Enterprise car club damage claim dispute experiences

bambooopenguin

Hello,
As an enterprise and subsequently enterprise car club user, I am very disappointed at the recent turn of events I am experiencing with them, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions they might give me please.


About a fortnight ago I hired a van off them for a couple of hours. I checked the van for scratches or anything and noticed a couple of them on the passenger side that parked out into the road. I did not want to spend too long there in the middle of road taking a picture and was in a hurry. I then forgot to take the pictures when I got out of the car on my first stop.


About a week later I get a call saying damage has been reported to the van by the next user, which would have been obvious seeing as I parked it differently and the damage was now curb-side.
So because I forgot to report the damage I am being stung, for I do not know how much yet. :mad:


I have been told when the claim comes I can dispute the case, which I definitely intend to do seeing as I was not responsible for the damage, but just forgot to report it and did not want to put my life at risk by standing in the middle of the road when I started the booking to take the pictures.


Has anyone had experience of this? I suspect the legal approach would be to say they cannot prove that I was responsible?


Thanks!

Arklight

If you left it parked with the damage kerb side, you'll have difficulty convincing anyone that it happened after you left it.

I'm not sure what you expect really. The next punter did what he was supposed to do and reported damage when he took the vehicle. You had the entire rental to do it and 'forgot.'

What are the charges?

elsien

Do you not have to sign a bit of paper showing existing damage?

bambooopenguin

@arklight - thanks, yes, I know that is the point. I am not the best at admin and was too busy doing what I was doing to remember to report the damage. I have not yet received the charge claim.
@elsien - that is for regular car hire but this is for car club so works a bit differently

Aylesbury_Duck

bambooopenguin wrote: »

Hello,
As an enterprise and subsequently enterprise car club user, I am very disappointed at the recent turn of events I am experiencing with them, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions they might give me please.


About a fortnight ago I hired a van off them for a couple of hours. I checked the van for scratches or anything and noticed a couple of them on the passenger side that parked out into the road. I did not want to spend too long there in the middle of road taking a picture and was in a hurry. I then forgot to take the pictures when I got out of the car on my first stop.


About a week later I get a call saying damage has been reported to the van by the next user, which would have been obvious seeing as I parked it differently and the damage was now curb-side.
So because I forgot to report the damage I am being stung, for I do not know how much yet. :mad:


I have been told when the claim comes I can dispute the case, which I definitely intend to do seeing as I was not responsible for the damage, but just forgot to report it and did not want to put my life at risk by standing in the middle of the road when I started the booking to take the pictures.


Has anyone had experience of this? I suspect the legal approach would be to say they cannot prove that I was responsible?


Thanks!

I'm not sure what you can do except hope they take your word for it. However, that would presumably put the blame on the person who hired it before you, which presumably they would deny.

When you do dispute it, don't use the words you have here. "I did not want to put my life at risk by standing in the middle of the road" is emotive nonsense and adds nothing to your case.

bambooopenguin

Hi, yes, that is what I am fearing - they have already said the previous person denies it.
I will perhaps frame it more like I did not consider it safe to stand in the road at a junction to take pictures !

Aylesbury_Duck

I think you need should try being honest in the hope that honesty elicits some sympathy. As it stands, I don't see how you can avoid being held responsible for the damage, so a confrontational approach probably won't work. Say that you noticed the damage but that the circumstances weren't right to record them immediately and that you subsequently forgot to do so. It's a long shot but it might be the best way of tackling it.

bambooopenguin

@Aylesbury - I have been honest with them, and your approach sounds sensible in terms of saying that I did not record it immediately due to circumstances and then forgot. Maybe they will just reduce it...Thanks for the opinion

Stoke

What do you think the fine will be?

Arklight

Your best bet is probably trying to find cctv footage. If you accept a rental car with damage and don't report the damage immediately you are going to be liable for the damage. Lesson learned.

Incidentally this can be a scam hire car places pull also. If you're given the keys to a vehicle and nonchalantly told they don't need to do a walk round at check out, you can just drive it right off, be very suspicious and don't drive it off the site until you've checked every inch in good light.

Avis in Edinburgh did this to me at night. When I got to Sterling and a better lit car park I saw the vehicle had basically been keyed the entire length of both sides. I spent 90 minutes on hold trying to find someone in Avis to report it to.

Aylesbury_Duck

Arklight wrote: »

Avis in Edinburgh did this to me at night. When I got to Sterling and a better lit car park I saw the vehicle had basically been keyed the entire length of both sides. I spent 90 minutes on hold trying to find someone in Avis to report it to.

That's a heck of a drive to visit Raheem. You could have waited until he is back in Manchester.