Charged for filling diesel van with petrol

Destination_..._?

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

How is this an issue when he didn't know what fuel the vehicle took?[/

I read op post , thanks . Tried a different angle , to make sense of it .

agrinnall

SailorSam wrote: »

Going back a number of years before modern diesel fuel we would add perhaps a gallon of petrol to the Cabs when filling up in the winter. It stopped the fuel freezing over night, Modern fuels have done away with the need to do that now.

I hadn't heard of the petrol in diesel trick (and I don't drive a diesel myself) but when it was very cold in the winter of 2009/10 it got down to below -15C and there were a few people around here who had problems getting their diesel cars started, so perhaps they should have tried it.

Tiddlywinks

EdGasket wrote: »

Whether the charge is reasonable or not, I do not think that companies should get away with just helping themselves to people's money by charging their card without prior agreement. I think the OP would be within his rights to demand the money back from the card company as it is an unauthorised transaction.

The company WILL have had prior agreement - the rental contract will always have a clause that says the customer is responsible for damage caused and the agreement authorises them to make charges to the card even after the vehicle has been returned.

Anyway, whilst I find it hard to believe that there was no marking on the petrol cap, that there was no indicator of model (1.6D or whatever) on the tailgate or bodywork, that there was no model number on the contract, that the OP didn't notice the 'glowplug' display etc...., regardless, the OP should have checked as he had a 50/50 chance of getting it wrong.... he didn't check and caused expense to the hire company as a result.

So, why do you think the OP shouldn't pay for his carelessness?

slyracoon

EdGasket wrote: »

Whether the charge is reasonable or not, I do not think that companies should get away with just helping themselves to people's money by charging their card without prior agreement. I think the OP would be within his rights to demand the money back from the card company as it is an unauthorised transaction.

The OP authorised the collection of damages from his credit card when he signed the rental agreement.

EdGasket

Well I don't know what the OP signed or didn't sign but there has to be some communication and agreement as to the amount the OP is being asked to pay surely; otherwise what is to stop the hire company deducting thousands from the OPs card ?

Sgt_Pepper_2

EdGasket wrote: »

Well I don't know what the OP signed or didn't sign but there has to be some communication and agreement as to the amount the OP is being asked to pay surely; otherwise what is to stop the hire company deducting thousands from the OPs card ?

Nothing and had the engine been damaged this is what they would have been doing.

jase1

paddedjohn wrote: »

Obviously you dont have much experience of newer (last 15 years) diesels, sprinters, vw's, renaults etc they all start on the key without needing to prewarm the glow plugs and they are actually quite qiuiet nowdays too.

Only a diesel driver could claim that a diesel van is "quite quiet" :rotfl:

(And yes, I have driven them. Yes, they no longer burst your ear-drums, but petrol-like they most certainly are not!)

Maestro.

This thread I think is a prime example of why people should have to pass a "basic mechanical knowledge test" before a driving license is issued. To not be able to tell whether a van is petrol or diesel is just bizarre to me.

Tiddlywinks

EdGasket wrote: »

Well I don't know what the OP signed or didn't sign but there has to be some communication and agreement as to the amount the OP is being asked to pay surely; otherwise what is to stop the hire company deducting thousands from the OPs card ?

The original contract IS the agreement.

Take these clauses from an Avis contract for example:

‘(h) Renter will have to pay for repairs if the vehicle needs more than Avis’ standard valeting (cleaning), or if the vehicle has been damaged either inside or outside (whether or not it is Renter’s fault).........

‘Renter will pay the following charges:

Avis will charge Renter at the contracted rate if it cannot rent out the vehicle because: it needs to be repaired........

If it is Renter’s intention to pay by credit card or chargecard then Renter’s signature on the Agreement shall constitute authority for Avis to compute and debit the final total charges against Renter’s account with its specified card-issuing organisation, including charges due as a result of theft of, or damage to thevehicle’

The full terms are here:

http://www.avis.co.uk/ProductsServices/Additional-Services/Rental-Agreement/UK-Terms

These are pretty standard conditions - that's why you need to know exactly what you're signing for.

EdGasket

Yes but my point is that the rental company should not have carte blanche to charge whatever they feel like to a customer's card without the customer agreeing the amount. Let me put it more explicitly, what is to stop them charging £thousands for a small scratch if they don't have to consult/get the agreement of the cardholder?