Avis Exposed for Delivering Damaged VW Key Wrapped in Tape to Premium Customer

A woman named Crystal Jackson, who identified herself as an Avis "Preferred" customer, recently discovered that the key to her assigned Volkswagen rental car at Atlanta Airport was wrapped in black tape—and fell apart completely when she tried to unlock the vehicle. She posted a video on TikTok expressing outrage, calling the situation "completely unacceptable" and emphasizing that despite being a frequent renter, she received such poor treatment. The video quickly went viral, amassing over 33,000 views. Many viewers shared similar experiences, noting that multiple rental companies commonly provide old or damaged keys. Experts advise immediately contacting the rental company and preserving photographic or video evidence if such issues arise, to avoid potential disputes later. While some credit cards or rental insurance policies may cover the cost of replacing keys, original manufacturer smart keys typically cost hundreds of dollars to replace. Avis has not yet responded to the incident.