Damages Deposit

Sparkle123

Alderbank said:

I'm sorry that this experience spoilt your holiday in Scotland.

Below is taken from the T&Cs of Bunk Campers just as a typical example of a motorhome hire company here in Edinburgh:

The security deposit is fully refundable within 28 days of return of the vehicle provided there are no outstanding claims or the following conditions:

(a) This security deposit will be used to fund any loss or damage whatsoever to equipment, fixtures, fittings,

windows, cleaning fees, tyres or negligent damage to the vehicle.

(b) The security deposit will be used to fund any cleaning fees. A nominated valeting fee of up to £200/€200 will

be charged against the deposit if the vehicle is not returned with the interior in a clean condition.

An additional fee of £200/€200 will be charged against the deposit if the toilet and waste tank are not emptied and cleaned prior to the return of the vehicle.

An additional fee of £500/€500 will be charged if it is found that smoking has been permitted in the vehicle.

An additional £200/€200 will be charged if an unauthorised pet has been carried in the vehicle.

The hirer irrevocably authorises Bunk Campers to deduct from the security deposit any amounts due to Bunk Campers arising out of this agreement.

A £45/€45 administration fee will be applied in addition to any costs to be deducted from the security deposit.

So a crafty fag in the van plus a different kind of 'deposit' could cost almost £750 including 'admin fee' even though the vehicle's appearance is unmarked.

Similar t&cs to the ones we had. I actually stay in Scotland too so it's definitely not soured my opinion of the place!

I was happy with the deposit process and understood it was fairly typical. What I wasn't happy with was the deposit appearing back in my account and then the company processing a separate debit card payment when they said they didn't keep my card details.

I've learned my lesson though! 

Sparkle123

sheramber said:

Did they return the deposit or did it drop off and appear back in your account  because it had not been claimed it?

Some pending amounts are returned automatically after 7 days.

Now that I don't know. I didn't realise that happened. 

Acceptance of damage aside, it would have been good to have had this information communicated by the company. 

Sparkle123

Alderbank said:

Might be different with motorhomes but hire companies do not always bother to fix bodywork or trim damage on hire cars and vans. The vehicle just goes to auction 'as is', perhaps a little sooner than was planned.
The hirer is billed on a sliding scale for loss of value.

It was dent in the bike rack, size looks about 2cm from what I can see in the photo they have sent.

They are billing us for the cost of replacing and fitting the replacement.

It was a well used bike rack with partially damaged straps and parts so it's annoying that the cost of replacing it is falling to us when it was already in a poor used condition. 

Think we'll need to just suck it up 

Sparkle123

powerful_Rogue said:

Sparkle123 said:

comeandgo said:

You can certainly ask but the company do not have to repair anything.  Have you checked on Trust pilot  or anything on internet about the company possibly trying it on regarding damage?

Well they are charging me for replacement of an item and fitting of it so they should have a quote at least. 

The company don't have to repair anything. They can however still charge for the cost of the part and fitting.

Surely they should still have a quote of some sort though, otherwise how can it be classed as a reasonable charge if no one knows what the correct charge should be. 

powerful_Rogue

Sparkle123 said:

powerful_Rogue said:

Sparkle123 said:

comeandgo said:

You can certainly ask but the company do not have to repair anything.  Have you checked on Trust pilot  or anything on internet about the company possibly trying it on regarding damage?

Well they are charging me for replacement of an item and fitting of it so they should have a quote at least. 

The company don't have to repair anything. They can however still charge for the cost of the part and fitting.

Surely they should still have a quote of some sort though, otherwise how can it be classed as a reasonable charge if no one knows what the correct charge should be. 

Absoutely they should have some kind of quote. Just highlighting that they don't actually have to have the repair carried out.

Brie

I don't know about anyone else but i've never had a bill from a garage for a repair that was a nice round number like £500.  I'd be asking for the bill and before and after photos.  And point out to them that they accepted the vehicle back as undamaged so the dent must have been done after it had been returned.  

Sparkle123

Brie said:

I don't know about anyone else but i've never had a bill from a garage for a repair that was a nice round number like £500.  I'd be asking for the bill and before and after photos.  And point out to them that they accepted the vehicle back as undamaged so the dent must have been done after it had been returned.  

That's my fault the bill was just over £500 but I just rounded down due to lazyness!

I've been sent a before photo. As mentioned above they don't need to actually repair the damage they are charging for but to ce up with a chargeable amount they must have a quote and I'd like to see that. 

Alderbank

leisureoutlet.com has

• Thule Excellent Short Bicycle Carrier for motorhomes £429.99 (RRP: £495.99)
• Fiamma Carry-Bike Caravan Active A-Frame Bicycle Carrier £469.99 (RRP: £504.99) 

Was it one of these?

Manxman_in_exile

Is the hire company entitled to charge the OP for a brand new bike rack to replace a well used one?

I ask because you often read responses on here like "You can't expect to have an old one replaced with a new one as that would be betterment" and it's not entirely clear to me whan this does - and does not - apply...

Sparkle123

Manxman_in_exile said:

Is the hire company entitled to charge the OP for a brand new bike rack to replace a well used one?

I ask because you often read responses on here like "You can't expect to have an old one replaced with a new one as that would be betterment" and it's not entirely clear to me whan this does - and does not - apply...

I'm not sure but playing devil's advocate If this was the damage that rendered it unusable then they are entitled to have a usable working bike rack and if that means a total replacement then I guess it would need to be a total replacement. 

I don't however believe it renders it completely and unusable and anyway you can, i believe source spare parts for it anyway. But they haven't gone down that route they have gone for a brand new option.