Sixt Germany Trouble
Jan 3, 2016, 4:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2
Sixt Germany Trouble
I hired a BMW 4 series with SIXT in Germany for a weekend back in August. The vehicle was returned without any damage.
In december I recieved a bill of 1000 euros for damage caused to the wheel. That's more than 3 months after the end of the rental.
I have told them that the damage was not caused by me and also that if the damage was indeed caused by me then why has it taken them over 3 months to send me this bill. The repair estimate data is of december too.
However, I keep getting the same response from SIXT that "we check damage on a vehicle after each rental and the damage was spotted after your rental". Nothing to tell me why its coming to me after 3 months.
The damage repair estimate is also nearly the same amount as my damage excess.
I was just wondering if any of you had any advice as to how I should proceed with this. I have already tried contacting the customer service department but had no reply.
I would appreciate any help with this.
Regards
Anees
In december I recieved a bill of 1000 euros for damage caused to the wheel. That's more than 3 months after the end of the rental.
I have told them that the damage was not caused by me and also that if the damage was indeed caused by me then why has it taken them over 3 months to send me this bill. The repair estimate data is of december too.
However, I keep getting the same response from SIXT that "we check damage on a vehicle after each rental and the damage was spotted after your rental". Nothing to tell me why its coming to me after 3 months.
The damage repair estimate is also nearly the same amount as my damage excess.
I was just wondering if any of you had any advice as to how I should proceed with this. I have already tried contacting the customer service department but had no reply.
I would appreciate any help with this.
Regards
Anees
Jan 5, 2016, 2:22 am
#2
Company Representative, Sixt Customer Service
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 469
Hi Anees,
I am sorry to hear of the inconvenience!
Please send me the Reservation no. in a PM & I will certainly take a look into this for you & assist where I can ^
Best regards,
Emily
Customer Service Agent UK
I am sorry to hear of the inconvenience!
Please send me the Reservation no. in a PM & I will certainly take a look into this for you & assist where I can ^
Best regards,
Emily
Customer Service Agent UK
Jan 15, 2016, 3:25 pm
#3
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,638
I got something similar as well.
They insist the following:
As you can see from the damage photos (2nd and 3rd photo) they submitted, the damage is on the rim facing the interior of the car, not the exterior facing side.
Sixt is implying that prior to every rental, it is the renters' responsibility to jack the vehicle up, remove each wheel from the axle, examine for possible damage, reinstall the tires and lower the vehicle, before driving off with the vehicle.
Sixt is also implying that as part of their "station wide homogeneous quality standard," after every rental, they too, jack the vehicle up, remove each wheels from the axle and examine for possible damage but yet can't manage to provide a car without dead bugs sticking to the bumper during the summer.
We are checking our cars after every return according to an station wide homogeneous quality standard. By doing so we have noticed a new damage after your return.
You have confirmed the condition of the rental car described on the rental agreement before take over. If you notice a new damage you have the obligation to inform us before take over according to our contractual agreement. We have checked our papers once again and can unfortunately find no evidence for such an information.
You have confirmed the condition of the rental car described on the rental agreement before take over. If you notice a new damage you have the obligation to inform us before take over according to our contractual agreement. We have checked our papers once again and can unfortunately find no evidence for such an information.
- The is new damage.
- If it was pre-existing, I should have reported it when I picked the vehicle, therefore this must be new damage.
As you can see from the damage photos (2nd and 3rd photo) they submitted, the damage is on the rim facing the interior of the car, not the exterior facing side.
Sixt is implying that prior to every rental, it is the renters' responsibility to jack the vehicle up, remove each wheel from the axle, examine for possible damage, reinstall the tires and lower the vehicle, before driving off with the vehicle.
Sixt is also implying that as part of their "station wide homogeneous quality standard," after every rental, they too, jack the vehicle up, remove each wheels from the axle and examine for possible damage but yet can't manage to provide a car without dead bugs sticking to the bumper during the summer.
Last edited by seawolf; Jan 15, 2016 at 3:36 pm
Jan 15, 2016, 4:22 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA, Alaska
Posts: 19
I've read these stories about Hertz Germany, but I was hoping they didn't apply to Sixt. 
I need to rent a car, but frankly I'm scared. It sounds like this practice is rampant, and it's just the luck of the draw whether or not you're subjected to it.
Good luck fighting this; I hope you prevail, and without too much more trouble.
@Anees Khan, have you had a resolution?
I need to rent a car, but frankly I'm scared. It sounds like this practice is rampant, and it's just the luck of the draw whether or not you're subjected to it.
Good luck fighting this; I hope you prevail, and without too much more trouble.
@Anees Khan, have you had a resolution?
Jan 18, 2016, 8:09 am
#6
Company Representative, Sixt Customer Service
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 469
I've read these stories about Hertz Germany, but I was hoping they didn't apply to Sixt.
I need to rent a car, but frankly I'm scared. It sounds like this practice is rampant, and it's just the luck of the draw whether or not you're subjected to it.
Good luck fighting this; I hope you prevail, and without too much more trouble.
@Anees Khan, have you had a resolution?
I need to rent a car, but frankly I'm scared. It sounds like this practice is rampant, and it's just the luck of the draw whether or not you're subjected to it.
Good luck fighting this; I hope you prevail, and without too much more trouble.
@Anees Khan, have you had a resolution?
Best regards,
Gary
Jan 19, 2016, 4:58 am
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,638
Thanks.
Jan 21, 2016, 4:14 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2
@SacCalFlyer I am still working on it... It should be sorted soon. I have hired from sixt before and always got a full damage waiver and never had any trouble. This time I didn't get the full damage waiver and got a bill upto the value of the excess (excess- 1050 euros, bill- 1041 euros). So my advice is to always get a full waiver.
Jan 21, 2016, 4:53 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA, Alaska
Posts: 19
I hope you get yours sorted very soon.
Your advice is sound, however I have no wish to pay that much money for a long rental. I'm going to use my credit card's insurance and let them deal with it if there's an issue I can't easily resolve myself. I hope.
Your advice is sound, however I have no wish to pay that much money for a long rental. I'm going to use my credit card's insurance and let them deal with it if there's an issue I can't easily resolve myself. I hope.
Jan 21, 2016, 7:09 pm
#10
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,638
My rental was covered by my credit card but I wasn't going file a claim on the rim damage as I know I didn't damage it.
Interestingly enough, on this very same rental, there was damage which I was responsible for as it occur when vehicle was in my possession (someone broke a front panel under the headlights when parked overnight at Hyatt Koln). Filed police and Sixt damage report the morning after. After four weeks I emailed Sixt asking them to send me a demand letter so I can file with my credit card to which they replied they considered the matter closed.
So for the damage I was responsible for they decided not to pursue and for the damage I was not responsible for, they made a claim for. Go figure.
Mar 4, 2016, 12:34 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Malaysia & Germany
Posts: 1
Sixt Germany problem
Hi, everyone who had a bad experience with car rentals from Sixt. Unfortunately, I am one of them.
I rented a van in Feb 1, 2016 for less then 24 hours.
I collected the van from the Dessau-Rosslau, Germany office. First of all, the woman at the counter spoke no English, and my german is extremely basic. We spoke briefly and I proceeded to collect the van. The van was parked in the basement of the office complex. When I did the initial check, the van was in perfect condition. However, as I was driving out, I realised the ceiling was too low, but it was too late, as it was the only way to drive the van out.
When I returned the van, the woman said nothing as I tried to tell her that the ceiling in the basement was too low and they shouldnt have parked the van there in the first place. Whether she understood me or not, I don't know, but she just took the keys back from me and wished me goodbye.
I then received a letter while I was away in Malaysia, about a 'schaden' and that they found 10cm scratches on the top of the van (as I warned them in the very beginning).
I wrote a complaint while filling the customer survey, and heard nothing back.
I replied the 'schaden' explaining the situation and also heard heard nothing back.
Now I have received a claims for over 800 Euros for these scratches! They are requesting me to make a transfer to their account.
I am now back in Germany again, and could try to go to the office, but nobody speaks English there which would defeat the purpose. Hoping to get some advise here.
I rented a van in Feb 1, 2016 for less then 24 hours.
I collected the van from the Dessau-Rosslau, Germany office. First of all, the woman at the counter spoke no English, and my german is extremely basic. We spoke briefly and I proceeded to collect the van. The van was parked in the basement of the office complex. When I did the initial check, the van was in perfect condition. However, as I was driving out, I realised the ceiling was too low, but it was too late, as it was the only way to drive the van out.
When I returned the van, the woman said nothing as I tried to tell her that the ceiling in the basement was too low and they shouldnt have parked the van there in the first place. Whether she understood me or not, I don't know, but she just took the keys back from me and wished me goodbye.
I then received a letter while I was away in Malaysia, about a 'schaden' and that they found 10cm scratches on the top of the van (as I warned them in the very beginning).
I wrote a complaint while filling the customer survey, and heard nothing back.
I replied the 'schaden' explaining the situation and also heard heard nothing back.
Now I have received a claims for over 800 Euros for these scratches! They are requesting me to make a transfer to their account.
I am now back in Germany again, and could try to go to the office, but nobody speaks English there which would defeat the purpose. Hoping to get some advise here.
Mar 4, 2016, 2:28 am
#12
Company Representative, Sixt Customer Service
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 469
Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback following your recent rental.
I have now responded to your private message, please respond with the requested details so that I can arrange contact from the commercial claims department in Germany.
I will of course assist you along the way in any way that I can.
Best regards
Pete
Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback following your recent rental.
I have now responded to your private message, please respond with the requested details so that I can arrange contact from the commercial claims department in Germany.
I will of course assist you along the way in any way that I can.
Best regards
Pete
Hi, everyone who had a bad experience with car rentals from Sixt. Unfortunately, I am one of them.
I rented a van in Feb 1, 2016 for less then 24 hours.
I collected the van from the Dessau-Rosslau, Germany office. First of all, the woman at the counter spoke no English, and my german is extremely basic. We spoke briefly and I proceeded to collect the van. The van was parked in the basement of the office complex. When I did the initial check, the van was in perfect condition. However, as I was driving out, I realised the ceiling was too low, but it was too late, as it was the only way to drive the van out.
When I returned the van, the woman said nothing as I tried to tell her that the ceiling in the basement was too low and they shouldnt have parked the van there in the first place. Whether she understood me or not, I don't know, but she just took the keys back from me and wished me goodbye.
I then received a letter while I was away in Malaysia, about a 'schaden' and that they found 10cm scratches on the top of the van (as I warned them in the very beginning).
I wrote a complaint while filling the customer survey, and heard nothing back.
I replied the 'schaden' explaining the situation and also heard heard nothing back.
Now I have received a claims for over 800 Euros for these scratches! They are requesting me to make a transfer to their account.
I am now back in Germany again, and could try to go to the office, but nobody speaks English there which would defeat the purpose. Hoping to get some advise here.
I rented a van in Feb 1, 2016 for less then 24 hours.
I collected the van from the Dessau-Rosslau, Germany office. First of all, the woman at the counter spoke no English, and my german is extremely basic. We spoke briefly and I proceeded to collect the van. The van was parked in the basement of the office complex. When I did the initial check, the van was in perfect condition. However, as I was driving out, I realised the ceiling was too low, but it was too late, as it was the only way to drive the van out.
When I returned the van, the woman said nothing as I tried to tell her that the ceiling in the basement was too low and they shouldnt have parked the van there in the first place. Whether she understood me or not, I don't know, but she just took the keys back from me and wished me goodbye.
I then received a letter while I was away in Malaysia, about a 'schaden' and that they found 10cm scratches on the top of the van (as I warned them in the very beginning).
I wrote a complaint while filling the customer survey, and heard nothing back.
I replied the 'schaden' explaining the situation and also heard heard nothing back.
Now I have received a claims for over 800 Euros for these scratches! They are requesting me to make a transfer to their account.
I am now back in Germany again, and could try to go to the office, but nobody speaks English there which would defeat the purpose. Hoping to get some advise here.
Mar 9, 2016, 9:39 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: OWE, *A-G, EY Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 486
I have had an experience similar to this 18 months ago in Duesseldorf. Rented the car for a week, returning it to the small station on the outskirts of town. Took videos and photos of vehicle, odometer, fuel reading etc.
Then got an email saying I owed them the best part of EUR1000. It wasn't until I really chased them down requesting photos of the vehicle that I noticed they were trying to charge me for damage to a BMW.
We had C class
Then got an email saying I owed them the best part of EUR1000. It wasn't until I really chased them down requesting photos of the vehicle that I noticed they were trying to charge me for damage to a BMW.
We had C class