We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Sixt car hire

Options
I rented a car from Sixt for a week. Didn’t take out the extra insurance. When I handed the car back I was told there was a tiny chip in the windscreen he said it was new. I asked how he new and he said because it was white. He told me it shouldn’t be a problem because it was out of the drivers view. I then got an email saying they were investigating the damage and today got a bill for over £800!  It’s a tiny chip of about 2/3 mm. How on earth can it cost that much? Is there an avenue I can take to dispute this?  I will say that I was not given anything to sign to say what condition the car was in when I picked it up. 

Comments

  • cubegame
    cubegame Posts: 2,042 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Unfortunately there is probably very little you can do, although it might be worth putting in a complaint about the franchissee to SIxt head offfice.

    The car hire business model is to hire cars at cost or below. Therefore to make a profit and be a sustainable business they have to sell over-priced additional insurance OR charge customers for damage. In some places, not having their additional insurance will almost guarantee you getting charged for damage.

    Anyone considering hiring a car needs to make sure they are not the person subsidising the car hire of those who are more savvy.


  • It's so frustrating, how on earth have they come up with that price?  I have googled how much it actually costs to repair a chip and replace a windscreen, and it's no where near that price.  I assume I am entitled to ask for a breakdown and proof of the cost of repairs plus proof the repairs have been carried out?  I was shown another small chip that was there previously, so it makes me wonder if they are billing for repairs and not carrying them out?  I don't remember having any form to sign to point out any issues that the car may have before I drove the car away.  Not sure if that makes a difference?  If I had been told it might be an issue I would have hired the car for an extra night and had the repairs done myself.
  • gingerdad
    gingerdad Posts: 1,920 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    We had a similar problem - but had insurance cover - did argue with Alamo and they, in the end, sent me a bill just for the windscreen which was a couple of hundred pounds - but that only really helped the insurance in our case - and the chip had definitely happened whilst I was driving and did require a new windscreen as big crack.

    Well worth having a separate policy for such things 
    The futures bright the future is Ginger
  • gingerdad
    gingerdad Posts: 1,920 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It's so frustrating, how on earth have they come up with that price?  I have googled how much it actually costs to repair a chip and replace a windscreen, and it's no where near that price.  I assume I am entitled to ask for a breakdown and proof of the cost of repairs plus proof the repairs have been carried out?  I was shown another small chip that was there previously, so it makes me wonder if they are billing for repairs and not carrying them out?  I don't remember having any form to sign to point out any issues that the car may have before I drove the car away.  Not sure if that makes a difference?  If I had been told it might be an issue I would have hired the car for an extra night and had the repairs done myself.
    £800 will be the full excess - 
    The futures bright the future is Ginger
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.