O.C. Man Billed 5 Times Higher Than Original Rental Car Quote

WESTMINSTER (CBSLA.com) — An Orange County man received quite the shock when he saw how much a rental car agency charged him at the return of his trip from Northern California.

CBS2's Michele Gile spoke with John Cansilla, who said he was overcharged for a car he rented to get home earlier this week from a trip to the Sierra.

Cansilla explained he rented a small sedan from Hertz, and was billed $697.86, which was five times higher than what he was originally quoted.

"I was expecting an up-charge of some kind, ya know a couple hundred bucks maybe, but $500 that's absurd," said Cansilla.

Cansilla was unable to drive the vehicle over the snowy pass from Reno to Sacramento, where he had intended to return the car, and was told he could not upgrade to a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

"Their policy at that office was that there were no upgrades one way," explained Cansilla. "I asked, 'What am I supposed to do? Can you guys help me get the chains?' and they responded they don't allow chains on their rental cars."

The Auto Club of Southern California reported that most rental car agencies do not provide chains or allow customers to use them on rented vehicles.

Gile contacted officials at hertz regarding the extra charges on cansilla's bill.

A spokesperson apologized on Friday in a statement that read, "we are going to correct the charges for Mr. Cansilla so that he owes only what he was originally quoted. He should not have been charged the higher rate,  due to the severe winter conditions at that time."