Comments on: Broadsided by Budget’s $422 car repair bill — what’s next?

By: Joe Farrell

Joe Farrell — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:29:12 +0000

you have a camera? take a photo of the car when you pick it up – both sides, then when you drop it off. Keep them for 6 months. Then delete them.

Rocket science saves the day.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:57:20 +0000

It’s been about a year or so since I’ve rented a car (last vacation was with my parents in Hawaii and they paid for the rental car…I paid for their hotel room!)
and have never had an ounce of issues with Avis.
I found that with most rental car companies, if you join their executive club (most of them are free to join) or some other similar club, you get far better treatment than if you just walk off the street with an Orbitz printout in your hand.

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:47:32 +0000

This is a scam. I had the same issue with National Car Rental at the Orlando Airport location in March 2009. All was fine when returning the rental, rental folks walked around the car and issued receipt with no damage noted. Six weeks later, I received a letter and invoice from National indicating that their records indicate a vehicle previously rented “may have been damaged” by me. After letters to their headquarters, the BBB, state insurance commissioner, etc., I received a reply from National that they consider the matter “closed”. I have rented 3 times since March and did not use National and took photos of any scratches. Thanks Chris for your suggestions on this when I emailed you a couple months ago.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:38:37 +0000

This is a scam. I always take photographs of every panel on a rental car the day I return it. One time one of the companies contacted me about so-called damage. I wrote back asking the name of their lawyers so I could put mine in touch, and mentioning that I had plenty of photographic evidence. I never heard another thing.

By: Tim@OKC

Tim@OKC — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:07:01 +0000

THIS particular racket is going on in U.S. also. Rented a vehicle from ALAMO in Orlando, Sept ‘08. Upon checkout I was told by Alamo lot attendent that they no longer put the pre-inspection form in the car. I took pictures of the vehicle before leaving lot. Upon return of car, sure enough they found a 1inch “scratch” in the rear bumper. Tried to dispute it with manager on duty, to no avail. Three weeks later I got a repair bill from ALAMO for over $800.00, they stated they had to replace the entire bumper. I went round/round with claims adjuster. It was only AFTER I told / sent him the pre-rental digital pictures, showing the damage existed at rental, that they rescinded the claim. Lesson learned, take digital pictures before leaving lot, and make sure they show any scratches/dings you feel warrant it. I don’t believe this ruse is only being run by ALAMO.

By: Bruce InCharlotte

Bruce InCharlotte — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:40:15 +0000

Be careful and validate that your AmEx or Diners provides the coverage you are expecting. They might not cover your rental outside your home country and the same with your personal car insurance.

By: Jay Cee

Jay Cee — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:24:30 +0000

Rented from Hertz in Zurich a few years ago. Returned car to Kloten Airport a few weeks later. The receptionist walked the car over without comments and issued me the bill from his portable computer. A week later got my Visa card debited by an additional just under the deductible amount. I inquired by e-mail and was told that they had had to buy special products to clean the baby seat that came with the car and was returned in deplorable conditions. There was never a baby seat in that car but they would not budge when I wrote them so. When I finally requested proof that I had signed for that inexistant baby seat they backed down and refunded most of the undue bill without any sort of apology. Still billed me SFR 200 because the car was “very dirty” (it wasn’t). My billing address is in Thailand. They must have decided that I would not understand the “baby seat” charge and let it slip by with the many other charges accumulated during a foreign trip.

My take is that the rental companies are not crooks but some of their franchisees are! I now rent happily from Europcar.

By: Les Wilder

Les Wilder — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:52:57 +0000

Bill K has the right idea. I use a Diners card for all car rentals. It includes primary coverage from the first dollar while most credit cards only cover what your personal insurance does not. The annual cost of the card is cheap insurance for both actual problems and peace of mind.

From previous posts in this column I think we’re all on notice that the rental people are out for every dollar they can scrounge and devil take the customers.

BTW – the nastiest car rental people I’ve ever dealt with have been in the UK.

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:16:01 +0000

When I rent a car, I am methodical. Often times, agents will tell you minor damages are not a problem. It has to be over a certain diameter (2 inches?) for them to notice. I say that’s wonderful, but please document it. I’d rather cover myself and be overtly thorough, than find a nice hefty bill later on. Also, never take the agent’s word on damage. It is YOUR JOB to inspect the car along with him / her. Friendly advice, you are your own best advocate. Tell them to NOTE anything you see, big or small. If they say it doesn’t matter, elaborate that it does to you. Then, should you return the car and they find fault, you have a detail listing of everything on it.

As per companies charging for repairs, I like that idea of asking for the bill after they have been done. I have rented many cars with problems. Rental companies often run their vehicles to the ground. They let damage stay. I say one should refuse to pay unless they tender proof that said damage was fixed. Good suggestions all.

Justin

By: Bill K

Bill K — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:43:25 +0000

Here’s what I do: I rent with my American Express card which provides first dollar coverage for collision (when you decline offered collision coverage) in most countries (check before you go) and offers much better service than Visa or Master Card. I also travel with a tube of rubbing compound to rub out small scratches, and finally taking before and after pictures is a great idea! I have had some minor accidents and this has worked out.