car hire place have debited my card 900 pounds for two minor scratches

happenstance

Hi,

I hired a car recently, when I took it out on the initial inspection there was some tiny scratches that you really had to be looking hard too notice on the sheet. The guy doing it noticed a few more and marked these down however it was dark, wetr and windy so I didn't pay it nearly enough attention and after an overnight flight I was exausted.

I dropped it off and a guy went round the car with a fine toothpic and noticed two more. I had a flight to get to so stupidly just signed the form, I thought it was to return the car when now it looks like its admitting damage.

I thought this would just be a bill for 60-80 and I would leave it as a lesson for me to check for scratches extremely carefully. However now noticed they have charged the full excess of 900 which is crazy for tiny scratches That may or may not have been caused by me.

Does anyone have experience with this? Seams like a very sharp practice to make money off people and in this case the original damage report was inaccurate and in the weather conditions during pickup it was less than ideal.

Hintza

This is how these cowboys make their money nowadays.

cattie

Can only suggest you dispute the amount or try contacting trading standards. You might not actually end up getting anywhere, but at least you would have tried.

leespot

Could you try raising the payment as a dispute with your card provider? I had a similar problem recently for another item, but my card company refunded the amount whilst the issue was under investigation.

visidigi

The issue here is what did you sign. Even if you make a claim for chargeback, if they produce your signature on a declaration of damage you're really going to struggle...

hollydays

Try googling reviews of them to see if others had the same problem.

happenstance

Thanks everyone.

I've disputed the charge and written paper letters to the car hire place and credit card.

Thats what I'm worrying about, I thought I was just signing to return the car, didn't read it properly and I really can't afford 900. No way did I think they would charge this amount and was stressed with getting my flight.

Just seams like they can make their own rules to charge people. I know they won't have these damaged panels replaced and with a dozen or so tiny scratches won't affect the resale value by 900.

I thought 15 pounds a day was cheap, so it looks like they use this to get revenue. I mean its a moving vechical I would think tiny scratches are just general ware and tear. Its not like I was hiring a porcelaine Doll

keyser666

Which company was it as hollydays mentions?

happenstance

Not sure if I'm allowed to mention the company here? So many message boards ban you..

Have found other people having the same problems. It seams like they try this a lot but with a bit of chasing they sometimes refund.

Would like to try to get my money back, but also report the company to try and stop other people having the same very stressful experience

RosiPossum

I overheard someone in a car hire office who had a scratch. They said they take the full excess off the card then once the repair is done, they refund the difference.
Hope this happens for you.
edit: it was Arnold Clark that this was in.

happenstance

RosiPossum wrote: »

I overheard someone in a car hire office who had a scratch. They said they take the full excess off the card then once the repair is done, they refund the difference.
Hope this happens for you.
edit: it was Arnold Clark that this was in.

Thanks, that's a bit re assuring. However they won't actually repair it at all (a wax would remove the scratches) and they will charge me as if if the car was out of action for a few days and charge the crazy high list prices for lost revenue even though they will still be renting it out.

How can I challenge their valuation for the damage? Obviously they will claim to do as much work as possible to suck as much money as possible from me.