rental car charges

[Bigdawg]

Looking for some advice from the croud. Here is the situation: My wife and I rented a car from one of the named brand company's. It was your standard situation at the airport. Walked to the vehicle. Conducted an inspection. Noted same damage to the passenger side rear quarter panel. Documented the damage on the carbon inspection paperwork and took pictures. We had to provide the inspection paperwork to the representative while leaving the rental car facility at the airport. Returned the car two days later. Agent met us and handed us the receipt. Aproximately 30 days later I was having some phone issues and I deleted the pictures of the damage. Aproximately 60 days after the return we received a notice from a collection agency which was representing the rental car company. They said the damage was caused by us and the damage and fees came to $963. I spoke with the manager at that rental car facility (new guy) and they said that #1, they didn't have the inspection paperwork that I handed in and #2, they would not have rented us the car in that condition. So basically there has been some back and forth but they say we owe the damages. Any idea where I should go from here? I could easily just pay the $ but we didn't cause the damage. If I get a lawyer it will most likely cost more than the $963 they want me to pay. Thoughts??

[Bamaman]

I assume you didn't get CDW on the rental. What about using a credit card that pays for rental car physical damage? You could pay an attorney to just write a letter and back out--seeing if the car rental company would cave in. You could also ask for documentation on previous rentals making them prove the car was in good condition then. Last resort would be to turn the damage into your home car insurance policy, as they most often cover you on rental cars damaged in North America.

On modern cars, $963 is very little damage.

I always keep receipts. Lesson to be learned.

[pb4uski]

Any chance that the pictures are backed up out in the cloud somewhere?

If not, then like Bamaman says, if you paid for it with a credit card many credit cards offer some coverage if you use their card... otherwise your insurance.

I suspect that just like you don't have proof that they damage was pre-existing that they don't have "proof" that the damage was caused by you.

[Texas Proud]

One thing that I found out is that some of the places have multiple cameras at the exit and that they can produce those pics of you driving out....


I would insist that the produce the pics showing there was no damage when you left... there are time stamps so they cannot show something from another time...



Also a good lesson to all... it takes a good amount of time for them to get you the damage info... never delete the pics....



Another lesson.... one time when I was working a coworker had the car and it was hit by hail... LOTS of damage... it took 3 months for us to get the first bill for the damage... they also included loss of use so it was pretty high... the company did buy damage waiver but for some reason the stupid receptionist limited the amount on the contract with the rental company... this created a big time problem as the CC refused to pay and also the car insurance company also refused to pay as we had opted for the damage waiver and both said they were then not liable for any damage..

[Sunset]

OP - Do the pictures on your phone save to a SD card ?
If so, take it out now !

And try running one of the undelete programs on it, when photos are deleted on a SD card, or harddrive, they really are not deleted. They are marked as space available for new things to write over.
But if nothing new went in that spot, the image is still there.

One undelete program is rescuePro (there are others, some are free, others are free if you buy a memory card).

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud ..... Also a good lesson to all... it takes a good amount of time for them to get you the damage info... never delete the pics....

.

And keep a copy of the documented dent/scratch/nick drawing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud ..... ..... the company did buy damage waiver but for some reason the stupid receptionist limited the amount on the contract with the rental company... this created a big time problem as the CC refused to pay and also the car insurance company also refused to pay as we had opted for the damage waiver and both said they were then not liable for any damage..

I often wonder why the CC says refuse the damage insurance when renting. Maybe I want double coverage.

[Mr._Graybeard]

A car I rented about a year ago was damaged while it sat in a parking ramp. I sent the rental company's damage claim to my credit card company (Discover), after some paperwork shuffling the credit card company's insurer paid for the damage. Most of my effort was directed at getting the rental company (Enterprise) to send the insurer the documents they wanted. It took about three months to clear up, but in the end I wasn't out any money.

[DrRoy]

Check for CC coverage. My phone is sync'ed with DW's. Any pics we take are also on the other phone.

[Bamaman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunset . And keep a copy of the documented dent/scratch/nick drawing. I often wonder why the CC says refuse the damage insurance when renting. Maybe I want double coverage.

Because both the CDW and the Credit Card insurances are secondary to your personal auto policy. They'll first file on your insurance company before paying anything.

What so many people don't realize is that rental car companies only have liability insurance on their vehicles. They're self insured, and the CDW money goes into a pot to pay for damages. And if customers are personally insured, the CDW pot is actually a profit center for them.

[pb4uski]

^^^^ Interesting info. So even if I pay their ridiculous CDW my insurer will be primary and, at best, the CDW will only pay my deductible if it isn't covered by the credit card insurance coverage? Sounds like a rip-off to me.

[Bigdawg]

Thanks for all of the great responses. My insurance company would easily cover it. I am also pretty sure my cc wold cover it. That's not the point. They shouldn't be responsible. The damage was already there. I ave asked for the evidence that the damage wasn't there when I took the car. So far they have not even responded to that question. I have alawyer friend who I am waiting for a call from. I have made a feeble attempt to try and reserect the photo's. I will try harder. Thanks for the responses. Lesson definately learned on the photo's. I now video and take stills. I think the next time I will actually narrate the video with descriptions and time stamp.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunset . And keep a copy of the documented dent/scratch/nick drawing. I often wonder why the CC says refuse the damage insurance when renting. Maybe I want double coverage.

Simple. You won’t get double coverage - what insurance you buy from the rental car company will be primary and you won’t get any CC benefit.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamaman Because both the CDW and the Credit Card insurances are secondary to your personal auto policy. They'll first file on your insurance company before paying anything. What so many people don't realize is that rental car companies only have liability insurance on their vehicles. They're self insured, and the CDW money goes into a pot to pay for damages. And if customers are personally insured, the CDW pot is actually a profit center for them.

I use a credit card that gives me primary insurance on rental cars. There are a few options out there.

[Aerides]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigdawg Lesson definately learned on the photo's. I now video and take stills. I think the next time I will actually narrate the video with descriptions and time stamp.

Next time you simply don't accept a car with visible damage. Period. Forget the pics. You walk away, go to a competitor, or call an Uber if there's literally nothing else available.

[ivinsfan]

It's too late now, but unless you rented from a small facility, refusing a car with visible damage is usually the best option. we've refused cars with damaged windshields and very minor dents. It's just easier not to mess with it.


Suddenly the onus is on you to prove you didn't cause the damage.

[Octogirl]

+1. Thanks for all the info on rental car insurance. DH and I will be renting a car tomorrow and are prepared.

[Texas Proud]

One other possibility... the last few times we have rented we are told to go to row "C" (whatever level we rented) and pick out a car...


Sometimes we have looked at and sat in 5 or more cars... different brands available, different colors and sometimes different smells... sometimes it is even the miles on the car as I like a newer one over one with 20 to 30K miles....