Man arrested after rental car stolen in Atlanta Avis says he is filing charges

A Georgia man was arrested after Avis said the car he rented was stolen. Now he’s taking action.

Ashli ​​Lincoln, Channel 2 investigative reporter showed you body camera video earlier this year of the times Jeffery Elinor was stopped by police with guns drawn because the car he rented at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was stolen .

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Elinor said Avis promised him a full refund in April, but he still hasn’t gotten his money back for the leased vehicle, which cost about $750. He said the company remained silent despite several phone calls.

Elinor said that besides the money, he remains traumatized because of his arrest, which took place in Carrollton.

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“I just hear, ‘Stop,’” Elinor said. “I see a bunch of guns pointed at me.”

Elinor, originally from New York, rented the car from Avis. At one point it was reported stolen on a Flock camera.

“I never knew what trauma was until this situation here,” Elinor said. “Every time I see cops, I’m a little skittish, I panic a little. »

Elinor said two managers offered her a full refund for the ordeal, but more than a month later, Elinor said Avis ghosted her.

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“I kept calling and no one answered,” Elinor said.

He said a representative offered him a partial refund.

“I’m not going to settle for a partial refund,” Elinor said.

He said the company had to do the right thing to put him at risk by renting a vehicle that had been reported stolen.

“I don’t feel respected,” Elinor said. “I feel like I will definitely never do business with Avis again because they don’t respect their customers.”

Avis sent a statement saying they were aware of the incident, but that it is a legal matter and they cannot comment further.

Meanwhile, Elinor said he was moving forward with legal action against Avis.

This is not the first time something like this has happened.

In late 2022, Hertz settled a lawsuit that claimed it falsely reported rental cars as stolen. More than 360 customers were involved. Some of these customers reported by Hertz were arrested and even imprisoned. One said he was held at gunpoint by police and spent days in jail.

Hertz said it has changed its policies to ensure proper treatment of customers.