AVIS car hire problem Italy

dccantona1

Hired a vehivle from AVIS Genoa Airport 7 days to drop off in Rome Airport. Less than 12 hours later were hit by a weather bomb killing 5 people in  Sestri Levante. Hail stones had cracked the windscreen and the bodywork looked like it had been hit 60 times with a hammer. A write off. Town was declared a disaster zone . Managed to get out to the local AVIS office who informed us that it has nothing to do with them no replacement available but we should drive the 50 miles back to Genoa to get a replacement.

Fully insured additional insurance. Arranged for roadside assistance but did not show so drove to next city where all car hir outlets were closed for holiday. Eventually picked up by recovery even though I was not specific as to the problem. No offer of replacement or duty of care to get to final destination. Initial charge for the full amount pending on credit card. Called bank to suggest this was on going fraud and that I am reporting it early they were not interested until the fraud has taken place. They actually called me after returning to the UK to ask the whereabouts of their vehicle. Luckily I took a photo and had the tel No. of pick up truck driver.AVIS Italy told me not to worry re the charge as it will not go through and that I will  only be charged for days used. Also no email of contract plus additional insurance.

So can anyone point me to online rental and fully comp insurance policies with Avis. I get Section 75 but will also look at compensation via the EU re duty of care etc. So far the money is pending.

HampshireH

Is this someway towards what you are looking for?

https://production.rent-at-avis.com/avisonline/terms.nsf/TermsByCountryAndLngCategories/IT-GB-Common?OpenDocument

eDicky

I think the storm you experienced occurred Aug 18, during the two weeks' summer holiday throughout Italy beginning with Ferragosto Aug 15. During this period there's really nothing to be done and it's not surprising that you didn't receive much in the way of service.

You say the car was a 'write-off' but you were able to drive it around still. The population continued using their vehicles with plastic covered windows etc. Your windscreen was cracked but not shattered? Was it really not possible to continue your journey..?

It's not clear to me why you are taking about fraud. What is it that you have experienced or expect to experience that indicates anything fraudulent..?

dccantona1

Usually when a car has 50 hammer like blows on the roof its a write off as I dont think it possible to replace a roof. Along with cracked windscreen in 6 places.Being charged for the full 7 day duration when they knew it had been damaged after 12 hours might constitute a fraudelent attempt of illiciting funds after the fact. I don't think I would drive around in the UK with clearview plastic as a windscreen let alone a foreign country.

eskbanker

dccantona1 said:

Being charged for the full 7 day duration when they knew it had been damaged after 12 hours might constitute a fraudelent attempt of illiciting funds after the fact.

No, it's perfectly normal to take payment in advance for a week's car rental, even if that hadn't actually reached your statement by the time you encountered problems.  If you wished to assert a breach of contract once receiving poor service then you could potentially initiate a chargeback or section 75 claim via/against your card provider, but that's a separate matter from the initial payment, and none of this comes anywhere near the criminal act of fraud....

eDicky

dccantona1 said:

Usually when a car has 50 hammer like blows on the roof its a write off as I dont think it possible to replace a roof. Along with cracked windscreen in 6 places.Being charged for the full 7 day duration when they knew it had been damaged after 12 hours might constitute a fraudelent attempt of illiciting funds after the fact. I don't think I would drive around in the UK with clearview plastic as a windscreen let alone a foreign country.

It's for Avis and their insurance provider to decide if a car is to be written off. Avis are a reputable hire firm, they have said you will only be charged for days used so it's worth waiting to see if the account is reconciled correctly before flinging accusations. They might wonder (as I do) why you had the car recovered when it was not immobile, instead of driving back to Genova, as advised, for a replacement.

To be clear, I obviously don't advise driving with a plastic covered windscreen. Car owners in Sestri Levante are/were using makeshift cover for other glass smashed in the storm.