Interent Europcar damage charges and dispute

ForexRay

Hello,

I would like some help. I will try to explain my problem as short as possible.

• Rented Car with Interent Europe at Milan, Italy on 23rd Oct 2015
• Car was visibly damaged and raised it at the time of hiring and marked all the damage in the car rental form.
• Returned the car on 1st Nov 2015 and left for airport as we were late for our flight.
• Flight was delayed and while waiting in the airport saw an email from Interent and noticed administration charge for damage to car.
• Luckily flight was cancelled and had to stay for another day in Milan. Went to Internet and challenged the charges. They asked us to email customer service and we emailed and got no response.
• We let go off administration charges as there was no further charge from Interrent.
• June 2016 (8 months later) saw a charge of 572.25 euro in credit card and an invoice posted to me.
• July 2016 Challenged the charges with my credit card company and the amount was refunded back to my credit card as credit card company did not hear anything from Interrent.
• Jan2017 (further 6 months later) got an Payment Reminder letter from Europcar for payment of 572.25 euros with a threat of interest charges and review of payment conditions granted.
• I have all the photographic evidence of the car before we took it, still have all the original documents, invoice letters and payment reminder letter from Interent/Europcar.
• Googled on the internet about Europcar and found out they usually pass these details to DCA (Debit Collection Agency) and few have shared those experience online but not how they resolved it.

What should I do now?

1. There is NO Telephone number to call anyone about this at europcar
2. No easier way to contact them. Even if I contact them; I have a feeling they will not listen.
3. Should I write a letter and post to them with all the document evidence?
4. What should I do if DCA (Debig Collection Agency) get's in touch?
5. I totally dispute this claim and unfair charges. I would like to prepare if this is sent to DCA and want to have everything ready.

Please advise.

Billy_Bullocks

0371 384 0235

ForexRay

Billy_Bullocks wrote: »

0371 384 0235

But the letter is from EuropCar, Italy. EuropCar UK doesn't have any information about this and they have asked me to get in touch with EuropCar, Italy where the letter is from.

ForexRay

One more question:
If they get this referred to DCA like they have said in online posts; will this affect my credit rating?
I did not obtain any credit as such. This is car hire; so technically it should not go to credit report? Am I correct?

[Deleted User]

ForexRay wrote: »

If they get this referred to DCA like they have said in online posts; will this affect my credit rating?

Any unpaid debt will affect your credit rating, especially if it defaults and/or ends up with a County Court Judgement.

You need to get this sorted out, one way or another, ASAP.

ForexRay

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Any unpaid debt will affect your credit rating, especially if it defaults and/or ends up with a County Court Judgement.

You need to get this sorted out, one way or another, ASAP.

I'm sorry but your comment made me much more anxious than plan what I needed to do. I know I need to deal with this and I'm trying too. I figured out that debt affects credit rating but I'm trying to understand what category this is. I rented a car in Italy and they are charging me unfairly for something that I did not do. I'm trying to fight this as anyone in their right have too.

I'm trying to understand; the moment it goes to Debt Collecting Agency will it get into my credit record; even though this debt is not a debt. It was a car hire. I know if it gets to county court or default it will somehow get on credit record. But will it automatically get into credit record if it is referred by europcar to debt collecting agency? on what basis? car hire was in italy; how would it get into UK credit report? so many questions...

[Deleted User]

ForexRay wrote: »

But the letter is from EuropCar, Italy. EuropCar UK doesn't have any information about this and they have asked me to get in touch with EuropCar, Italy where the letter is from.

Don't they have any contact details for you?

Have you asked them?

Any unpaid debt which defaults will affect your credit file, regardless of where it originates-even abroad.

(Perhaps not after Brexit! )

bris

Don't worry about it, it can't affect your credit file until it's been to court and they win. Even then it doesn't go on your credit file if you pay it in the allotted time. CCJ's are for unpaid court debt.


You needn't actually do anything the ball is in their court although it wouldn't hurt to put it all together with what you have telling them there is your proof, I owe you nothing, don't bother me with this again. Only court action is what can hurt you now and only if they win.

thescouselander

It's probably too late but frankly Italy is a nation of frauds and scammers. Even the state is at it with their trap in Piza designed to catch foreign motorists. My advice is never to go there.

I hope you can get this sorted - maybe some professional legal advice is needed.

ForexRay

thescouselander wrote: »

It's probably too late but frankly Italy is a nation of frauds and scammers. Even the state is at it with their trap in Piza designed to catch foreign motorists. My advice is never to go there.

I hope you can get this sorted - maybe some professional legal advice is needed.

May I know where I can get legal advice? I'm thinking of taking this to the court.
How can one accept this unfair costs; that too after 1 year.
Why didn't they get in touch with me with charges as soon as possible.
Maybe a month or two delay to get in touch with is acceptable. But a year is totally unacceptable.

ForexRay

bris wrote: »

Don't worry about it, it can't affect your credit file until it's been to court and they win. Even then it doesn't go on your credit file if you pay it in the allotted time. CCJ's are for unpaid court debt.


You needn't actually do anything the ball is in their court although it wouldn't hurt to put it all together with what you have telling them there is your proof, I owe you nothing, don't bother me with this again. Only court action is what can hurt you now and only if they win.

I will be taking this to the court. I need to know where to get good legal advise for this.