Affordable focuses on trade after $15m counter-claim against Avis Budget

The car hire brokerage firm lodged a $15 million counter-claim last month after Avis Budget began legal action in January suing Affordable for $2.2 million.

At the time, directors Angela Day and James Moore said they were unable to comment on the statements made by Avis Budget, as the court action was “active”, but Affordable has now been able to put forward its side of the story.

In its counter-claim, Affordable alleges Avis Budget deliberately tried to “decimate” its business, incorrectly issued invoices for 15,000 bookings over a 17-month period, “preyed on” its clients and increased rates without Affordable’s knowledge.

Affordable has countered Avis Budget’s claims against it and has requested the case be heard by a jury.

TTG approached Avis Budget for comment but a spokesperson said it “does not comment on pending litigation”.

Day said the case could continue for 12-18 months, but that it was “very much business as usual” at Affordable, with agents and partners having been “extremely supportive”.

“Of course there has been a lot going on recently, but we made sure that we were constantly calling agents and partners back if they had any concerns,” she told TTG.

In the past few weeks Affordable has launched a “revamped” online training programme for agents and new “quick stat”, “back to basics” product PDFs on its agent website, which have also been sent out and are being distributed by its sales team.

Day said: “As always, we are focusing on our agent partners, as they are so important to us. We have six sales people out on the road, and that hasn’t changed.”

Affordable has also concluded work to ensure it is compliant with new Competition and Markets Authority rules making pricing “transparent” to customers – something Day described as “good for agents and consumers”.

Affordable has enhanced its digital platform adding an additional 130 car rental partners.