Car hire fuel dispute

pthompson

I hired a car from Pisa airport with AutoVia -- and returned it with the same fuel level as I collected it.   But they've billed €36 to my credit card (fuel + admin fee).   Our photos show different fuel levels (but odometer readings are identical).   I can only assume they've siphoned-out some fuel.   I've sent my photo, but they're not responded.  Any suggestions on how to proceed please?

DullGreyGuy

pthompson said:

I hired a car from Pisa airport with AutoVia -- and returned it with the same fuel level as I collected it.   But they've billed €36 to my credit card (fuel + admin fee).   Our photos show different fuel levels (but odometer readings are identical).   I can only assume they've siphoned-out some fuel.   I've sent my photo, but they're not responded.  Any suggestions on how to proceed please?

If they were going to the trouble of syphoning they'd take much more than that out. 

Looks like those work as 1/8ths of a tank rather than a continuous read, its certainly possible just a tiny change, moving the car, a slope, different temps etc could all make it drop from just into the 7/8ths to just under but it makes it look like a big drop as the whole block disappears. 

How much did you fill it to before returning it? How far did you drive from filling it up?

eskbanker

I doubt that they'd have siphoned it, and would have thought it more likely that a small movement within the depot may have been enough to nudge the gauge from 7/8 to 3/4 without ticking up the mileage - did you drop the car off out of hours when unattended?

pthompson

eskbanker said:

I doubt that they'd have siphoned it, and would have thought it more likely that a small movement within the depot may have been enough to nudge the gauge from 7/8 to 3/4 without ticking up the mileage - did you drop the car off out of hours when unattended?

Yes, it was out-of-hours / unattended.    So you're suggesting I just accept the €36 charge?

eskbanker

pthompson said:

eskbanker said:

I doubt that they'd have siphoned it, and would have thought it more likely that a small movement within the depot may have been enough to nudge the gauge from 7/8 to 3/4 without ticking up the mileage - did you drop the car off out of hours when unattended?

Yes, it was out-of-hours / unattended.    So you're suggesting I just accept the €36 charge?

I didn't suggest that, no, but was just highlighting that your assumptions about their activities aren't necessarily valid, and trying to help you gauge the strength or otherwise of your case.

Keep_pedalling

It more likely that the (not exactly accurate) fuel gage was on the cusp of dropping a bar when you returned it. Just leaving the car for a short while and turning the ignition on could see that change or even the slight drop in temperature. Had it been a needle type indicated the difference would not have been noticeable. 

Having said that €35 for 1/8th of a tank is a bit steep