A chipped windshield scam

What could be dumber than charging car rental customers thousands of dollars for damage they weren’t responsible for (a scam I’ve written about numerous times in this blog)? Bragging to your friends about it.

That’s the predicament that two Billings, Mont., men find themselves in this week after reportedly admitting to conspire to overcharge Thrifty Car Rental customers and insurance companies for cracked windshields and to split profits from the scheme.

Jeffrey R. Loney, 51, who was fleet manager at Thrifty, and Kevin J. Massick, 47, who owned Fas-Break Windshield Repair, each pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. A third defendant, Michael W. Ryan, 35, of Billings, has pleaded not guilty to a 17-count indictment charging him with conspiracy and numerous fraud counts.

Here’s how the scheme worked: According to authorities, customers returning vehicles with any windshield damage, including minor nicks and chips, were told that the windshield had to be replaced. Fas-Break prepared invoices, frequently for more than $1,000, showing replacement of the windshield, when in numerous cases the windshield was not replaced, and chip repairs were done for $25.

In one instance, according to the report, a motorist from Michigan rented a minivan from Thrifty in 2002 to take his family on a tour of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. When he returned the vehicle, he noticed a chip smaller than the head of a pencil eraser. The man was told that the windshield had to be replaced; he protested but eventually gave in, according to authorities. His insurance company paid $1,406 for the “damage.”

According to investigators, there is no evidence that that the minivan’s windshield was ever replaced at Fas-Break. In fact, three other Thrifty customers were cited for windshield chips and had to pay for windshield replacements on the same vehicle. There is no evidence Fas-Break performed the replacements.

How did the men get caught? They apparently boasted to others about how they’d found a way to commit a perfect crime.

This is hardly an isolated case.

Actually, I would not be surprised if authorities in other states began cracking down (no pun intended) on car rental companies who pull the same scam.

Meantime, my advice is to be vigilant and to follow these tips that I outlined in a previous blog posting.

Drive safely.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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