I need to pay for my 2009 Italian car hire, but hire company will not correct invoice

RPowell

I booked a hire car in September 2009 for my Italian honeymoon :A in October 2009, through FastCarHire. FastCarHire took a deposit and the rental voucher confirmed that the balance of €748 was payable on arrival.

I offered my credit card on collection on 2nd October and was told that it wasn't needed, and signed a rental agreement stating a total of €803.65. (It was my honeymoon and I had more important things than to check the numbers at thattime.) The agreement also placed a hold on €300 against my credit card account.

Upon return of the vehicle on 24th October, I offered my credit card again, but the Maggiore agent insisted that there was nothing to pay. I figured they'd work it out and charge me, so left it at that.

€300 was taken from my card the next day. I received an incorrect invoice early in November, for a stated balance of €646.46. (With the €300 already debited, this would have made a total of €946.)

I contacted Maggiore asking for a corrected invoice to pay €448 (The original €748 less the €300 taken from my card.) In December I received a credit note for €142.81, apparently in correction of the invoice, and £124.69 was deposited to my credit card (presumably by mistake).

A little bewildered, but having tried to settle the amount due, I left the matter until a credit management company contacted me in February 2010 requesting payment, plus interest and costs. I handed the matter over to the European Consumer Centre.

On 26th April last year, the ECC responded: "Myself and my colleague have come to the conclusion that the original quote from Fastcarhire was wrong so they should be accountable for the additional costs you have incurred. It is likely that they have a disclaimer suggesting additional local costs may be applicable so you may not be able to progress this case any further. "

I haven't found such a disclaimer in the small print and, having been unable to get a response from FastCarHire, left the matter there.

This week a letter arrived from another credit management company based in Italy, requesting payment similar to the amount requested by the previous company.

I believe I owe the rental voucher amount of €748, less €300 taken from my credit card, add €142.81 accidental refund = €590.81.

The credit management company is claiming a €646.46 debt, interest of €11.35 and collection charges of €71.65 = €729.46.

I would like to settle the account, but not to pay more than is due. What do I need to do? How?

RPowell

The news is that I've contacted the hire company in Italy. While they still insist on their full amount, including charges for things I didn't request, they have provided their account details so I can get what I believe I owe to them. Then I can negotiate with them separately about the (relatively small) balance.

2sides2everystory

An interesting little saga ! Looks like the best time to have settled this was August 2010 as the pound is in the doldrums once more just as it was in September 2009

How did you pay the deposit originally? Was that using the credit card? It's 18 months since the "dispute" commenced but maybe your card company can still help by protecting you from the incorrect small disputed balance and collection charges if you are prepared to settle at the original deal?

I am amazed at the relative civility of proceedings to date - just imagine what might have happened if it was a UK company you'd got into dispute with :eek: