Additional Rental Car Fee

balsingh

Hoping someone can advise on this based on experience.

I rented a car from Budget in the US which was paid for in advance with all the relevant insurances required. On pickup, I was not offered any additional cover and I made it clear to the clerk on the counter that I have adequate insurance.

On return from holiday, I find that my card was charged £132 for personal accident and extended breakdown cover.

I contacted Budget who have provided a document that I signed which states I accepted the additional cover.

Do I have any recourse on this? The fact that I told the counter clerk that I have adequate insurance? Also, the additional cover was not advised or offered so I wasn't in a position to verbally say whether I wanted it or not.

I feel it has been missold (like PPI).

Thx

photome

balsingh wrote: »

Hoping someone can advise on this based on experience.

I rented a car from Budget in the US which was paid for in advance with all the relevant insurances required. On pickup, I was not offered any additional cover and I made it clear to the clerk on the counter that I have adequate insurance.

On return from holiday, I find that my card was charged £132 for personal accident and extended breakdown cover.

I contacted Budget who have provided a document that I signed which states I accepted the additional cover.

Do I have any recourse on this? The fact that I told the counter clerk that I have adequate insurance? Also, the additional cover was not advised or offered so I wasn't in a position to verbally say whether I wanted it or not.

I feel it has been missold (like PPI).

Thx

I have rented in the US dozens of times.

The above happened to me once at the dollar desk in LA. I disputed the charge , dollar produced the document with my signature on ( even though like you I declined everything) card company sided with dollar , I didn’t take it any further

balsingh

Looks like that's how it will be for me too. You live and learn!!

mgdavid

balsingh wrote: »

Looks like that's how it will be for me too. You live and learn!!

The lesson is to read stuff before you sign it. I am simply staggered and amazed that there are still people daft enough to just sign willy nilly wherever and whatever they are told to sign.

photome

mgdavid wrote: »

The lesson is to read stuff before you sign it. I am simply staggered and amazed that there are still people daft enough to just sign willy nilly wherever and whatever they are told to sign.

It’s not that simple after 24 hours travelling without any sleep.

I had been many times before and never been caught out, but after me confirming I wasnt agreeing any extras and them confirming I was only signing for the car , and pages of small print . Guess we are not all perfect

Thanks for reminding me that myself and the OP are daft

balsingh

Totally agree. Having come off a rescheudled flight and just wanting to get to my hotel quickly, you'd think the clerk would be helpful in pointing these things out rather than making a quick buck!

mgdavid

balsingh wrote: »

Totally agree. Having come off a rescheudled flight and just wanting to get to my hotel quickly, you'd think the clerk would be helpful in pointing these things out rather than making a quick buck!

Sorry but it doesn't wash; I've done 30 hours to New Zealand but I still read the car hire agreement before signing it. And to think the car hire clerk would do you a favour is naive in the extreme. Personal responsibility and common sense is needed here. And never let your guard down! It's not about being perfect, it's about realising that occasional imperfections are your problem and you have to take them on the chin.

TELLIT01

balsingh wrote: »

Totally agree. Having come off a rescheudled flight and just wanting to get to my hotel quickly, you'd think the clerk would be helpful in pointing these things out rather than making a quick buck!

Unfortunately the clerk probably saw the situation as the opportunity to make a few more dollars commission. They are not our friend, they work for the rental company, not for the renter.
Like the OP and most of the respondents to the topic, I have to admit that I have rarely, if ever, read all the small print on the car hire documents. Thankfully that has never come back to bit me - yet.

EveryWhere

Protect yourself in the future, by writing All chargeable extras declined close to your signature.

dickydonkin

EveryWhere wrote: »

Protect yourself in the future, by writing All chargeable extras declined close to your signature.

How would that work (legally - US Law) if you have already signed one of the many fields on the agreement accepting a 'chargeable extra' but then declare on the bottom of the form that you have declined ALL chargeables? :huh: Good luck with that strategy.

I think it is unfair to imply that the OP was 'naive' or 'daft' by signing the contact in a 'willy nilly' fashion. I find it hard to believe that everyone fully digests the small print on any purchase or service they purchase - moreso after a long flight and invariably at the head of a long queue in those God forsaken car rental outlets.

To be honest, I don't look into great detail nowadays when signing these documents, but maybe because I explain to the agents prior to signing that I already have insurance, don't need an upgrade and actually ask questions regarding the fuel requirements and suchlike that they think that I am sort of savvy with car rentals which might deter them from making a quick buck.

Where possible, if arriving late or after an extra long sector (Doha - Auckland is an ideal example), I collect the car the following day of arrival from a non-airport location, avoiding queues and tiredness - and any lingering alcohol in the blood from the flight.

I find when you hand the car back you are just as vulnerable. Thrifty (an awful company) tried to screw me for a tank of fuel and Avis also attempted to charge extra on returning the car. I spotted the receipts and got those sorted there and then.

I think the OP will have to put this down to experience and take the hit but I'm sure s/he will be more wary next time.

mgdavid wrote: »

Personal responsibility and common sense is needed here. And never let your guard down! It's not about being perfect, it's about realising that occasional imperfections are your problem and you have to take them on the chin.

Well that's us told then!

EveryWhere

dickydonkin wrote: »

How would that work (legally - US Law) if you have already signed one of the many fields on the agreement accepting a 'chargeable extra' but then declare on the bottom of the form that you have declined ALL chargeables? :huh: Good luck with that strategy.

I think it is unfair to imply that the OP was 'naive' or 'daft' by signing the contact in a 'willy nilly' fashion. I find it hard to believe that everyone fully digests the small print on any purchase or service they purchase - moreso after a long flight and invariably at the head of a long queue in those God forsaken car rental outlets.

To be honest, I don't look into great detail nowadays when signing these documents, but maybe because I explain to the agents prior to signing that I already have insurance, don't need an upgrade and actually ask questions regarding the fuel requirements and suchlike that they think that I am sort of savvy with car rentals which might deter them from making a quick buck.

Where possible, if arriving late or after an extra long sector (Doha - Auckland is an ideal example), I collect the car the following day of arrival from a non-airport location, avoiding queues and tiredness - and any lingering alcohol in the blood from the flight.

I find when you hand the car back you are just as vulnerable. Thrifty (an awful company) tried to screw me for a tank of fuel and Avis also attempted to charge extra on returning the car. I spotted the receipts and got those sorted there and then.

I think the OP will have to put this down to experience and take the hit but I'm sure s/he will be more wary next time.



Well that's us told then!

I didn't bother to read anything other than the first paragraph, as it doesn't pertain to me.

In 'US law' as you put it, it would be clear that the last thing added to the contract at the time of signing would be your addendum and signature.


That way, the attendant would not be able to tick a box, after you have signed, claiming that you signed for it.
It would also make clear that you declined all extras at the time of signing.
That would most certainly help when making a Section 75 claim. Budget can argue about it with your credit card provider.

As to whether, it makes a difference, you have no idea. So pooh poohing the idea without having the slightest idea of the law seems a bit childish. Especially when there is no down side to doing it.
It is certainly a lot better than doing nothing, but simply creating a long post that is no help to anyone at all.

Anyone with even a modicum of intelligence would realise that alone would discourage the attendant from trying it on in the first place.