Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
What did you sign when you returned the car? You said you did not accept responsibility for the damage, but could you have signed something (perhaps without reading it yourself) that said otherwise?
Critical for OP to read through all his paperwork very, very carefully. If the charge was authorized (likely in the original paperwork signed when the car was checked out) and OP later accepted responsibility, in writing, for the vehicle's condition, this becomes very sticky.