I have through my Virgin Velocity Gold Card signed up for the Hertz Gold Five Star program and booked a car via the website.

I have through my Virgin Velocity Gold Card signed up for the Hertz Gold Five Star program and booked a car via the website. I am subsequently told that the Gold Five Star privileges doesn't apply to the first booking. I have searched the T&Cs for this but failed to find anything that states the first booking is not eligible as Hertz had to confirm my credit card and drivers license (I offered to go down to the local Hertz to do this but was told it is not possible) . Calling Hertz I was told that 'this is how it is' and that they couldn't provide me with the T&Cs and gave me an email address ([email protected]) to write to in order to get the T&Cs. Does anyone have experience in using this program and any ideas on how to get the benefits to apply to my first booking?

The "benefits" that they're talking about are things like having your keys already prepared, and your information verified, so that you can walk up to the counter and drive off. This requires an agent to verify that you hold your credit card, and your drivers licence.

Things like the points, and the guaranteed upgrade come with every rental you take -- even the first -- anyway, so you should be fine.

Thanks chrisjrn, I finally got a response from Hertz on the issue. The upgrade does NOT apply to the first rental. They cannot (or will not) provide me with the T&C that states that some of the benefits does not apply to the first rental - nor does Virgin provide any information to the effect that only some of the benefits apply to the first rental. I understand they need to verify who I am but surely a visit to the local Hertz office can get that done.