I think I'm getting scammed

keepthegreen

I rented a car on holiday and think I'm about to get scammed. We paid for the rental on our credit card with a pin. The car was very old and in very bad condition. I took photos of all sides of the outside of the vehicle before we drove it away but returned it by leaving the keys with the hotel reception for pick up so weren't present when it was picked up. I'm now worried we're going to get hit with charges. Looking back I realise the agreement I was handed has my name as a second driver not as the main driver and I didn't even sign the agreement.

What should I do to lower the chances of being hit? Can the rental company add more charges even if they don't have a signed agreement? I believe they can and I would have to file a chargeback claim to get the money back from the card provider. What would be my chances of being successful? Is there anything else I should be doing to protect myself?

I feel so stupid

keepthegreen

Update: I called the card company just to let them know that I suspect something is fishy. The guy on the phone made a note that I had called however and told me to keep an eye on the statement and to call if anything else came through. He suggested the additional charge may be the rental company double booking the same rental to avoid tax. That's not reassuring if that unscrupulousness extends to other activities.

eDicky

keepthegreen wrote: »

He suggested the additional charge may be the rental company double booking the same rental to avoid tax.

What additional charge?

It would help if you identify the location, how and from whom you arranged the rental, and what kind of insurance was included.

If there was no insurance excess involved there's probably no reason for them to 'find' chargeable damage.

keepthegreen

I've read of cases of people being charged for damage that was not their fault so this is what worries me. That they could add charges on a whim on the expectation that some of the people scammed wouldn't fight it. We paid for "no insurance excess" cover but as I say the agreement appears to be bogus, in someone else name and I didn't even sign it (presumably it's signed by the person listed as main driver). I am listed as a second driver.

It was arranged through a travel agent next to the hotel and the hire company met me at the hotel in the rep room.

eDicky

keepthegreen wrote: »

We paid for "no insurance excess" cover

In this case, if true, there would be nothing for you to pay if the car is damaged. But without knowing the country and the type of hotel etc, there's no way to estimate reliability. You could be just having a paranoid fantasy of something that hasn't yet happened, or not...

keepthegreen

eDicky wrote: »

What additional charge?

Sorry just noticed I misspoke. I meant additional driver. So they charge two drivers on the same agreement

Yes it's possible I am just being paranoid as you say but I just want to make sure I've done everything I can from this point to protect myself in case my gut feeling of fishiness transpires.

bagand96

When you used your card and entered your PIN to pay for the rental, how much was this for? Was it just the cost of the rental? Or was it for the cost of the rental plus an additional deposit amount?

If it was just for the cost of the rental then they can't just come back and charge more to your card, as you have only authorised a payment of XX.XX for the rental. If it was for more, or you did it separately as a pre-authorised deposit, they could in theory charge more from that amount you pre-authorised.

You said you paid for "no excess insurance" - if that is the case then they shouldn't be coming back to you for anything anyway.

As another poster said - it might help if you mention where this was and the name of the rental company. A lot of smaller local companies in holiday resorts may have older less glamorous cars, but are actually very good outfits.

keepthegreen

The payment terminal just showed the amount of the rental so if it is correct and they cannot later make amended charges or add new ones which I thought rental companies were able to do then that is a relief. I said I paid for "no excess insurance" but this was just verbal and written as a scribble of "no excess" on the very dubious agreement that I later noticed wasn't even in my name except for the later addition of a second driver and I was never even asked to sign it so read into that what you will. I don't really want to name the company in case I am just being paranoid and although it all feels a bit weird I don't want to openly accuse someone of scamming, I just feel I may have left myself open to it and want to make sure I protect myself. The rental was in Paphos, Cyprus.

eDicky

keepthegreen wrote: »

told me to keep an eye on the statement and to call if anything else came through.

Apart from this there is nothing to be done, but to me it looks like you don't need to worry. Small local rental outfits in such a place are often quite casual with paperwork etc, but usually basically honest and should not be judged according to the notoriety of some bigger players.