Unfair Carhire Damage Claim

oldernonethewiser

AH1234 wrote: »

I realise that I may well end up having to pay even though I know I didn’t do it. I will try to argue my case based on the time between the last inspection and my hire and settle out of court. Also, it was a clean crack with no damage to the surrounding body, you wouldn’t notice it unless you’re looking very closely.

What will the basis for your argument be?


The burden of proof rests with you so you have to prove that the damage was there before you hired. How will you do that?

AH1234

The burden of proof rests with you so you have to prove that the damage was there before you hired. How will you do that?

1. There was no damage or marks on any of the surrounding body work as would be expected if there was any collision. Possibly it was installed that way or a manufacturing defect. I don’t understand how it could break spontaneously without a collision.
2. For that reason, very difficult to notice.
3. Depending on when the last inspection was before I hired it.

oldernonethewiser

Cars need not be in an accident for lights to break.

You hired the car in what you believed to be a satisfactory condition albeit you did not check.


You brought the car back with a damaged light.


Don't fancy your chances of winning a case against the hire company.

AH1234

Cars need not be in an accident for lights to break

I appreciate your opinion. To mean it seems a bit far fetched that the light could crack spontaneously without any impact unless there is an underlining cause.

I will argue the case the best I can, I know I didn’t do it. If that fails I will try and negotiate with them.

oldernonethewiser

I didn't say there was no impact to the light.

From the hire companies point of view the light was not broken when you took the car and was broken when you returned it.


As I assume you were not with the car 24/7 so cannot for sure say that it could not have been damaged while on your hire period.


I mentioned earlier that some companies are very good at finding damage.


One way to find out if there was potential damage prior to your hire is to ask if anyone has been charged for the same car with the same damage.


Obviously you would need to identify the car and company for this sort of assistance.


I have seen it done on other sites, including Tripadvisor.

AH1234

From the hire companies point of view the light was not broken when you took the car and was broken when you returned it.

If that is the case then it must have broken spontaneously. That must be a one in a million chance that a big crack just appeared out of nowhere with no impact.

oldernonethewiser

There are many ways a light can break. The car does not need to have been in an accident. There may well have been an impact of some sort. I didn't say there wasn't.

AH1234

There are many ways a light can break. The car does not need to have been in an accident. There may well have been an impact of some sort. I didn't say there wasn't.

Theoretically it’s possible, although extremely unlikely.

Perhaps there’s a gang of car vandals roaming rural Wales in the dead of night armed with screwdrivers. Maybe they have a secret deal with the car hire companies.

oldernonethewiser

Speculation won't help your case.




I'm out

AH1234

Speculation won't help your case.

Clearly you don’t understand sarcasm.