Venerus v Avis - Is This a Scam?

MysteryMan

Pembroke said:

Just a small point OP, you've gone to great lengths in the original post to blank out the claimant ID and the Confirmation code at the start of the letter, but then left it open for all to see in the small print section headed "How do I receive Payment" 

Oops! Thanks for pointing out!

MaggieMia

I was probably in Florida and hired a car in the timescale detailed in the letter. However I lived at a different address and the new property I live in did not exist until 2017 so how is it possible to get my address from old records?  I have not hired a car anywhere with my new address. Personally I think it is a scam.

HPKP

I received the letter, and after reading this thread remembered being annoyed at being charged for something that was supposed to be included.  I am not the type of person who happily accepts that and remembered emailing BA as I paid in avios.  I have checked my emails and we were charged a daily tax, even though the voucher I had said that was included.  It was a small amount, but that might be what they are now having to pay back.  Still waiting on BA to reply!

uklad_2

This is genuine, and I have been following this case for a while.. Avis, have agreed a settlement and the payout is as follows...

E. Merits

The Agreement treats Class Members equitably relative to each other, as the distribution is determined by a claims-made structure. Under the Agreement the Defendants will:

(1) pay up to $33,956,613.00 in benefits to Settlement Class Members, such that (2) members of the Settlement Class who submit a valid claim, as set forth in the Notice provisions of the Settlement Agreement, will receive at least $6.51 per rental day, plus prejudgment interest, in damages, and up to $7.46 per rental day, plus prejudgment interest, depending on whether (and in what amount) there are unclaimed funds following submission of claims.

Venerus v. Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC, 6:13-cv-921-CEM-DAB, 9-10 (M.D. Fla. Jun. 24, 2022)

https://casetext.com/case/venerus-v-avis-budget-car-rental-llc-1

I should get around $195.58 for my 14 days hire in 2008

manchester_tim

I also received a letter, and suspect it is genuine.
But I take the view that I was happy with what I was provided with by Avis at the time so, as I also hate claim culture for the sake of it, I won't be joining the group action.
Any costs will just come back round in higher rental car costs in future... or be paid for by savings (staff redundancies)?

ChrisM14

manchester_tim said:

I also received a letter, and suspect it is genuine.
But I take the view that I was happy with what I was provided with by Avis at the time so, as I also hate claim culture for the sake of it, I won't be joining the group action.
Any costs will just come back round in higher rental car costs in future... or be paid for by savings (staff redundancies)?

I love your stance and wish I could be as tolerant as yourself with so many things.  

I wonder if you'd be quite so tolerant had you been involved with a problem with your hire car and an insurance company was following up with you, seeking damages from you personally as you did not have the insurance you thought that you had - and had paid for.  This is not so much about getting a few quid back for something you paid for but didn't need, this is about a company who possibly knowingly decided to pocket your money and did not provide you with a service THAT YOU PAID FOR.  Do you just smile when any company takes your money and does not provide the service you paid for?

I would be content that any monies recovered perhaps should go to support those who had a problem - possibly the person that initiated this action as they may have found out the hard way they were not covered - or possibly to a charity of your choice but just to acknowledge that as you didn't have a problem all is good.

You may have guessed, I am incensed by this.  I believe insurance buys peace of mind should the worst happen and to find out I have been misled I am not happy.  

MaggieMia

I agree that there was a settlement as described in the letter but what I am not sure about is the company (whoever they are) who are now issuing the letters. As I have said in an earlier post until someone can explain how I received the letter at my address which didn’t exist until 2017 and has never been used to hire a car I would be very sceptical about its legitimacy. I would suspect a more recent mailing list has been used in the hope that they pick up sufficient people who fit the criteria.

leskerr

MaggieMia said:

 so how is it possible to get my address from old records? 

Quite easily, the likes of Experian have the ability to track movers, and sell the information to organisations trying to track down e.g. dormant customers. Probably paying c. 50p for each mover where they can provide a new address. Slightly surprised that they have paid for this service, though there is probably some incentive for them to do so.

manchester_tim

ChrisM14 said:

manchester_tim said:

I also received a letter, and suspect it is genuine.
But I take the view that I was happy with what I was provided with by Avis at the time so, as I also hate claim culture for the sake of it, I won't be joining the group action.
Any costs will just come back round in higher rental car costs in future... or be paid for by savings (staff redundancies)?

I love your stance and wish I could be as tolerant as yourself with so many things.  

I wonder if you'd be quite so tolerant had you been involved with a problem with your hire car and an insurance company was following up with you, seeking damages from you personally as you did not have the insurance you thought that you had - and had paid for.  This is not so much about getting a few quid back for something you paid for but didn't need, this is about a company who possibly knowingly decided to pocket your money and did not provide you with a service THAT YOU PAID FOR.  Do you just smile when any company takes your money and does not provide the service you paid for?

I would be content that any monies recovered perhaps should go to support those who had a problem - possibly the person that initiated this action as they may have found out the hard way they were not covered - or possibly to a charity of your choice but just to acknowledge that as you didn't have a problem all is good.

You may have guessed, I am incensed by this.  I believe insurance buys peace of mind should the worst happen and to find out I have been misled I am not happy.  

Good point well made... though if that is the case, then there should be criminal proceedings imo. I really dont agree with "unaffected" individuals jumping on a claims bandwagon. Just my opinion 🤷 🙂

Plutus1

Hi all, food for thought but just to add to the discussion, I received the same letter last week but was a little hesitant to apply as the address to which it was sent had no connection to the time when I had previously booked a Florida hire car. However even accounting that it has found its way to me after the fact, I thought I would see what details the website held for my booking. Using the id and code supplied, what I am now more concerned about, is that it indicates that my address details relate to an even earlier address from over 12 years ago, which definetly has no connection to the later booking. If this is a scam, it is worryingly pretty detailed with my pers information, conversely if it is legitimate than am still concerned as to how these address details have been obtained.🤔