Sixt Car Hire - big wrong issues :-(

Louball_2

I recently hired a car from Sixt for three days. Everything went fine until the last day of returning it. The main issue is that they have taken £1000 excess straight away.

There was damage to above the wheel arch, namely a dent about the circumfrence of a football and a paint chip of a size of a 5p. I was unaware of the damage. I had not been involved in any accidents but there are several factors that were not right about this hire:

1. It was never made clear that I had to take out extra insurance as I thought I had already got that included in the deal, no thorough explanation was given to me as I had never hired a car before.

2. I signed the electronic pad built in the desk, the receipt/rental agreement given to me then shown to the car in a hurry whilst it was still being washed.

3. I was not shown around the car, which I have now learn that this is standard procedure.

4. I don't know when the dent happened, certainly not whilst my family or I were in it.

5. The branch employee said to me that she had driven the car direct from the car plant and that I was the first person to drive it.

6. Sixt have taken the £1k excess instantly, when I was told that someone would be in touch to price it up the damage.

7. Sixt have now taken me over my credit card limit and some, so now have been penalised by my credit card company even further for having gone over my limit.

8. I was told by head office that it should have been explained to me when I left the car that I had the right to decline to sign the PDA - which now means that I have admitted that I am liable for the damages. I never saw what I was signing as it was on a PDA. I was told they couldn’t give me copies of what I signed.

Would welcome some advice or would like to hear if you've had similar issues

Thanks

:sad:

Hintza

Too late now, but all car rentals need to be checked throughly before you turn the key.

Who knows whether it was damaged wholst in your care, from what you say you have no idea therefore it will be assumed that it was.

You can really only be more street wise the next time.

Just for interest I had a hire car delivered amnd didn't move it for thee days I drove it a mile and noticed a crack appear from the blackpart of the screen I phoned them and dropped in within 5 miles and they still claimed it was my fault. Fortunately they went bust before they could charge me but I had a screaming row with the manager at the time.

Trebor16

If the agent didn't follow the correct procedures at the time of the rental and didn't check the car then that is an angle worth chasing up on.

Biketrials08

Did you sign the vehicle condition sheet - the one with a picture of a car that you circle any damage? Did you even see one, if they don't have one then they can't enforce that it was ok before you took it?

fivetide

How many miles on the clock? If you were the first hire then it should have been minimal really. Not sure how you didn't notice a dent that size appear when you had it.

The fact they didn't show you round might be your only get out.

5t.

Sixt_company_representative

I'm Gary from Sixt, if you'd like to send me some details direct I'll be happy to check the progress with our Damage Team. My e-mail address is [EMAIL="gary.coughlan@sixt.com"]gary.coughlan@sixt.com[/EMAIL] I look forward to hearing from you.

Gary - Customer Service Team

spiro

Gary_Chesterfield wrote: »

I'm Gary from Sixt, if you'd like to send me some details direct I'll be happy to check the progress with our Damage Team. My e-mail address is [EMAIL="gary.coughlan@sixt.com"]gary.coughlan@sixt.com[/EMAIL] I look forward to hearing from you.

Gary - Customer Service Team

Gary, there are rules on this site about company reps posting, see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/781221

maninthestreet

Louball wrote: »

The branch employee said to me that she had driven the car direct from the car plant and that I was the first person to drive it.

I find it hard to believe this. What make and model of car was it, and what branch of Sixt did you rent it from?

pelirocco

spiro wrote: »

Gary, there are rules on this site about company reps posting, see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/781221

yes there are , but all he is doing is offering to help !

spiro

pelirocco wrote: »

yes there are , but all he is doing is offering to help !

Just wanted to make sure they knew, various posters appear on here as company reps but how do we know they are real unless they have been approved.

mikey72

Very true, and with no offense to gary if he is who he says, anyone could claim anything, and sending details out is risky at best, even though he may actually work for sixt, he could still be anyone there on a wind up.