Car rental help

jubz0800

jubz0800 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?

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

If I had spotted this damage a day before which was not there my eyes cannot deceive me I would have reported the damage to crimestoppers and obtained a crime reference number and used that for supporting evidence 

NSG666

jubz0800 said:

If I had spotted this damage a day before which was not there my eyes cannot deceive me I would have reported the damage to crimestoppers and obtained a crime reference number and used that for supporting evidence 

Even if you had spotted the damage beforehand you would still be liable for the repair costs. I don't think you are going to get any advice beyond what has been said already i.e. take it on the chin, put it down to experience and know what to do in the future.
Just hope you've not picked up any speeding tickets or parking offences otherwise you'll get stung for the admin cost of processing them.

jubz0800

Agreed definately learnt how to approach future rentals, does anyone know how long it takes for them to invoice me for the repair?

BOWFER

Grumpy_chap said:

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.

You're missing my point.
When returning a car, there very often isn't the opportunity to do the above.
In fact, I'd say it's been been decades since I've done this, there's often no staff to be seen anywhere and they just do key drops at airports.
Which is why I do the videos, in the absence of any staff to corroborate the lack of damage.
Maybe you only fly during office hours...