what?