Chargeback Refused because couldn't contact merchant bankers

arianna

I raised a chargeback case around 6 months ago with Barclays against the Milan branch of sixt car rental . (Paid using debit card).
Basically they charged us for damage already on the car when we picked it up.

The case has dragged on for 6 months and we've just received a letter from barclays debit card team
saying that our chargeback has been unsuccessful because their approach to sixt's bankers has been
unsuccessful.

They also say that they have exhausted all available options to assist with this matter and refer me to the merchant or citizens advice bureau.

Their response sounds a bit lame and I wondered if there is anything else I can do or say in order for them to pursue the chargeback/refund the money.

Many Thanks.

Buzby

I don't believe so - unfortunately. You agreed to the terms of rental and if there was a dispute over damage, your ally is the damage report you received when picking up the vehicle (this would show the dings and reported marks). You would have verified this at the time so a claim of this being Pre-existing could be proved.

The chargeback would always fail, as the merchant would be asked to prove their assertion. It then falls to your insurer to pay - or in absence of this, you.

Hominu

Exactly, before picking up any hire car I always go around the car and mark any dents and scratches on the hire agreement. This is then signed by both me and the car hire representative. Anything in addition to this when I return with the car is charged to me, so it makes sense to try and cover up any dents or scratches before I return it. They typically don't attempt to clean the car on the return and so don't notice as much and once they've signed I don't care as they can't do anything (got away with a scratched bumper once as I threw enough dirt on it for them not to notice it )

If you signed without checking the car then your basically saying the car was in perfect condition when you picked it up and your liable for every scratch and dent.

meer53

Your chargeback wouldn't have been refused because Barclays couldn't contact the merchants bank. The merchant bank HAVE to respond to any chargeback, if they don't, you win. It just wasn't successful. Once the chargeback has been rejected, unless you have some other proof that the car wasn't damaged when you collected it, there is nowhere else to go with Barclays.