Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Car Rental Firm Admits Charging Multiple Customers for Broken Windshields

The Phoenix, Ariz. company is assessed a $100,000 fine after admitting that it sometimes charged renters but did not replace the glass when a vehicle's windshield was chipped.

by Staff
July 8, 2009
2 min to read


A Phoenix, Ariz. car-rental company has admitted that it defrauded customers by charging them to repair broken windshields, and then did not replace the glass, according to court documents. The company would later rent the vehicles to new consumers without advising them about the pre-existing chips.

Phoenix-based PCR Venture, which operates the Payless Car Rental operation at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, signed a consent decree with the state attorney general’s office, admitting that it would then charge the repairs to the new renters, even after the company knew the damage occurred earlier and repair costs had been assessed against the earlier renters.

Ad Loading...

The attorney general’s office found more than 80 customers who were charged for damages they did not cause. The company also admitted it charged the customers for the time the vehicle was out of service for repair.

D.V. Auto Center in Phoenix completed the windshield replacement work. The attorney general’s office says that the rental company altered D.V.’s invoices by changing dates, vehicle identification numbers, and repair invoice numbers to commit consumer fraud.

In instances where PCR did not even do the work of repairing the windshields, PCR collected or attempted to collect money from the renter who was in possession of the vehicle at the time the windshield was damaged, and from subsequent renters who had no responsibility for the windshield damage, according to the consent decree.

Through the consent decree, Payless must reimburse all customers for any charges billed, including repair, loss of use of the vehicle, and any administrative fees, unless the company can prove that the damage to the windshield was done during the time that particular renter actually had possession of the vehicle. Payless also agreed not to engage in these practices in the future, according to court documents.

More Rental Operations

Back view of a remote driver in front of a screen delivering a car to a location.

Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030

A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.

Read More →
green and blue bar graphs compare fleet sales June 2025 versus June 2026
Fleet Acquisitionby Martin RomjueJuly 8, 2026

Rental Car Fleet Sales Show Mid-Year Strength

June gains ensured rental fleets closed out the first half of 2026 in positive territory.

Read More →
Close up of a row of white CUVs in the Surprice Mobility fleet at the Milan airport.

Surprice Mobility Opens Corporate Rental Station at Milan Malpensa Airport

The Milan opening is part of Surprice Mobility's broader strategy to expand its corporate operations while increasing the use of technology across its network.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Julian Gritsch with an MBA class in a classroom.

Brazilian Executive MBA Targets Growing Domestic Rental Car Industry

Rental car companies face a unique combination of challenges that are rarely addressed in traditional programs.

Read More →
Green Motion team with banner bearing Japanese flag.

Green Motion Expands Into Japan With Master Franchise Agreement

Japan's tourism industry, business travel market, and demand for vehicle rental services are reasons the country represents an important market for the company.

Read More →
ACRA Chairman Sharky Laguana on stage at the ICRS event in Grapevine, Texas.
Legal & Legislativeby Martin RomjueJune 24, 2026

ACRA Carrying Fuller Industry Load As AI and EVs Lurk In Future

The leading car rental professional business group details an active legislative, regulatory, and macro-trends agenda affecting car rental operators.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Light blue horizontal bar graphs on a chart showing World Cup-related rental car booking trends.
Rental OperationsJune 23, 2026

World Cup Travel Data Shows Longer Car Rentals and More One-Ways

A recent analysis of FIFA bookings found varied demand patterns that influenced rental car pricing.

Read More →
Side view of ICRS speaker Sanchit Garg at podium in front of a floor lit red curtain
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueJune 22, 2026

A Leveling Force: AI Morphs Into A Rental Car Profit-Seeker

Revenue managers can’t match the emerging AI tools gobbling lots of data that could counter the competitive race to the rate bottom.

Read More →
Photos of Martin Romjue and Denis Gjoni on opposite sides of large headline for the video.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueJune 17, 2026

Stop Losing Money On Rental Tolls

Regardless of your rental fleet size and structure, fleet managers, executives, and owners can gain valuable insights into an often-overlooked area of fleet operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Richard Lowden gesturing on stage in front of a red curtain at the Gaylord Texan Resort near Dallas.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueJune 12, 2026

Rethink The Future To Avert A Race To The Bottom

Rental car operators heard a sobering industry message and a stern challenge at the close of the International Car Rental Show.

Read More →
Ad Loading...