Car rental damage charge

eDicky

WAYT wrote: »

Even if this fairy tale were true, let's not forget that some locations are franchises. If the OP has taken hi res pictures of their own, they can make a case to send to head office. Otherwise, the took the chance to go without insurance and are now paying the price for their gamble.

True enough that precautions were lacking, but that doesn't excuse the fraudulent activity of the hire firm, franchise or not. I see no reason to disbelieve the story, it happened to me several years ago with Budget at Vancouver airport. My claim on the separate excess insurance was, in effect, knowingly fraudulent in turn.

vitamind

WAYT wrote: »

I'm glad that you asked.....

I wondered how you happened to find yourself here, as a first time poster. Most people aware of this forum would be clear that the recommendation is to obtain car hire excess insurance, if one wanted to avoid the purchase of Super CDW from the car hire company.
So perhaps you have never ever visited this website before and just perchance found it.

You're glad that I asked about your mean-spirited post? Any time.

To answer your question, I googled some key words and ended up reading a similar older post here. I registered and started my own account to ask a question. So no, I'm not familiar with the recommendations of forum regulars, but I did hope to gain knowledge and wisdom to move forward with. You'll surely be pleased to know that your acerbic comments have helped ensure I won't take chances with not purchasing excess insurance in the future.

Moving on.....likely you knew that you were going to be liable for any damage when you took the car, but you decided to take the chance. It doesn't have to be your fault. Some other idiot can scrape your car. You decided to take the chance and now here you are, complaining about it.

Indeed, more fool me for not considering that someone else may scrape the car. Consider it a lesson learned the hard way. However, what I am complaining about is being charged an exorbitant fee for damage the company can't prove I caused and they are unlikely to ever fix it, such is the minor cosmetic nature.

We have only your word that one could barely see the scratches. I asked if you took pictures. to bolster your case. If you did, then perhaps you could make a case.
If not, who do you expect to believe you? If you do have pictures, protest to their MD that the scratches don't quality as damage.

If you took no pictures and decided to take the chance by not covering yourself, you have only yourself to blame. Thank you for your precautionary tale.

Let's assume I have plenty of pictures, and I am happy to do whatever is necessary with them.

As I said in my initial post, I appreciate all help and guidance. However, you're under no obligation to engage with my post if it infuriates you, as mine appears to. I'm sure you're a lovely person, and I wish you all the best. Thank you for the useful information that I did take from your posts.

vitamind

peachyprice wrote: »

I don't consider changing the entertainment system part of the pre-inspection, why should they assume the next hirer would be English? I've hired may a car in many European countries, sometimes they'll be in English already, more often not.

Fair enough! I shan't include that detail in any format contact with the company.

WAYT

vitamind wrote: »

You're glad that I asked about your mean-spirited post? Any time.

To answer your question, I googled some key words and ended up reading a similar older post here. I registered and started my own account to ask a question. So no, I'm not familiar with the recommendations of forum regulars, but I did hope to gain knowledge and wisdom to move forward with. You'll surely be pleased to know that your acerbic comments have helped ensure I won't take chances with not purchasing excess insurance in the future.



Indeed, more fool me for not considering that someone else may scrape the car. Consider it a lesson learned the hard way. However, what I am complaining about is being charged an exorbitant fee for damage the company can't prove I caused and they are unlikely to ever fix it, such is the minor cosmetic nature.



Let's assume I have plenty of pictures, and I am happy to do whatever is necessary with them.

As I said in my initial post, I appreciate all help and guidance. However, you're under no obligation to engage with my post if it infuriates you, as mine appears to. I'm sure you're a lovely person, and I wish you all the best. Thank you for the useful information that I did take from your posts.

If you have pictures, collate them and send them, together with your complaint to Michel Taride

Keep it brief and to the point. if you have Twitter you can utilise that too. Contact details in your PM Inbox.

vitamind

WAYT wrote: »

If you have pictures, collate them and send them, together with your complaint to Michel Taride

Keep it brief and to the point. if you have Twitter you can utilise that too. Contact details in your PM Inbox.

I just wanted to come back and update this thread. Based on this advice, I sent a raft of pictures, and a concise description of why I disputed the charge, and they contacted me to say they are refunding me in full.

A frustrating and irritating experience, but with a perfectly happy ending. Thanks to all who helped out! I shall certainly be purchasing extra insurance in future

WAYT

Thank you for updating the thread. I'm glad that you took those pictures.

Here is a good place to begin: http://www.moneymaxim.co.uk/compare-car-hire-excess-insurance

buglawton

I've used the MSE advice and bought UK excess insurance for EU hires.

But in USA I bought the excess insurance from the car hire co as I didn't trust a UK insurer to cope with a dispute with US insurance lawyers! It only added 25% to the hire cost.

But what I find annoying is, no hire companies seem to post their excess insurance rates, or allow you to buy it, at the same time that you book the car online. They always seem to save it for when you are standing in front of their booking counter.

Are there any honest car hire companies out there?

EssexExile

buglawton wrote: »

But what I find annoying is, no hire companies seem to post their excess insurance rates, or allow you to buy it, at the same time that you book the car online. They always seem to save it for when you are standing in front of their booking counter.

I've never had that in The States, I pay everything up front then there's nothing to sort out once there.

buglawton

EssexExile wrote: »

I've never had that in The States, I pay everything up front then there's nothing to sort out once there.

I'll try to dig out who I used, suffice to say, after being unable within the online booking process to obtain excess insurance, I phoned first the HQ then the branch trying to get a price for it and buy it. Nope, only can be purchased at the counter on the day of pickup.

WAYT

buglawton wrote: »

I've used the MSE advice and bought UK excess insurance for EU hires.

But in USA I bought the excess insurance from the car hire co as I didn't trust a UK insurer to cope with a dispute with US insurance lawyers! It only added 25% to the hire cost.

But what I find annoying is, no hire companies seem to post their excess insurance rates, or allow you to buy it, at the same time that you book the car online. They always seem to save it for when you are standing in front of their booking counter.

Are there any honest car hire companies out there?

There is a reason for this, as all US car rental booked from the UK have CDW and the minimum amount of Liability Insurance included.
So there is absolutely no need for you to purchase excess insurance from the car hire company, as it is already included.
Why is why they can't sell it to you on-line. The option is automatically selected.
So what you are buying at the desk is possibly Liability Insurance or whatever they can sell to you when you badger them to sell you something.

Note: If you rent a car in America through a UK based company or website normally (but not always) CDW/LDW/SLI comes within the package as the company will assume it is required for travellers from Europe.

So the only issue may be with your liability in causing damage to a person or to their property, which is covered under SLI, The rental may come with only a minimal amount, say US$20,000.

So you can buy a supplement, taking that to US$1,000,000. That can be obtained here:

https://www.carhireexcess.com
https://www.bettersafe.com/Products/Car-Hire-Excess-Insurance-Protection
http://www.insurance4carhire.com/usa-canada-car-hire-excess-insurance

I have it as a matter of course, as it covers me for everything. Not just in the USA. So I don't need to think it about it wherever and whenever I want to rent a car on the spot.

You worry too much.