Dangerous hire car

purple_window_shopper

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this so apologies in advance if it is wrong.
We hired a car last September from US rent a car and collected it from Dollar at Las Vegas airport.
Long story short, we noticed a tyre deflating so went to a gas station to put air in it. While there we noticed that one of the tyres had a tear in it which was obviously wear and tear and not accidental. We ended up at a local garage where we were shown that 3 of the tyres were actually dangerous and the mechanic was surprised we hadn't had a blow out on the journey from Vegas to L.A.
We ended up at LAX changing the car where no one seemed concerned and we asked to make a complaint and were 'thrown' a form and left to it.
When we returned the car in Vegas we again complained and there was no record of what had happened to us. On returning home we complained to US rent a car and were eventually offered $100 by dollar.
My husband refused this and said it wasn't good enough; apart from the danger we were put it, we wasted a day of our holiday chasing around trying to sort it out.
The thing is, I don't know where to go next, I have asked US rent a car who the regulatory body is but have had no reply and can't seem to find any information.
Does anybody know where I can take the complaint as I really feel Dollar need investigating for allowing a car to go out in such a dangerous condition.
Thanks

Stooby2

I would google the company and write to their head office. Do you have photos or evidence of the defects that you can include with the letter?

londonTiger

well consider yourself lucky that you got some money back. Most cases they'll put the damage on you and charge you above market rates for parts and labour for replacement.

purple_window_shopper

Stooby2 wrote: »

I would google the company and write to their head office. Do you have photos or evidence of the defects that you can include with the letter?

Yes we do have photographs and you can see the metal shining through! My husband refused the measley $100 and we are more concerned about safety and that the company has some kind of inspection to be honest.

FlameCloud

If you can see the metal through the tyres, how was this not picked up on the inspection?

Also, if this is about safety, and not money, how will an increased offer affect safety?

purple_window_shopper

FlameCloud wrote: »

If you can see the metal through the tyres, how was this not picked up on the inspection?

Also, if this is about safety, and not money, how will an increased offer affect safety?

1) I have no idea how it was not picked up on inspection, that is exactly our point
2) I never once suggested that we want more money, it isn't good enough because we want to know that something has changed as a result of our complaint, someone might not be so lucky next time. We are not all money grabbers! :cool:

RichardD1970

purple_window_shopper wrote: »

1) I have no idea how it was not picked up on inspection, that is exactly our point
2) I never once suggested that we want more money, it isn't good enough because we want to know that something has changed as a result of our complaint, someone might not be so lucky next time. We are not all money grabbers! :cool:

I think he(?) means why wasn't it picked up when YOU inspected the car prior to signing for it and driving it away.

colino

I would have taken the comp. Your pictures aren't evidence and even in the litigious US it's still the drivers responsibility to check over their cars and make sure they're fit for the road.
Incidentally, even in this country if a hire company think a tourist might not return their car to base, you will always get the worst, highest mileage car available. They like to keep their own, good stock.

purple_window_shopper

RichardD1970 wrote: »

I think he(?) means why wasn't it picked up when YOU inspected the car prior to signing for it and driving it away.

We didn't notice it because it was on the inside of the tyres. We only noticed it when we pulled up to the air machine and the tyres were at an angle. There is no defence for Dollar, they did not check their car properly, it did not get like that overnight, and as well as that their customer service stinks!

Hackman_2

colino wrote: »

I would have taken the comp. Your pictures aren't evidence and even in the litigious US it's still the drivers responsibility to check over their cars and make sure they're fit for the road.
Incidentally, even in this country if a hire company think a tourist might not return their car to base, you will always get the worst, highest mileage car available. They like to keep their own, good stock.

They must all be old high mileage cars then. In my experience the keys are in the cars and you take your pick.

RichardD1970

purple_window_shopper wrote: »

We didn't notice it because it was on the inside of the tyres. We only noticed it when we pulled up to the air machine and the tyres were at an angle. There is no defence for Dollar, they did not check their car properly, it did not get like that overnight, and as well as that their customer service stinks!

I wasn't defending them, it shouldn't have gone out like that.

But, by the same token, you as the driver have a duty to ensure that the car you are driving is safe and legal. The times I have hired a car I have gone over it with a fine tooth comb before signing for it as you hear so many horror stories about hire companies.