Will I have to cliam on insurance?

doelani

I had my car written off a few weeks ago and now sorted and I got my new car today. Solicitor arranged a hire care for us that the third parties insurance agreed to pay for. We had to get our car insurance changed over to it and teh hire company have just collected the hire car and after inspecting it pointed out a small scrap on teh boot :mad: I was so careful and do not know how this happened. The mark was about 1-1.5 inches but was right through paint. When we got car I looked all over and may have missed this as I pointed out a few other marks on the paint which I was told were were and tear.

I am so mad now as I do not wwant another claim on my insurance as the acess is £200 and I do not have it. I am waiting on a call from the car hire company to tell me if I have to pay for damage or not. :mad: the gut who picked it up wrote on the for "medium scatch on boot " and got me to sign it. I just hope he never wrote anything else after I signed it.

Anyone any experience of small scratches on hire cars?

mattymoo

Can't really help but you have my sympathies. I suspect the requirement for car hire company collection drivers is 20/20 vision because they always seem to find something in my experience.

What was the weather like when the hire car company handed over the vehicle. If it was raining you would not have been able to spot the scratch. If this is the case (and I'm not suggesting you lie), point it out to them and suggest the damage could have been there before you hired and it is down to them to prove the damage occured while you had the vehicle.

darkcloudi

I had the same problem with Europacar. Hired a car for a special occasion and it was raining that day. I told them it was raining and the damage was probably there when I received the car but they weren't to bothered and I got charged. I complained over the phone and by letter and no luck. I was fortunate I took out the extra insurance else they would have charged £450 on something very small and not noticable.

I guess this is how hired companies make extra money. Probably got the next person who took the car too.

I sympathise but I don't think you will able to do much. Sorry.

doelani

thanks for replies, panic over. HUbby phoned them and pointed out that when we got car I noticed other marks on car and was addvised these were wear and tear and it was possible this mark was alos there. They called back later to say they had a note on their computer to say there was a scrape on the boot and we did not have to pay. I guess lesson here is if I ever have to hire a car again I will check it more than I did this time and even "wear and tear" marks will be noted on invoice.