Car rental legal advice

Alasdair_85

Hi, I should probably start by saying this is my first time on the forum so I hope I'm doing this correctly.

I recently received a letter from a soliticors, which I picked up from an old address, stating that I owed a car rental company over £100, and that if I didn't pay this by December 2008 legal proceeding would start and I would have to pay the legal fees coming to over £200.

Having never rented a car I was a little confused. It turned out that a replacement car I had for 3 days through my breakdown cover were claiming that I had damaged the car and were claiming these costs. When handing back the car nothing about damage was mentioned and I am sure I did not damage it whatsoever.

The car rental company has made no attempt at all over the last 6 months to get in contact. In fact, this very threatening letter I received yesterday is the first I have heard about the entire thing. I am a student and can't help but think is a scam as I clearly cannot afford to pay for legal advice and suspect the car rental company know this.

Has anyone come across something like this before or does anyone have any legal advice for me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

apt

If you want free advice go to the Citzens' Advice Bureau. If the car rental company wants to take you to the small claims court you will have to pay a fee to defend the claim. But if you win the case you can ask the judge to get the other side to pay your costs (i.e. the fee). As a non-lawyer I would write a letter to their solicitors explaining the dealy in replying to their letter and insisting that you did not damage the replacement car. That would,in my opinion, increase your credibility with the judge.