Chipped windscreen on hire vehicle

Adele71

Hello,
I recently hired a car from Enterprise without any extra costs taken out, just the rental of the vehicle. Unfortunately on the M25 a speeding vehicle threw up a stone which chipped the windscreen in the drivers vision area.
I returned the car to Enterprise and made them aware of what had happened.  
Because I never took out an extra £15pd fee of the hire period to cover the excess payment they have now debited my account £1,500.00.
My partner contacted the windscreen repair company locally and gave the make of the make of the Cupra Leon and they had repaired the vehicle that morning at a cost of just under £78.00.
My partner went into see the hire car company and asked when I might get back the difference in cost.  Enterprise said that they were not happy with the repair and were organising a replacement windscreen to be fitted and rang the windscreen repair company and told them not to discuss the matter with us anymore.
Am I within my rights to see the invoices for the cost of repair? It has taken all my months wages and left me having to borrow money

eskbanker

The cost chargeable to you isn't just the value of the repair or replacement but also the costs associated with the vehicle being unavailable for hire, plus admin, etc, but that still shouldn't be anywhere near £1500.

sammyjammy

They will refund any balance due to you from the £1500 just as they would seek any extra from you if something were to cost more.  They will need to have finalised the matter first which I've personal experience of takes time, frustrating as that is its what  you signed up to.

Next time you hire a car take out hire car insurance with a third party company, very reasonably priced and invaluable as you've discovered, you can get a one year policy for around £40 which also covers Europe or you can get daily cover.  Its a complete ripoff if you take it with the hire car company.

DullGreyGuy

sammyjammy said:

Next time you hire a car take out hire car insurance with a third party company, very reasonably priced and invaluable as you've discovered, you can get a one year policy for around £40 which also covers Europe or you can get daily cover.  It's a complete ripoff if you take it with the hire car company.

The only warning about standalone insurance is that the company will require evidence of the cost of the repairs which you have to get from the hire car company and that can be very difficult at times.