Car hire damage

Nesquik

Hi all, I recently rented a car from enterprise (uk) and some how I managed to get cigarette burn in drivers seat. The burn is minor and only the first layer of fabric has been damaged, as I hadn't taken out the extra insurance I have had £1000 taken from credit card as payment. When I returned car (early by 1 day) I was told the repair would be made ASAP, it's been 10 days since I returned car and nothing has been done. I spoke to enterprise today and have been told that they have up to 61 days to get repair made and to wait up to 4-6 weeks to claim back any monies. I have just received my credit card statement and I will be charged interest on the £1000 for this month and maybe next month too.I have spoken to a few companies in the area who specialise in burn repair and their estimation of cost is only a couple of hundred pounds, do I
have any rights or choice on how the repair is made? I.e. Could the rental company replace whole seat or do they have to repair in a cost effective way as possible? Where do I stand as a consumer? All help and advise will be much appreciated. Thanks all

tykesi

I'm pretty sure they don't have to repair it at all but are still able to charge you for it. The charge would be to take into account the decrease in value when they get rid of the car. Others will probably be able to clarify but I don't think you get to insist it is repaired.

k3lvc

Are you allowed to smoke in an Enterprise Rental Car - if not I can't imagine they're going to be bending over to help you whatever excuse you come up with for burning the seat.


Hindsight is great but if you've found someone local who could have done the job you 'may' have been better renting the car for another day and letting them do their magic rather than the barrel you're over at the moment

maninthestreet

Time to give up smoking?

mcjordi

they likely wont get it repaired but you are entitled to a breakdown of the costs and if its less than a £1000 you can get the rest back as far as im aware. however if they do get it repaired they will want the money they loose from the car being out of service for however long it takes..

Nesquik

I do not smoke only vape and still cannot work out how burn appeared, just want to know if the repair must by law done in the most cost effective way? As I'm being told by rental company that the vehicle is under hire by someone else, I'm wondering wether I can re rent vehicle out and get it repaired by a mobile expert?

Ozzuk

Don't forget as well as the repair they can charge you for the time it is off the road.

I hired a car on holiday recently and argued with the missus over the kind of charges they can hit you with (she didn't agree) in the end we took out a separate policy just covering the excess...

straighttalker

Two lessons to be learnt from this episode:

1. Don't smoke/vape in a hire car.
2. Take out excess protection.

Guest101

By law they aren't obliged to repair at all, simply take account of the loss in value.

Nesquik

Thanks all for advice, harsh lesson learned ��

angrycrow

They will also have had the cost of trying to get the smell of smoke out of the car. I for one would not be happy to accept a hire car that smelt of smoke and then have that transfer to my clothes.

Saying that taking the full £1000 and keeping it is a bit steep so demand a break down of the costs and refund of any balance due.