Fraudulent Car Rental Damage Claim

[TimothyC634250]

Who can I contact regarding what appears to be a fraudulent damage claim by Avis emailed to me this morning? The sender appears to be vdcclaims@sedgwick.com. This has been reported in other media as a scam. I am concerned that they are targeting older people.

[rf5001]

Received a letter from Sedgwick about damage to an Avis Rental, which I know was not true. They do not answer or return calls to their support number. Finally got through to Avis and they had no claim against my rental. A total scam, who is Sedgwick, Axle? How do they get my rental info.? Warn all seniors about this company.

[AARPConsumerCare]

Thanks for sharing this information, rf5001. You can also report scams and frauds like this to our Fraud Watch Network. Visit https://aarp.info/3z8e93h for information about our Fraud Watch Network and how to contact them. Stay safe! - Brandon C.

[AARPConsumerCare]

Thank you for sharing, @TimothyC634250. I'm sorry to hear you have been targeted, we invite you to call our AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 1-877-908-3360 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET. - Diana G.

[pkosalwat]

Warning to other AARP members: NEVER RENT FROM AVIS!!!

We rented an Avis car to drive from Jacksonville International airport to Gainesville on January 1, 2025. Upon arrival, we immediately returned the car at Gainesville Regional airport without any incident. Yesterday we received a letter from Sedgwick which is Avis damage claim collector telling us we owe over $1,300 for the rental car damage. We have no idea what the damage was because we only kept the car for about 4-5 hours and returned it in exactly the same condition. I just checked the Internet and found out that this isn't the first time Avis has made a fraudulent claim. We're going to talk to our insurance company tomorrow.

We have been renting from Avis for the past 3 decades without any incident so it didn't occur to us to take pictures or video of the car before and after we used it.

[JeromeJ295889]

 Yes.  Be VERY careful renting from Avis.  I was also scammed by Avis at the Sacramento Airport on March 17, 2025 when they billed me for cigarette smoke odor in the car I had rented for just six hours.  Full disclosure:  I don't smoke and no one else was in the car.  They billed me $450, which remains in dispute.  Their unique scam at Sacramento appears to be that what might smell like a common rust inhibitor to you and me is cigarette smoke to the car cleaning operation at Avis Sacramento.  If it really was rust inhibitor (cars from Sacramento get driven into the nearby Sierras in March, so it would make sense to rust coast them), you and I are ending paying for it.  If it really was cigarette smoke, then they are serially filing cleaning claims against those of us so duped.  And of course, what passes for customer service and/or dispute resolution has been a no-show here.  So, stay away from Avis. I was with them for thirty years.  Always dependable and honest.  No more.

[AARPConsumerCare]

I'm sorry to hear about your experience with Avis, @JeromeJ295889. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp?cmp=SNO-LITHIUM---&socialid=17107379206 to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. - Diana G.

[AARPConsumerCare]

@pkosalwat   We're sorry to hear you had trouble with one of our benefit providers, Avis Car Rental. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. Thank you.  Jodee R.