Car rental help

jubz0800

I hired a car from last week, everything went well up until to the point I dropped it off. Wish I took pictures there and then but I did not and was adamant it had no damage. After 15 mins of dropping it off had a phone call from branch saying there was a long scratch which was bigger than the damage estimator I could not believe it my rental was clearly keyed and its not my damage. She said she will have to put a claim through?? I didnt take out the damage waiver excess reduction so its 1k, my deposit of 200 quid has not returned either. When i told her to take the picture of scratch it was moved inside which seemed crafty and im sure when i returned it didnt have any scratches but cannot prove that. So what happens now with claim? How can I dispute this will i havr to pay 1k for the damage?

neilmcl

I would have said on the balance of probabilities that the damage, if it wasn't pre-existing, was done whilst in your possession rather than the brief time between you dropping it off and they contacting you. You say it took only 15 mins to contact you, given that it's been moved and inspected what do you think the chances are that within that time it's been vandalised by some random stranger, I'd say pretty much zero.

I don't understand your point about being "crafty" that the car was moved inside when the picture was taking, surely that's part of the normal way of things, ie, you drop the car off, one of their guys then comes out and drives the car into their holding area and inspects it, which happens to be inside or under cover.

NSG666

Is this in the UK?
Sounds like you've no proof that the car wasn't damaged upon return as you were not present for a physical check and no photos.
You'll be liable for the excess up to £1000 but if the cost of repair is less then you'll get some money back.

An unfortunate and expensive lesson to spend a few quid on excess insurance cover and where ever possible get the car checked over in your presence.

AdrianC

Ultimately, you signed on collection to say the car has no damage, and they found damage on it when it was returned.

That's what the insurance is for.

You lodged a £200 deposit against damage incurred during your possession of the car, with a maximum liability of £1,000.

Grumpy_chap

jubz0800 said:

I hired a car from last week, everything went well up until to the point I dropped it off. Wish I took pictures there and then but I did not and was adamant it had no damage. After 15 mins of dropping it off had a phone call from branch saying there was a long scratch which was bigger than the damage estimator I could not believe it my rental was clearly keyed and its not my damage. She said she will have to put a claim through?? I didnt take out the damage waiver excess reduction so its 1k, my deposit of 200 quid has not returned either. When i told her to take the picture of scratch it was moved inside which seemed crafty and im sure when i returned it didnt have any scratches but cannot prove that. So what happens now with claim? How can I dispute this will i havr to pay 1k for the damage?

Why did you drop the car off and leave so quickly rather than wait the 15 minutes to do an accompanied return inspection?

Regardless, the hire company should provide you with evidence of the damage.

As you have no proof to the contrary and the damage was reported immediately by the hire company, it does seem as though you are liable for the excess.

Sandtree

jubz0800 said:

 im sure when i returned it didnt have any scratches but cannot prove that. So what happens now with claim? How can I dispute this will i havr to pay 1k for the damage?

I am sure many people will allege that car companies will try and pass off old damage for new when the customer hasn't been thorough in checking the car on collection but very few go as far as alleging the company have damaged their own property to attempt to claim the repair costs. 

You are liable for the cost of repairing the damage up to a maximum of £1,000... obviously if the cost is less you just pay the cost.

Arklight

Some car rentals are just legitimised extortion, depending on the branch. I could go on a and on about Avis, both here and in the US. 

The lesson is always get insurance and check everything three times with the  agent before you sign it. 

born_again

You have a right to request your own quotes to fix the damage. You do not have to pay their charge then.

https://www.bvrla.co.uk

BOWFER

Grumpy_chap said:

jubz0800 said:

I hired a car from last week, everything went well up until to the point I dropped it off. Wish I took pictures there and then but I did not and was adamant it had no damage. After 15 mins of dropping it off had a phone call from branch saying there was a long scratch which was bigger than the damage estimator I could not believe it my rental was clearly keyed and its not my damage. She said she will have to put a claim through?? I didnt take out the damage waiver excess reduction so its 1k, my deposit of 200 quid has not returned either. When i told her to take the picture of scratch it was moved inside which seemed crafty and im sure when i returned it didnt have any scratches but cannot prove that. So what happens now with claim? How can I dispute this will i havr to pay 1k for the damage?

Why did you drop the car off and leave so quickly rather than wait the 15 minutes to do an accompanied return inspection?

This is way too harsh, when was the last time you hired a car?
Last umpteen times I've hired a car there's no-one to be seen and you just drop the keys through a box.
However, I always take a video of the car and I always take out hire excess insurance, which is only around £30.
Then if they do come out with some made up damage and take the excess, i can get it back.
I also get to be smug when I refuse their insurance on collecting the car.

Grumpy_chap

BOWFER said:

Grumpy_chap said:

jubz0800 said:

I hired a car from last week, everything went well up until to the point I dropped it off. Wish I took pictures there and then but I did not and was adamant it had no damage. After 15 mins of dropping it off had a phone call from branch saying there was a long scratch which was bigger than the damage estimator I could not believe it my rental was clearly keyed and its not my damage. She said she will have to put a claim through?? I didnt take out the damage waiver excess reduction so its 1k, my deposit of 200 quid has not returned either. When i told her to take the picture of scratch it was moved inside which seemed crafty and im sure when i returned it didnt have any scratches but cannot prove that. So what happens now with claim? How can I dispute this will i havr to pay 1k for the damage?

Why did you drop the car off and leave so quickly rather than wait the 15 minutes to do an accompanied return inspection?

This is way too harsh, when was the last time you hired a car?
Last umpteen times I've hired a car there's no-one to be seen and you just drop the keys through a box.
However, I always take a video of the car and I always take out hire excess insurance, which is only around £30.
Then if they do come out with some made up damage and take the excess, i can get it back.
I also get to be smug when I refuse their insurance on collecting the car.

When I've hired a car, the have a duplicate sheet on collection which you walk round and mark any damage.  Top copy to the office, two to you.  Then, when you give the car back, the sheet is updated with any further damage and the assistant signs it, they keep the second copy, you keep the third.  If you don't wait for the sheet, then that is your risk.  If you have the sheet and the assistant missed it, then any damage falls to the hire company.

I also always take the £30 cover, not the one offered by the car hire company.

jubz0800

Grumpy_chap said:

jubz0800 said:

I hired a car from last week, everything went well up until to the point I dropped it off. Wish I took pictures there and then but I did not and was adamant it had no damage. After 15 mins of dropping it off had a phone call from branch saying there was a long scratch which was bigger than the damage estimator I could not believe it my rental was clearly keyed and its not my damage. She said she will have to put a claim through?? I didnt take out the damage waiver excess reduction so its 1k, my deposit of 200 quid has not returned either. When i told her to take the picture of scratch it was moved inside which seemed crafty and im sure when i returned it didnt have any scratches but cannot prove that. So what happens now with claim? How can I dispute this will i havr to pay 1k for the damage?

Why did you drop the car off and leave so quickly rather than wait the 15 minutes to do an accompanied return inspection?

Regardless, the hire company should provide you with evidence of the damage.

As you have no proof to the contrary and the damage was reported immediately by the hire company, it does seem as though you are liable for the excess.

It was my first time hiring a car, i took pictures only upon collection of the vehicle but not when i dropped it off as i was adamant there was no damage and checked the night before, the reason i left quickly was because the guy who was checking the vehicle told me to do 1 as the branch was closing and I felt being rushed just told me to leave feedback of my experience, i should have not left and waited for him to do his checks but as he was checking he looked all the way round and into the boot didnt mention 1 word about damage, then 15 mins later he took the car in then sent the picture of damage i can show on here, but