Hertz rival also uses AI scanners to charge for bogus claims: report | Latest Tech News
Hertz prospects aren’t the only ones getting burned by artificial intelligence-powered harm scanners.
Sixt, the Germany-based rival which operates more than 100 branches in 25 US states, has reportedly been sticking car renters with bogus restore payments for pre-existing harm.
The company uses what it calls a “Car Gate” system that pictures automobiles when prospects decide them up and again when they return them.
Sixt prospects say they had been charged for harm based on wheel photographs taken at vehicle pickup moderately than return, triggering complaints about AI scanning errors. REUTERS
Staff members review all computer-flagged harm before issuing expenses to prospects. But two separate incidents, first reported by The Drive, revealed severe flaws with the system.
One buyer, recognized as Badi, rented a Mazda CX-50 from Sixt at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport and acquired a invoice for $605.82 three weeks later for alleged wheel harm, according to The Drive.
When Badi requested evidence, Sixt supplied a {photograph} that initially appeared to show an undamaged wheel. Only after an worker zoomed in might the supposed scuff marks be recognized.
The important error grew to become obvious when Badi examined the picture’s timestamp, according to the report.
The image was dated from when the vehicle was first picked up, not when it was returned — that means Sixt was making an attempt to charge for harm that existed before the rental period started, The Drive reported.
“I immediately contacted Sixt, explaining they were using the wrong photo,” Badi told The Drive.
Hertz has begun putting in AI-powered scanners like these at major U.S. airports to velocity up and automate rental car inspections. UVEYE
“After escalating to management, they dropped the claim entirely. Had they not accidentally shared the exit photo, they likely would have proceeded with collections.”
Before acknowledging the error, a Sixt worker reportedly threatened to ship the matter to collections if fee wasn’t acquired within a specified timeframe.
An almost similar scenario occurred with Ray, another Sixt buyer, who rented a vehicle at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC.
Car rental prospects have been complaining after getting hit with expenses over seemingly minor scuffs detected by AI scanners. @professor_pimpcain/Reddit
After returning the rental during a storm, Ray acquired an electronic mail exhibiting two small scratches on a wheel and fender — with a fee demand for $650 in repairs or insurance coverage data, according to The Drive.
Ray observed the vehicle appeared utterly dry in the pictures, despite being returned on a wet day. Upon nearer inspection, the photographs had been stamped with the date of the initial pickup scan, not the return inspection.
The photographs even contained the phrase “exit,” indicating they had been taken during vehicle departure moderately than return.
When Ray challenged the fees, declaring the timestamp error, Sixt closed the case within a week.
Both Sixt circumstances concerned comparatively minor beauty harm that would usually be thought of regular put on and tear.
The prospects had been only in a position to dodge being ripped off because they rigorously examined the photographic evidence and found the timestamp errors, according to The Drive.
When requested about the Sixt incidents, the company apologized but supplied no clarification for how the errors occurred.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience to the customer. This experience does not reflect our high service standards,” Sixt told The Drive.
“In the rare event a discrepancy occurs, our team is committed to reviewing it thoroughly and resolving it promptly — as was done here in response to the customer’s feedback.”
The incidents come as Hertz prospects complained that they had been charged lots of of {dollars} for minor scrapes and dents that had been detected by the rental car giant’s new AI-powered scanner — with little recourse to dispute the fees.
“We are committed to maintaining the highest vehicle quality and delivering an experience built on trust,” a spokesperson for Sixt told The Post.
“Our customers value transparency – and we take that seriously. That’s why we photograph each vehicle at select locations, like airports, before and after every rental and make these images available.”
The company rep said that “as advanced technology helps us, decisions are always made by human experts.”
“If potential damage is detected, it is carefully reviewed by our trained staff to ensure fair and customer-oriented outcomes.”
Meanwhile, the rental car industry seems to be increasing its use of digital scanning technology past Hertz and Sixt.
Customers have reported scanners at Avis places at Los Angeles International Airport and at Enterprise amenities at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, though those people didn’t expertise billing disputes, according to The Drive.
Hertz is main the rollout, aiming to equip a number of major airport websites with UVeye technology by the end of 2025.
Sixt, the Germany-based company, operates more than 100 branches in 25 US states. REUTERS
Avis Budget Group is experimenting with AI at choose amenities like LAX but maintains that inspections stay human-led. Enterprise says it doesn’t use the technology at all.
When contacted about their scanning practices, Avis Budget Group told The Drive that “the damage assessment process at Avis remains human-led” while acknowledging that artificial intelligence “may be used to support internal efficiencies.”
The company emphasised that technology doesn’t substitute worker judgment and that honest, clear buyer experiences stay their precedence. Avis beforehand examined an AI-based inspection system at London’s Heathrow Airport in 2019.
Enterprise Mobility, which operates Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo, explicitly denied utilizing digital harm scanners.
“Enterprise Mobility is not using digital damage scanners at check-in, check-out, or in our damage review process for any of our car rental brands,” a company consultant told The Drive.
The Post has sought remark from Avis Budget Group and Enterprise.
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