What is the deadline for Avis to have the system for providing effective communication with its customers at the Detroit Airport in operation, according to the agreement regarding Budget?
Budget Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- Avis currently provides a direct telephone connection between the Airport terminal and its service center that customers, including its customers who use wheelchairs, may use to request delivery of their cars and to otherwise transact business with Avis; however no direct TDD service is provided. Avis acknowledges that, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12182 (b) (2) (A) (iii), 28 C.F.R. § 36.303 (c), it has the obligation to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities. The Department has informed Avis that its present method of communicating with the public at the Airport terminal does not ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or otherwise unable to communicate by telephone. Avis hereby agrees to develop and implement a system for providing effective communication with its customers at the Detroit Airport. The system must be in operation by the date that is six months from the Effective Date of this Agreement. At a minimum, Avis shall install appropriate signage directing individuals to the location of airport TDD's and ensure that TDD's and trained personnel are available to respond to calls from the airport terminal to its Detroit rental car facility. Any proposed system must receive the prior written approval of the Department, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 80–426)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Avis, the parent company of Budget, is required to implement a system for effective communication with customers at the Detroit Airport. This requirement stems from an agreement with the Department regarding accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The system must be operational within six months of the effective date of the agreement.
The agreement specifies that the communication system must address the needs of individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or otherwise unable to communicate by telephone. At a minimum, Avis must install appropriate signage directing individuals to the location of airport TDDs (Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf) and ensure that TDDs and trained personnel are available to respond to calls from the airport terminal to its Detroit rental car facility.
Any proposed system must receive prior written approval from the Department, although such approval cannot be unreasonably withheld or delayed. This stipulation ensures that the implemented system meets the required standards for effective communication and accessibility. This requirement is part of a broader effort to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).