Mysterious Car Hire Accident in Italy with Europcar

lovesgshp

Gorie wrote: »

Thanks lovesgshp

Thats useful to know - so maybe I will need to send them a scan of the accident denial form once Europcar confirm whether this whole thing is legit.

I will ask for the Accident Report again, they told me after I emailed initially that they couldn't send any information until I sign the denial form. I didn't ask specifically for the accident report.

What happened in the case you know about? If this isn't a scam I'm hoping my denial and the fact that the car was returned without damage is good enough evidence I wasn't involved in a crash.

Yes send them the denial letter, and see what they come back with. They have your id details from your hiring.
With the case I was talking about, the friends car was in Monza, when he was accused and with witnesses.Case was thrown out.
Italians love to denounce you for everything and anything.
In a example for myself, one of our dogs was apparently in the road when a ape in a ape allegedly hit it. He carried on up the road and was straight on to the Carabinieri denouncing us. He had violated traffic law by failing to stop after a accident by hitting a animal, but Italians are always right!!! Anyway a few solicitors and from me later, the claim dropped drastically as he did not want to get involved with high court costs.
After this I did install a dashcam in my car and so funny he was captured driving with a dog on his lap the next day. Had seen the dog in the car when he denounced us, so can only presume it was driving at the time.
If you saw some of the things that go one here with parking etc and no respect for other peoples vehicles you would not be surprised at this type of false claim.

Gorie

Thanks for all the replies.

Europcar main customer services today (after a few weeks) confirmed that this was a legitimate request and I completed the Denial of Accident form and sent a witness statement also.

I guess all of the world have these quirks but this is a first for me and I hope it will help anyone else who may find themselves in the same situation.

I will post back and keep people update how it goes - I'll also let you know if my identity gets stolen in Italy?!

Gorie

On another note - I found driving in Naples and around the Amalfi Coast absolutely fine. Its busy and a little hectic but it never felt dangerous and there were always places to park. When the traffic did get really busy everything just slowed down and people took time. I would recommend driving - despite this insurance stuff. In my opinion you just can't beat the convenience of a car.

lovesgshp

Just on another note, keep the photos that you have at the return of the vehicle to show there is no damage. These can be used in the event of a dispute.
After driving here for nearly 15 years and seeing so many cars with dents and scratches, it may well have been the driver returning to the parking area. Ask for pictures of the damage to each vehicle.
Never admit anything to a car hire company over here.
I drive a LWB 3.2 Pajero so about 3000kilo, with onboard camera signs on the screens, seems to put a lot of the nutters off over here......lol.

Gorie

Thanks for that - they have already confirmed to me, in writing, that my car was returned undamaged - Hence they are disputing any claim. They have also told me this type of fraud is common...

I think from what they have told me that it was a commercial truck for excavations that is making the claim - so wouldn't have happened in the rental car parking lot. I hired a fiat 500 car, it had no damage... Wonder what damage the truck is trying to claim for lol.

Unless Fiat 500's are super strong and I just didn't know? I've never crashed one before.

lovesgshp

Good to hear that they are disputing the claim as well. Please keep us updated on the result, as this will help other hire car visitors on possible things to look out for in the future.
Some little stories that may be of interest or not.
Sitting outside a doctors surgery waiting for my wife, a car hit the front. The woman got out and said sorry but I was on the phone. Mine had only just come out of the bodyshop after another unknown incident damage. She paid the cost straight away to stop any further action against her.
Another one. In the first years here we had a Citroen and my wife stopped outside the post office. A stupid ape in a Ape hit the rear wing and raced off up the road. Unfortunately she did not get his number, so unable to get a recovery on the damage repair.

lovesgshp

This may amuse some on the joys of driving in Italy. It is from a forum that I am on.

New Codice Stradale Rules

by Geotherm on Sat Sep 01, 2018 9:26 pm
These are not openly published.

1) Ensure your mobile phone is superglued to your ear so you do not miss a call.

2) The car vanity mirror must always be down to ensure your hair or makeup is perfect in case you get a facebook call.

3) Indicators must only be used as a last resort, as you must never let anyone know where you are going.

4) Speed limits must be ignored in all cases, the new regulations state you can increase them by at least 50% as they are only guidance.

5) White lines are to be ignored as they only let you know roughly where the road is after Cena in your headlights.

6) It is imperative that you overtake on blind bends, so all other drivers now have to carry plastic flowers and buckets of sand to clean up the mess you may cause.

7) Your handbag dog has to perch on your lap, as if you lose control it can take over.

Ensure you travel as close to the vehicle in front to make sure you cannot be seen. At least if it has a camera then you are.

9) Try not to park in line in spaces, as your !!! sticking out causes lots of problems to others, but your shopping is more important, or not getting wet as you may shrink.

10) Just stop anywhere in the middle of the road for a chat with a friend, or leave your door open for the same reason..

These are just a few points that I have picked up in the many years here and many recorded on dashcam. More would be welcome.


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GeothermModerator

Location : Amandola Marche
Posts : 620
Join date : 2013-05-20

Re: New Codice Stradale Rules

by Sagraiasolar on Mon Sep 03, 2018 11:37 am
... always approach a T junction at 90 mph so that no one knows if you are really going to stop. If you do stop then make sure your bonnet sticks out enough to make an obstruction.

If you travel with your !!!!! mates in an old banger or tatty van do not worry about police attention - just keep up the burglaries.



SagraiasolarElder

Posts : 137
Join date : 2013-06-17

Gorie

LOL

still no update or charges or anything... I somehow get the impression this may be a long drawn out affair that I may never hear anything from again???

From what I can tell the Italian legal system is not famous for its swift, paperless efficiency?

I gather (from speaking to other Italians and different forums) this type of fraud actively tries to avoid hire car companies and commercial organisations - with corporate insurance departments who will fight the claims. They try to target individuals who they don't think will contest too much or can't afford the legal expenses to fight it...

Wonder whether it was random or I just looked like a target?

D_M_E

New Codice Stradale Rules:

If you see your wife/girlfriend walking along the road, or on a pedestrian crossing, suddenly stop the car in the middle of the road, get out and go greet her then go for a coffee and leave the car parked where you stopped.

lovesgshp

The Italian legal system is one of the worst. Try not to get involved in it if you can. If the worst comes to the worst try and get a proper international lawyer as there are so many muppets here.
Was thinking the other day about my wife passed a funeral procession many years ago going the same way, but someone decided he had hit his right foot. Scruffy so called lawyer in track suit decided he might make some money, so got a false declaration that she had run over the guys foot with also a involved fraudulent doctor to add to the claim. Happens all the time here.
https://www.thelocal.it/20150310/italy-packed-with-lawyers-but-justice-slow