Originally Posted by
seawolf
Going thru the car for damages with a magnifying glass is how the German car industry operates whether it is Hertz, Sixt, or Enterprise. I have never rented from agencies other than these three while in Germany.
Whether this scam you are illustrating is a scam is up to the German justice system to decide because nobody here on FT can provide proof the same damage is being billed more than once.
What I do know is in Germany you MUST get any damage (no matter the size) you find documented before you leave the lot. If renter had done this, the renter could have easily tell the car rental agency to pound sand when they send a damage payment demand letter.
Accordingly I suspect many of the FT "scam" reports goes back to the renter driving off the lot without checking for damages or wasn't aware the definition of damage is more stringent in Germany than US. Just because you can do so in the US does not mean you can expect to do the same in Germany without consequences.
I also hate the use of the word 'scam' in the title of a thread when a customer or even the retailer simply makes a mistake. However the car rental sector in Europe is one situation where the word can sometimes be justifiably used. Whilst your advice to carefully inspect and document any damage on a car pre-rental is sound, it doesn't mean that some car rental branches are not waiting to unfairly take advantage of the slightest slip up you might make. In some cases on this thread posters are pointing out barely discernable damage and also being charged ridiculous amounts for repairs they are probably not going to carry out!
Even with due diligence one can occasionally be caught out. I have rented from places that are very poorly lit and would never be able to see any minor damage until I drive to a lit area. In some places I simply will not rent in these conditions (without full cover) because I am worried about being duped.
Over the years I've seen/read numerous accounts from reputable "watchdogs" that suggest there is systemic fraud (choose your own word) going on in some car rental markets (Mainly tourist areas in Europe).
This
article by a Europcar manager in the UK has all the 'tricks of the trade'. I like the bit where he/she says that the good reps , who get paid a bonus for finding damage, will find scratches that even he/she can barely see.
The same company is (or was) being investigated by the serious fraud office in UK for its shady
practices regarding charging for damage repair.
Having lived in UK for years and reading and watching various watch dog style articles in newspapers and TV programmes it is very clear to me that some car rental branches in Europe (mainly tourist areas) are running their companies / branches with the purpose of duping their customers.