Courtesy car unexpectedly demanded back

helenjones833

Hi

I have had a courtesy car from a car hire company for a few weeks, following a motor insurance claim which resulted in a total loss. My letter of welcome from the car rental company states that:

"If your vehicle cannot be repaired or is considered uneconomical to repair, you should endeavour to return your replacement vehicle within 7 days of receiving your settlement".

I agreed the settlement last week, on 28 October, and received the money in my bank account yesterday on 2 November. I assumed the 7 day period would begin then.

However, when I phoned them this morning, they told me they've been instructed to stop the hire from today. When going into details, it turns out that they regard the 7 days as running from the date the payment was agreed rather than when it is received. I called my insurer as well, but was advised that it's in the hands of the rental agency as they will claim costs from the third party's insurer rather than mine.

The problem is I have had absolutely no notice of this, and require the car this evening - my new replacement vehicle hasn't been delivered yet. Indeed it was only when I called the rental company that this came to light at all.

Is there anything I can do? Even keeping the car till tomorrow would be acceptable, but it's completely unexpected to have to give it back today.

tykesi

Pay the hire company to extend the hire?

helenjones833

tykesi wrote: »

Pay the hire company to extend the hire?

Well probably I could do that, but it seems like an unnecessary inconvenience and cost. Is my reading of the wording wrong then? "Receiving the settlement" ought to mean when the money is received, according to normal usage. And if the seven days actually started ticking last Friday, why wasn't I notified sooner?

Tothepoint.

helenjones833 wrote: »

Well probably I could do that, but it seems like an unnecessary inconvenience and cost. Is my reading of the wording wrong then? "Receiving the settlement" ought to mean when the money is received, according to normal usage. And if the seven days actually started ticking last Friday, why wasn't I notified sooner?

You'll have to ask them that.

You'll need to get it sorted asap as it's not uncommon for them to report the car as stolen it it's not returned by close of play on the last day of hire.

helenjones833

Tothepoint. wrote: »

You'll have to ask them that.

You'll need to get it sorted asap as it's not uncommon for them to report the car as stolen it it's not returned by close of play on the last day of hire.

OK thanks!

Marktheshark

Did you accept an offer that said Full and Final.
This is an old trick if you did.

You can claim all uninsured losses as well of you did not accept full and final .

rob7475

Either ask them to extend the hire for a charge or see if they are willing to let you drop it off first thing in the morning for no charge.

If it's a none fault insurance claim, you may be able to claim any extra hire costs from the driver who was to blame - not sure though.

Either way, an extra day hire charge won't be much and I'm sure if you're polite with the hire company, they'll do you a good price to keep the car for an extra day.

dogshome

Beware of extending the hire on the current vehicle
The industry is rifewith 'Spiv' hirers who's rental charges are off the roof, particularly when the customer has a 'No Blame' insurance claim.
Astoundingly, often it's the insurer who directs the customer to one of these Hirers - They don't care because it's the 'driver at faults' Insurer who will pick up the tab.

Ring around local Hirers for quotes - Yes, you will have to pay them, but you can recover those costs the other parties insurer

dannyrst

dogshome wrote: »

Beware of extending the hire on the current vehicle
The industry is rifewith 'Spiv' hirers who's rental charges are off the roof, particularly when the customer has a 'No Blame' insurance claim.
Astoundingly, often it's the insurer who directs the customer to one of these Hirers - They don't care because it's the 'driver at faults' Insurer who will pick up the tab.

Ring around local Hirers for quotes - Yes, you will have to pay them, but you can recover those costs the other parties insurer

Are you sure? The OP has accepted a settlement figure from the insurers. Surely that brings a close to the claim? Unless I'm missing something and the settlement is only for the car and any costs are added to another settlement later in the claim?

neilmcl

helenjones833 wrote: »

Well probably I could do that, but it seems like an unnecessary inconvenience and cost. Is my reading of the wording wrong then? "Receiving the settlement" ought to mean when the money is received, according to normal usage. And if the seven days actually started ticking last Friday, why wasn't I notified sooner?

I read it as receiving the settlement figure from your insurer, ie, receiving the notification.

phoenix_w

neilmcl wrote: »

I read it as receiving the settlement figure from your insurer, ie, receiving the notification.

I think it's almost negligently vague, and would make more sense if the wording was "within 7 days of agreeing your settlement".

I think the OP is right to think "receipt" means the time the money is in their bank. However the company paying can't guarantee the time/date the money reaches the account unless they pay extra, and in some of these claims I'm sure the money is being passed from pillar to post (from insurer to insurer then to customer) which adds further delays, the insurer representing the at fault party could argue that "receipt" is the moment the money reaches the victim's insurer.

If I were more cynical, I'd think that the wording is such to cause confusion and potentially generate revenue for the hire car company.