So, had a car on a mid-term hire (several months).

Got unlucky with car parks and both sides of the vehicle got damaged by people opening their doors into them (did they leave a note/details? Did they ****….). Not disputing the damage, but it’s very minor dents and no damage to the paintwork.

Getting quoted for full respray of the panels etc. Seems excessive. Anyone had any joy disputing this kind of thing?

I had a hire car in Greece and dragged it along a concrete pillar in a car park whilst looking at nearby ladies in bikinis, wrecked all of the panels down one side of the car.

Fortunately, and despite my previous protests otherwise,MrsS had paid for full damage waiver, zero excess bells and whistle insurance cover. We therefore just handed the keys back at the end of hire period and walked away. Felt quite smug about it.

That doesn’t help you at all.

A bit late for you now, but I would have taken it to one of those dent repair places before taking it back.

It’s normally best to get this sorted before handing back through a PDR specialist, but a bit late for that.

Do you have pictures of the damage? I would say they should get fixed through PDR if there is no paint damage, and they should try to go down this route. But a full respray for car park dings seems very excessive, and always best to try avoiding adding more paint.

Unfortunately I would imaging they are probably covered in their T+C’s to be able to pass this on.

Have you given it back already? In a similar boat with wife’s company hire car going back soon (was temp stop gap over maternity).

Someone has left a lovely dent in the rear bumper. I’ll be sorting it out before it gets returned. Can imagine they charge a premium for repairs.

Hmmm, another responsive off little/no help, sorry.

If you have legal cover through your home or car insurance, contact them and see if they can challenge it also

check/google for bvrla code of conduct – it specifies the size and type of damage that is acceptable as fair wear/tear.. size of scratch, if it penetrates paint work etc.

Big rental co’s often have a gauge card for checking this..

Your co may not subscribe but industry best practice is a good basis for debate!

A bit of shoot-the-horse-after-the-gates-been-bolted advice but… if you think you’re going to hire a car for more than two days in any year get your own personal damage waiver insurance, meaning you’ve got zero excess in any car. Costs about the same to 2 or 3 days cover by the hire co.

Yeah, would have got it done before returning, but one was super-minor to the point where I figured I’d get away with a small charge and the other one happend the day before it was due back!

tell the rental company to check through all of the previous rental agreements for that vehicle. The branches (assuming it’s only been based at that branch)keep the agreements, and attached to each one should be an appraisal of the condition of the car, which each customer (you included) should have physically checked and signed to agree all damage prior to rental.

If there is any doubt over any damage on any panel on any of the appraisals, it leaves the door open for you to discuss the rest.

It’s worth a go!

Was new when I picked it up – delivery mileage only. Not much room to dispute that the damage happened on my watch!

My experience of car hire claims is if you push them about it they often reduce or go away. Not always mind you.

Rental company will charge full wack for a body shop to fix it then in reality not actually bother or perhaps they’ll get Chipsaway in who’ll do it for £150.

Very varied experience @stevo

One company I got it written off as they agreed damage was less than the size of a 10p coin (they had a definition something like that for what is classified as minor)

One case I got hit £100’s for a repair which I am pretty sure they didn’t carry out as it was a scratch (someone keyed the front wing, thanks). Most hire companies now “self insure” for damage so the amount they charge you just goes straight to them.

I just signed up with zipcar and their policy is any damage they automatically take the excess first (£750) and then you may get some money back later or a bigger bill !

Keep pushing, see what the contract says about minor damage and try and argue that.

One thing to note is that they aren’t allowed to fine you for the damage only charge you the cost of repair. So they have to be able to provide you with proof/invoice for the repair works in a reasonable time.
If they really are minor they normally charge people and don’t bother getting them repaired which is not acceptable.

Found the boot panel & rear bumper caved in on my holiday rental once, quite a bit of damage, again no note left by the offender. Reversed the car up against the big hedge in the hire centre car park when it was returned. Guy went out to check the car, didn’t bother checking the back – came in saying ‘all fine’, signed the form, I walked away – nothing to pay, happy days. Not totally honest I know, but nor was the f***er who caused the damage and drove off.

Have you given the car back? Can they FORCE you to get the repairs done through them/their agent? If not get it done cheaply off someone you know/know of.

If not, i’d echo the legal-cover advice above.

they will also be charging for loss of revenue while the car is being repaired which quickly adds up to the extortionate cost they charge.

Colleague of mine hired a car from Enterprise at Bristol airport.

When he got to our house I noticed an egg on the front tyre and a gouge. It had obviously been washed since the gouge ie it was already there.

He called them up as it was obviously not safe to drive and they hit him with a £100 charge for a new tyre claiming that 3 people check the car over every time they come in and go out. Personally I would have called customer services and had a go at them for sending out a car with a potentially lethal tyre defect but he just paid it.

Next time he was in the country he again hired from Enterprise but in London. got given the keys, put all his stuff in and then realised the interior was filthy. Went back in and swapped the car for a clean one and went on his way. About an hour or so later he realised he had left his jacket on the back seat of the first car. Called the depot and they had already sent the car out with someone else and had not even noticed the jacket. He had to call his phone that was in the jacket and fortunately the person hiring the car answered and he had a 2 hour drive to meet the guy and get his coat and phone back. So much for them checking cars over….

I am now very careful when we hire a car from them but I have seen them measuring marks with a little gauge so a small mark shouldnt be charged for. I have also seen them send cars out with lots of more serious marks so if they ever try and blame us for doing anything I am all set to call the Police (attempted fraud) and demand we see the hire history for that car as I suspect we will see they have already charged some poor sod for the damage several rentals ago.

Rockhopper – Member
Rental company will charge full wack for a body shop to fix it then in reality not actually bother or perhaps they’ll get Chipsaway in who’ll do it for £150.

POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST

This is definitely the case with a few hire companies. The only reason I know this is that a mate of mine has a Chipsaway franchise and does loads if work for a couple of the hire companies who do this!

Rockhopper – Member
Rental company will charge full wack for a body shop to fix it then in reality not actually bother or perhaps they’ll get Chipsaway in who’ll do it for £150.

Hired a van from a company in Cambridge years ago and while in there a woman returned a Micra with a large dent in the plastic bumper (deformed plastic bit). They charged her a load of money and while I was waiting for the van to be bought round, watched someone wander out with a hot air gun, waft it over the dent and prod it from behind to pop it out. Took about 2 mins. I think they charged her £300 for the ‘repair’!

There must be some limit as to what they can call damage and what is normal wear and tear. Especially if you have had the car for several months!?

I scratched a hire van and they took £400-odd off my card.
However, the van had loads of dents. Assuming they don’t get them fixed I asked for an invoice for the repair. They sent me an estimate which was the amount they charged me.

So I’m halfway through doing a chargeback with the credit card company for paying for services not provided – i.e. being charged for a repair they never paid for.

We’ll see what happens.

Who is the hire company? Enterprise allow for a certain circumference.

Also why hire a car for that long? Is it a accident management car.