Dodgy car rental creating a debt bill for me

[Deactivated] on 01/02/2022 - 09:57
Last edited 02/02/2022 - 05:37

Hi all

Hoping to get some guidance from you guys.

I rented a car from a local (QLD) rental company (none of the mainstream like Hertz, etc) for 32 days.

Their business management was generally poor (like charging hidden fees in the name of direct debit, grace fee, late fee, etc).

However, at the end when I returned the car there were some minor scuff on the bumper. I said it is wear and tear arising from 32 days of rental and they accepted (accepted means the person got the keys and drove the car away to a carpark).

The next day I get an email that they have showed the damage to a professional and got $900 quote for repair.

I don't accept that it was a damage to be repaired (very minor marks) or that I am responsible for it. They threaten that if I don't pay they will send debt collectors.

This is a very dodgy business so my email to them to explain receives no reply.

Not sure what I should do especially if a debt collector contacts me later.

Edit: I thank everyone for some very helpful comments (some other lunatic comments were ignored). I proceeded and got multiple quotations which are as low as $190 and will use against the dodgy rental company in the courts

Automotive

closed Comments

  • HelpMeiCantSee on 02/02/2022 - 11:09
    +2

    You must be related to Pam. Man, some people are wild!

  • iCandy on 02/02/2022 - 11:35
    +3

    When you take your extra low quotes to court and the judge laughs at you, you will still have to pay the $900 to fix the car, as well as the court costs and interest of the car rental company.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/02/2022 - 15:17
      -2

      Why the judges laugh, when some quotes showing $190 for repair and the max (I tried really hard and I have 5 quotes) is $395?

      It's now not the question of wear/tear for me. The quote is 3 times the average.

      • gromit on 02/02/2022 - 16:08
        +4

        given the damage the labour alone for removing the bumper and putting it back would be more than that. Sounds like you have gotten a quote from one of those dodgy guys that claim they can buff it out or just use touchup paint to conceal it, this won't be acceptable. $900 might be high, but not obscenely so, remember they will also be out rental time while repairs are done.

      • matt_will_fix_it on 02/02/2022 - 22:51
        +2

        when some quotes showing $190 for repair and the max (I tried really hard and I have 5 quotes) is $395

        That is the quote for the repair. You need to pay for their loss caused by you, not just the repair.

        How about:
        * the time the car can't be rented because its getting repaired? e.g. 4 days at $100/day = $400
        * the the time for someone to drop off the car at the repairers, and someone to pick that person up, for both the drop off and pick up (2 staff, 2 hours each, another $100+)
        * Admin costs for recovering the costs from you, another $200.

        Its already getting close to the amount they quoted you, and I'm sure they have more costs too.

        • wheretobuychocettes on 03/02/2022 - 22:45
          +1

          Don't forget the therapy sessions after conversing with OP.

  • trapper on 02/02/2022 - 12:04
    +2

    If you're renting a car, especially for a long time, it pays to either pay extra for zero excess or have some additional insurance to cover the excess.

    • funnysht on 02/02/2022 - 16:24

      some credit cards also let you cover it…

    • gromit on 02/02/2022 - 16:33

      I go for excess insurance with one of the online providers. costs bugger all, from memory it was about $50 for the week whereas the rental company wanted close to that per day.

  • trapper on 02/02/2022 - 12:11
    +7

    btw, the time to negotiate the cost is now, not in court, you will likely have to pay more when you lose in court.

    So take your low quotes back to the company and ask them to come up with a better cost than $900.

    You could get it reduced a bit, but you will still be paying for this damage. It is not a scuff or minor wear and tear.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/02/2022 - 15:18
      -1

      Thanks, planning to go there tomorrow.

      • Drakesy on 03/02/2022 - 13:15
        +2

        Here's a shovel
        Start digging.

      • gromit on 03/02/2022 - 15:33
        +3

        FYI, when negotiating you want to refrain from threatening, insulting or insinuating they are being unfair or dodgy as everything you have shown says they are not being any of those things. The damage you showed is real and they are fully entitled to it being returned to the condition it was prior to your rental, that doesn't mean a cover up with touch up paint or someone trying to buff over it to conceal it, it means fully restored to as new. If you try showing dodgy quotes for $190 for repairs don't expect the conversation to go well.

  • cbastien on 02/02/2022 - 12:50

    Hello,

    I really hope you get this sorted with the rental company !

    What was the approximate time and location you think you may have it another car ?

    • ankor on 03/02/2022 - 20:59
      +1

      Nice try 'dodgy' rental company haha

      • cbastien on 04/02/2022 - 08:08
        +1

        Asking for a friend who came back back to his well parked car and discovered a new scratch

  • 82norm on 02/02/2022 - 13:03
    +5

    How is OP holding up to this interrogation? Are you able to sit down? This is brutal.

    • burningrage on 03/02/2022 - 20:57

      Ikr! It's like total demolition, The Punisher style. Makes OP or anyone else think twice next time before posting here.

  • BartholemewH on 02/02/2022 - 14:05

    Sounds dodgy. You should definitely fight this in court OP.

    • Lucille Bluth on 02/02/2022 - 18:47

      Sounds dodgy.

      Scraping paint off the car isn't wear or tear, it's damage. Have you seen the damage the OP caused to the car in the photo shared? https://ibb.co/nRYshTn

      • BartholemewH on 03/02/2022 - 01:31
        +3

        Yes I have. I think he deserves his day in court, iykwim ;)

  • gimli on 02/02/2022 - 14:16
    +2

    Looking at the photo looks like car was damaged while rented it and you are not paying for the damage.
    $900 is on the high end for the repairs but this is a rental company who also need to cover admin costs and costs of chasing up people like you…

    • [Deactivated] on 02/02/2022 - 15:21
      -2

      You don't worry about incompetent admin of a dodgy company.

      Everything I have rented from Hertz, budget, etc, they come with a tablet and photograph the entire car in front of you and take possession of it.

      This guy said OK and drove the car away and came up with quote tomorrow morning.

      • gimli on 02/02/2022 - 15:59
        +7

        Well maybe they were incompetent with assessing damage when you returned it.

        But basically you were dishonest to try pass of scratching the car as wear and tear.

        But basically you are being charged for damage when you were renting the car

      • gromit on 02/02/2022 - 16:17
        +7

        Can't say I have ever had that happen with Hertz or Avis. For me I drop the car off at the airport, usually in one of their return bays and return the keys (always take photos myself as proof no damage was done). generally they check after I have returned the vehicle not during the return process.

  • kalithreaver on 02/02/2022 - 14:21
    +5

    Lol this is ridiculous.

    Wear and tear is stuff like your Tyres being worn down.

    Scraping paint off the car isn't wear or tear, it's damage.

  • lltravel on 02/02/2022 - 14:47
    +7

    op what medication are you on?

    that is 100% damage on the bumper not wear and tear

    wear and tear would be small stone chips or maybe bird poo leaving a small mark

    You damaged the car, period

    pay and own up.
    That repair cost would be to paint the whole bumper and that means the car is off the road = lost revenue

    I cant beleive you actually think you have a case. The judge will laugh at you.

  • Herbse on 02/02/2022 - 16:05

    There's no such thing as wear and tear scuff marks. The wind doesn't cause scuff marks.
    You've hit something or allowed something to hit you. Either way, this is your responsibility and owe them money.

    $150 would be for someone to touch it up with a paint brush. Which is not a fix most people would find reasonable. $900 is the price of a new and/or repainted bar

    If I lent my car out to someone and they damaged it. I know which option I would be asking for.

  • funnysht on 02/02/2022 - 16:21

    so let me see you wanted a good deal so went with one of the less well known ones, and then dont buy full insurance, and get a bill for $900 for clearly the damage you caused and complain about it…..Caren….sigh.

  • Marrk on 02/02/2022 - 16:41
    +1

    Any chance it was Enterprise Rent A Car?

    Them and Alamo are generally the cheapest of the bigger companies/more or less the same company. I have recently had Enterprise charge me around $240 for a replacement tyre on a rented car, saying it was returned punctured/that they only replace punctured tyres. Funny how this was not noticed by me at all when returning the car to the airport, and kinda hard to disprove despite having filmed videos of the car on both collection and return.

  • tasty-falafel on 02/02/2022 - 17:11

    Serious question - what would OP need to do if he didn't actually cause the damage? For example, if he parked the car and some idiot scraped his rental as they left the parking spot. It seems it's just his word against the rental company, unless he can get hold of some camera footage right?

    • Mistredo on 02/02/2022 - 17:13

      That's why it is a good idea to take pictures the moment you return the car.

    • gromit on 02/02/2022 - 17:14
      +2

      It doesn't matter whether he personally caused the damage or not, it is whether or not the damage occurred while in his possession. Given he even showed the damage to the person he was handing the keys over too there is little doubt he is liable for it. It is also why you always take photos when you return a vehicle and any photos of any damage on a vehicle when you are collecting it, that way you are covered for any pre existing and any damage that could occur after you returned it.

    • BartholemewH on 03/02/2022 - 01:35

      All he'd have to do is pay the $3000 excess, as he doesn't have the hypothetical offending party's details, and the rental company would look after it.

      • Davo1111 on 04/02/2022 - 12:35

        It doesnt matter about the offending parties details, the 3k comes out of his pocket irrespective of fault

  • OzHunterNSW on 02/02/2022 - 19:12
    -1

    Now, a lot can happen in 32 days.

    What do you mean "scuff mark"…. are we looking at a MacDonalds drive through bollard scrape… a parking lot pylon scrape… a double-b tyer scrape…

    You did have photos of the car's condition upon pick up… and you do have photos of it return… and you do have close ups of this "scuff"…. don't you.

    Take it to the Dep of Fair Trading

  • adn on 02/02/2022 - 20:32

    The image doesn't work anymore. Can someone repost it please?

    • gromit on 03/02/2022 - 10:57
      +1

      Just imagine scrapping the front bumper next to the wheel arch against the cement poles in a parking lot or one of the bollards in a maccas drive through and you would have a good idea of what you are looking at. long horizontal scratches over much of the front of the wheel arch.

      • adn on 03/02/2022 - 11:20

        Thanks for the detail post. Then that's not wear and tear. Usually cost about 500 to repaint a bumper but they mark it up like a insurance job.

  • magikz on 02/02/2022 - 20:38
    +3

    Maybe if everyone is saying you're wrong, you should consider maybe you're wrong instead of insisting you're right.

  • herpaderp on 02/02/2022 - 20:52
    +1

    Some credit cards offer domestic travel insurance which cover the cost of rental car excess. See if your card has such a policy, and if you’re eligible to make a claim.

  • prhino on 02/02/2022 - 21:00
    +2

    I very much doubt you'd get that repaired properly for $190.

  • bmerigan on 02/02/2022 - 22:57

    You should expect to pay for the lost rental income while the car is being fixed too. That might explain the amount quoted.

  • DASHCAM NOW DUDE on 02/02/2022 - 23:40
    +3

    Damn! I'd be happy for it be just $900! Some excess at these rental places are in the thousands!!!

    • BartholemewH on 03/02/2022 - 01:39
      +4

      The excess mentioned by OP is $3000. They are doing him a solid at $900 imo.

    • Mistredo on 03/02/2022 - 11:36

      Honestly, it is crazy there are still people who rent cars without zero excess insurance.

      • jason101 on 03/02/2022 - 12:44

        Many corporates do the math and it works out better to take the risk, up until covid times i'd be renting a vehicle say 15-20 weeks per year while traveling interstate for work, zero accidents over 12+ years of doing this - so when an accident inevitably occurs $3-4k to pay is still cheaper than $100-200 per rental. Some insurance policies also cover rental car excesses.

  • Cave Fire on 03/02/2022 - 01:43

    Yeah, the OP says they never caused that damage. So then they probably should have contacted the rental company when noticing the damage by someone else? Guessing there was no insurance excess reduction option? Quite sure all this will be in t&cs and they get to choose how it's repaired. If the paint is anything above flat eg metallic or paint protected, then $900 is normal, a little above a retail excess

  • exxonsign on 03/02/2022 - 09:08
    +4

    Hey OP, are you a manager for Dunder Mifflin?

    • lachhelix on 04/02/2022 - 16:23

      Guess what? I have flaws…
      Occasionally, I'll hit someone with my car. So sue me

  • enzso on 03/02/2022 - 09:08

    It doesn't help the OP but always always always buy travel insurance to reduce car rental damage excess to $0. $5000 excess cover costs as little as 50 bucks.

  • herecomestheoost on 03/02/2022 - 09:35
    +4

    Lets all hope none of us have to do business with OP. My god the entitlement is strong in this OP

  • trev likes bargains on 03/02/2022 - 10:11
    +1

    OP, Debt collectors cost money. That is a last resort. The rental also has to factor in the loss of income when the car is sent to a crash repairer for a couple of days and they can't rent it. It may not be obvious but they have to pay someone to drop it off and pick it up, taxis both ways, rego, insurance, paper work etc in addition to the crash repairer bill.

    You have to pay. Try to negotiate a price and settle it soon.

    • ol mate on 03/02/2022 - 14:23

      Agree on the negotiation.

      OP should be able to get out of a few expenses - but won't get out of paying the bill:

      • Loss of rental (the damage doesn't make the car unrentable, so they can do it when it isn't required - they should be able to provide a utilisation log to prove otherwise if they never have unrented cars)

      • Rego + insurance (same thing applies - it'd still need to be paid when the car is unrented).

  • CocaKoala on 03/02/2022 - 14:08

    You clearly scraped the car against something solid like a wall or a garage door frame or a tree. $900 is an excellent and fair price for them to clean up after your mess.

    The fact that you think you be should just be able to walk away after causing such damage comes across as extremely entitled and ignorant. That is not how the real world works.

  • diddy50 on 03/02/2022 - 14:15

    If that's what your rental car damage looks like, I wonder what the other car looks like and if you told them you hit them?

    Is this a hit and run scenario? Ouch

  • tonyjzx on 03/02/2022 - 14:29
    +1

    the problem with the OPs thoughts is that he just pays the cheapest ass repair and its all good

    he's not taking into account they have a slew of paperwork to do AND the loss of income due to that car being out of 'production' so to speak

    that car earns money

    it doesnt earn money for that downtime to fix

    also rental companies are shit and they will screw you

    thats what you get from being a shit driver and not getting insurance

  • seabombs on 03/02/2022 - 16:27
    +2

    A long, clearly biased post of a customer wronged by a "dodgy" small business, followed by the delayed reveal of contradictory photographic evidence. And another classic OzB post is born.

    Mirror of photo here for anyone struggling to see it (imgbb doesn't like adblockers I think): https://imgur.com/a/kt3xz18

    • tonyjzx on 03/02/2022 - 18:28

      tbf thats a lot better than i thought it would be

      i mean that would even buff out to a degree with a electric buff device and some meguiars

      • upsidedownlemon on 04/02/2022 - 08:49

        yes but no idea why OP thinks that’s “wear and tear” lol

        • tonyjzx on 04/02/2022 - 20:41
          +1

          ehhh 'wear and tear' in not a concept in the car rental world lol but you get all types on this dumb forum…

          Protip: just say you rent a car and you blow a tyre and you didnt have insurance coverage of that.

          I would go to a tyre place and get a 2nd hand tyre of a similar vintage and fit. Hell… get a new tyre and you're still ahead of the butt reaming you're going to get at the rental place.

          This is the world we live in unfortunately.

  • Plug on 03/02/2022 - 18:29

    Looks like scrapes from a shrub or something, not from another vehicle or street furniture.

  • berry580 on 04/02/2022 - 01:36

    If there's a "scuff", there's damage.
    Just sounds like op wants to weasel out of his responsibility.

  • mini2 on 04/02/2022 - 08:30

    Hmmm OP had the car for 32 days, he could've gone and remedied the damage themselves…

    • ol mate on 04/02/2022 - 12:18

      But why would be waste his time/money doing that when it's "wear and tear"

  • upsidedownlemon on 04/02/2022 - 08:44

    Name and shame!

  • DarkOz on 04/02/2022 - 08:49

    TBH, no way it's normal wear and tear which should have been accepted by the car rental company. OP should have taken it to a car wash with detailing to have it buffed off for about $100 - $150?

    • [Deactivated] on 04/02/2022 - 13:23

      You have to recognise that the scratch (or may have been paint from another vehicle) was so light that I thought it is unimportant. If it had real deep scratch or any kind of dent I would have fixed it for sure.

      I'm sure the solution you said would have worked. However, I thought as said earlier that that kind of mark is acceptable (which is clearly not).

      Even the rental company said they haven't yet fixed it and the car was not in their garage meaning they probably already rent it out. However, they agreed (with little resistance) to take $350 (which is a big discount from the first quote that said pay $900 or deal with debt collectors)

      • DarkOz on 05/02/2022 - 21:51

        Of course you thought it was acceptable and unimportant. I would be too if it was me. Obviously no one wants to pay for the repair. Can’t blame the car rental company for charging you but I do agree $900 is excessive. Personally I think $200 - $300.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/02/2022 - 12:52
    +3

    Update: went to rental company and they agreed for $350

    • burningrage on 04/02/2022 - 13:39
      +1

      +1 for effort.

      • [Deactivated] on 04/02/2022 - 13:47

        That was kind of a deal reached; I promised to remove the two negative google reviews (haha!), and to pay the costs one off. They have two business in parallel (car financing and car rental) but they are the same administration.

        • lltravel on 04/02/2022 - 14:16
          +7

          you're a karen for even leaving a negative review when you're the one who damaged the car. I really hope karma gets you.

          • tonyjzx on 04/02/2022 - 20:43

            @lltravel: carma?

            • ankor on 05/02/2022 - 10:17
              +4

              @[Deactivated]: They are not considered light marks on a bumper. It is well past any industry or legal definition of fair wear and tear and it is considered damage to the vehicle.

              It has also been established that this damage occurred while you had possession of the vehicle. You've already said it was caused by you earlier in this thread.

              Whatever the person at the counter had allegedly said to you does not matter. The only proof you have is your recollection of it. Does the counter person agree to having said you are off the hook? Doubt it.

              If you can't accept the fact that you are responsible for the damages caused by you, then let the car company send it on to their debt collectors or have them take you to court over it. Arguing with the internet is just only going to cause you more grief, because everyone who has seen your pics will tell you that you are dreaming.

              You should also hand in your licence and go back to some simple driving lessons.

              If you can't park a tiny i30 without scraping something then you're a bloody danger to everyone else on the road.

        • Butt Scratcher on 04/02/2022 - 16:26
          +1

          That was kind of a deal reached; I promised to remove the two negative google reviews (haha!),

          You seem awfully proud of yourself for writing a bad review and using it as leverage. Even though you've admitted fault and everyone here agrees it was you who is at fault too

          • tonyjzx on 05/02/2022 - 03:53

            @Butt Scratcher: if the OP knew it was there before he handed the car back why didnt he try to at least fix (or hide!) the problem?

            I mean you're asking for it really.

  • kaleidoscope on 04/02/2022 - 15:29
    +1

    Sorry for your troubles, but those aren’t fair wear and tear in a car (with reference to the link you have attached).

    You will have to pay for that unfortunately. The paint jobs require whole panel to be painted which requires time and hence the quote. What does your insurance say? Best way is to negotiate for a lesser cost through a qualified repair shop. Good luck!

  • trev likes bargains on 06/02/2022 - 19:30

    So how have you progressed with this?

    • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2022 - 10:29

      Paying them directly tomorrow $370 to settle

      • trev likes bargains on 07/02/2022 - 10:36

        Wow, I think thats a great outcome!

        Don't forget to get them to agree that there will be no other payments after that.

  • Ughhh on 01/03/2022 - 10:28

    If you lent someone your car and they returned it to you with scratches, you would be OK with it and put it under "wear and tear" ?

  • dji1111111 on 03/03/2022 - 08:49
    +6

    OP has a mindset of self entitled trash.
    Damages the car and thinks it's normal wear and tear. Probably regularly leaves dings in other car doors and walks away without even a second thought
    Unbelievable how some people think (or don't think, I should say) these days. Common sense doesn't exist anymore.

    • ankor on 03/03/2022 - 13:49
      +1

      utterly shameful behaviour indeed.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2022 - 13:35
      -4

      I see you have targeted me on multiple posts. If I see one more comment like this from you addressing me, I'll lodge a police report for online bullying.

      Moderators ave already been informed.

      • dji1111111 on 05/03/2022 - 14:52

        Omg… multiple posts? It's only this one (you have been criticised for your disgusting behaviour by many in this thread) and the other thread where you have once again conducted in a questionable manner by not sending the gift card after receiving money.
        You know what? Go ahead and do what you have to do. Lol

        If you have time to report me for something as trivial as this, how about you spend that time on refunding the person who paid you for the giftcard you failed to deliver? That will only take you a minute

      • Ughhh on 05/03/2022 - 18:14
        +2

        , I'll lodge a police report for online bullying.

        While you're there, perhaps you can also file a report for not giving someone what they paid for /what you promised aka scammed?

  • bargain77 on 05/03/2022 - 22:50

    I’m happy for the OP to cover the cost and pocket $100 by screwing the rental company and fellow Ozbargainer who believed in you.
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/685789

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