Car rental issues

linc1464

Dear all,

A couple of weeks ago, I rented a van. When I returned it, a rip to the bumper was noted. I did not do this but I concede that I should have seen it and I've been burned. The problem is that they've invoiced the full £1000 excess! Surely a bumper skirt does not cost this much - in fact their own website cites these repairs to cost between 100 and 850. It was only a 50mm rip as measured.

Of course, I'm going to complain tomorrow but does anyone have any advice to help further (except for saying "next time pay the excess reducing charge").

Thanks for this
Steve

Billy_Bullocks

How much is the daily rental? You're being billed for loss of income too.

linc1464

I really don't think they'll take it off the road - it is just a 50mm rip in the bumper skirt. They even have a fixed price list on their website stating that this damage is charged between £100 and 850. When I returned it (near closing time) I was given an invoice for the full excess and was told that i would get an accurate charge later. Today I received a copy of the same invoice with the same date. It is basically impossible that they could have done this quote properly because on that date, I returned the van just before 6pm and they actually told me that the quote would be sought in the next few days. My feeling is that they've just debited the entire amount without getting an estimate for the work first. I'm going to ask for proof of this estimate (which will be dated after their invoice). If they say they took the van out of service, I'm going to ask for proof of that too.

Billy_Bullocks

They probably won't fix it but then that doesn't stop you being liable for the damage.

linc1464

I agree with you, but it's just unsatisfactory that it seems a fudge. And, their own published prices for this type of damage are at odds with the charge.

Tyler119

Out of interest, which company was it?

Second_Account

linc1464 wrote: »

Dear all,

A couple of weeks ago, I rented a van. When I returned it, a rip to the bumper was noted. I did not do this but I concede that I should have seen it and I've been burned. The problem is that they've invoiced the full £1000 excess! Surely a bumper skirt does not cost this much - in fact their own website cites these repairs to cost between 100 and 850. It was only a 50mm rip as measured.

Of course, I'm going to complain tomorrow but does anyone have any advice to help further (except for saying "next time pay the excess reducing charge").

Thanks for this
Steve

I definetly wouldn't be paying the "excess reducing charge" of any car hire company. If you read the car hire guides on here you will see that you could have gotten a weeks independant insurance with no excess from as little as £20 or around £40 for a year.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

For next time - Point 5 - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-car-hire