UPDATE: https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/9dl84r/update_did_uhaul_hit_you_with_a_ridiculous_charge/

​

Anybody who wants to, let me know; I want to start a database of Uhaul locations and fees.

​

I've been driving a theme camp truck to/from Burning Man for years. We always clean the truck to the same level - blow out the AC/heat at least 3 times on the way home ('til no more dust comes out; and we turn off the air and close the vents when we hit the playa), power wash it inside & out, including tires and under the truck, and we clean the cab interior with a vacuum, vinyl conditioner, and lint-free towels. We also blow out the engine as much as we can, and if it's a smaller truck, open up the front to hose that out. Some years we have no cleaning charge. The highest we've had was a$120 "my boss said I have to charge you this no matter how clean the truck is" fee once.

​

Until this year.

​

Did our usual clean, got hit with a minimum $500 fee for all Burner-returned trucks/vans to a particular Uhaul location. ALL. Didn't matter how clean they were. Didn't matter what you did. And they didn't disclose this minimum when we filled out the paperwork, even though I asked about additional fees (I will be recording this interaction next year).

​

I will post more details later, once it's more resolved, if people are interested.

​

In the meantime, if Uhaul hit you with an insane fee, call corporate. Tell them about the fee, and tell them that you want a receipt proving the cleaning costs of the truck. Tell them that you're willing to pay any cleaning costs that can be proven; anything past that, you want refunded. They will start a ticket and the Uhaul return you used has 72 hours to contact you about it. If you don't like the outcome, you can bump it up to corporate.

​

It's probably too late now, but here are some important other things to do:

​

​

• Record all calls with Uhaul. I've gotten refunds before when I could provide phone call proof that the contract I was given over the phone was cheaper than the one that they ended up giving me.
• Once you get your confirmation with your pick-up location, call and ask if there are any minimum fees for Burning Man. Use a call recorder for all calls with Uhaul (tell them that you're recording). If they are telling you there is a minimum fee that's nuts, consider having a camp-mate make another reservation, then once it's confirmed (and a low (or no) fee is confirmed), cancel the original one.
• Take photos and video of the truck, before and after, inside and out. Make sure to get the Uhaul rep that walks you around the truck in both videos. Ask them questions. Point out dirt, as well as dings & dents.

​

​

If they're trying to fuck you over with fees, call corporate. Do what I said above. Be calm and friendly. Smile while you talk. Get them on your side. See if you can get your money back.

​

If all else fails, post to social media, and shame them. Once my situation is resolved, I will publish more details of the particular Uhaul that is trying to fuck us. Because whoever decided on that minimum fee on all trucks is an asshole who doesn't deserve to be employed in a position where they can make those kinds of decisions.

​

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm tired of returning the Uhaul being this stressful "Will we get fucked this year?" moment. If any other Burners have experienced this and are tired of it, I suggest we start doing something about it. I'm not opposed to a reasonable fee for cleaning that wasn't up to snuff. But I am not going to pay $500 to some greedy asshole after we spent 4 hours cleaning the crap out of our Uhaul and returning it in a cleaner condition than we got it in.