Enterprise Van Write off Charges after Roof Damage

yigg

missmardybum said:
I was wondering if anyone had had the same experience or anyone with any knowledge of Enterprise Rentals knows how they come to final charges or what that final charge MAY be if the van is to be scrapped?

Also would be good to know legally where we stand as in if we get charged £30000 or a new van plus loss of hire charges that's a MASSIVE amount for anyone let alone 2 adults on an average wage. 

Thank you in advance.

I am facing the same issue now with Enterprise. Incident occured in July 2024 and I got the full invoice for roof damage in Sep 2024 amounting to £5k. I challenged their right to charge me so much given they failed to notify me of the roof damage exclusion when I picked up and dropped off the van with the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) but was told that the charges are valid. I am appealing to them again to say that Enterprise are being unethical in not making the roof damage exclusion clear at any stage of the process and also failing to inform me of the van's height and hence the charges should be written off.

OP, any update on what happened with your case?

Tuckimunder

Hi Miss Mardy Bum, I was in court last week with the same roof damage issue vs Enterprise, I won the case, mainly on the point specifically relating to the wording of the item in section 3c XV, which has changed in January this year. Our incident occurred in 2023 and the wording of that item was different then, there were other factors eluded to by the judge but if you require further assistance let me know, I have two years worth of emails and correspondence relating to this case. Good luck but I believe if you signed up to the 2024 terms and conditions which now encompass rights of access you may struggle to overturn it.

Heynino3745

I'm in the same position with a different company anything you can provide me with i would greatly appreciate!!

Mildly_Miffed

yigg said:

...and also failing to inform me of the van's height...

If they'd said on collection "by the way, remember that it's 2.6m tall", would it have made the slightest difference?

It's a legal requirement for any vehicle over 3m to have a height indication in the cab, visible from the driver's seat. Below that, it's not.

But ultimately it's the driver's responsibility...

You can see the height of the van.
You can see the height of the aperture that you're about to drive under. That may or may not be marked on the structure.
If you're unsure which is higher, you stop and get out and have a look BEFORE driving under.

MyRealNameToo

Heynino3745 said:

I'm in the same position with a different company anything you can provide me with i would greatly appreciate!!

@Heynino3745 not sure if you are asking in general or specifically to the person that said they won? If its the later the user only ever logged in once and never again so fairly unlikely they are monitoring the thread for replies. 

More generally, as they said, they won it on the basis of the terms and believe they would have lost it under the newer terms. Simply saying "a different company" isnt going to tell people what particular terms you agreed to nor the other important facts.

UnsureAboutthis

I've read something like this before but I find the 'insurance' taken out on a hire van like this hard to follow

If I was to hire a van with a tall roof and damaged the roof,  the insurance taken out with the hire of the van, should it not cover the cost of repairs plus an excess of 250/500 or so pounds? Or are there different levels of insurance, and cars can get full cover and van can't?

WellKnownSid

UnsureAboutthis said:

I've read something like this before but I find the 'insurance' taken out on a hire van like this hard to follow

If I was to hire a van with a tall roof and damaged the roof,  the insurance taken out with the hire of the van, should it not cover the cost of repairs plus an excess of 250/500 or so pounds? Or are there different levels of insurance, and cars can get full cover and van can't?

You are not buying 'insurance'.  You are buying a waiver.  That waiver comes with very clear contractual limits - I think every car / van I've ever hired has had plenty of exclusions including damage to roof and underside, certain theft exclusions, etc.

facade

UnsureAboutthis said:

I've read something like this before but I find the 'insurance' taken out on a hire van like this hard to follow

If I was to hire a van with a tall roof and damaged the roof,  the insurance taken out with the hire of the van, should it not cover the cost of repairs plus an excess of 250/500 or so pounds? Or are there different levels of insurance, and cars can get full cover and van can't?

No insurer in their right mind will cover roof damage on a hire van (unless the premium is in the thousands)

Insurers work on risk: they only cover what might happen (but is fairly unlikely), not what probably will happen.

Most occasional van hirers have spent many years driving cars, and have never once had to consider a height restriction, so they pretty much don't notice they are driving under a low arch until there is a great crunch, and rending of metal/plastic. Very, very easy to do. So easy that it is pretty common, and no insurer will take on the risk.

MyRealNameToo

facade said:

UnsureAboutthis said:

I've read something like this before but I find the 'insurance' taken out on a hire van like this hard to follow

If I was to hire a van with a tall roof and damaged the roof,  the insurance taken out with the hire of the van, should it not cover the cost of repairs plus an excess of 250/500 or so pounds? Or are there different levels of insurance, and cars can get full cover and van can't?

No insurer in their right mind will cover roof damage on a hire van (unless the premium is in the thousands)

Insurers work on risk: they only cover what might happen (but is fairly unlikely), not what probably will happen.

Most occasional van hirers have spent many years driving cars, and have never once had to consider a height restriction, so they pretty much don't notice they are driving under a low arch until there is a great crunch, and rending of metal/plastic. Very, very easy to do. So easy that it is pretty common, and no insurer will take on the risk.

Some do, InsureMyVan provides up to £6,500 of damage to the roof as long as its not a commercial hire, iCarHireExcess £7,500, Questor will cover commercial hire but only give £2,500 

Relatively modest limits but then a policy only costs £10 for a short hire so far from the thousands

facade

MyRealNameToo said:

facade said:

UnsureAboutthis said:

I've read something like this before but I find the 'insurance' taken out on a hire van like this hard to follow

If I was to hire a van with a tall roof and damaged the roof,  the insurance taken out with the hire of the van, should it not cover the cost of repairs plus an excess of 250/500 or so pounds? Or are there different levels of insurance, and cars can get full cover and van can't?

No insurer in their right mind will cover roof damage on a hire van (unless the premium is in the thousands)

Insurers work on risk: they only cover what might happen (but is fairly unlikely), not what probably will happen.

Most occasional van hirers have spent many years driving cars, and have never once had to consider a height restriction, so they pretty much don't notice they are driving under a low arch until there is a great crunch, and rending of metal/plastic. Very, very easy to do. So easy that it is pretty common, and no insurer will take on the risk.

Some do, InsureMyVan provides up to £6,500 of damage to the roof as long as its not a commercial hire, iCarHireExcess £7,500, Questor will cover commercial hire but only give £2,500 

Relatively modest limits but then a policy only costs £10 for a short hire so far from the thousands

That is a surprise!

They will get their fingers burned offering odds of 750:1 on someone who doesn't usually drive a van not taking it under a barrier!

There must be some hidden exclusion.