Originally Posted by
RocketGoBoom
That is not a fair representation of what is typically happening in these scenarios.
Why is it not an accurate representation? Damage was not indicated on the form provided when leaving the rental location, but damage was present upon return. The renters lack of not noticing damage not indicated on the form before leaving the premises is not Hertz's fault and therefore the renter is liable.
Originally Posted by
RocketGoBoom
The rental car companies are not repairing the tiny damage marks even after they extort the payments out of the customers.
Not extortion, the damage occurred at some point. The rental car companies do not need to repair the damage. Unless significant damage, they most likely wait until it is time to sell the car to repair any damage to gain top dollar upon it's sale. The existing damage is notated on the form for the next renter, and the next renter will not be liable for that damage.
Originally Posted by
RocketGoBoom
Then the rental car employees take advantage of the fact that 99% of customers don't notice such tiny blemishes on a rental car.
I don't believe there is any ill-will from the return employees. Your statement of customers not noticing tiny blemishes speaks mostly to US renters who typically rent in the US market and can get away with some vehicle damage. European, Asia, and routine (not occasional) US renters are aware that cars are held to a higher standard in the EU, especially Germany. As stated able, if you have ever rented in Germany, the cars are almost always meticulously clean and undamaged.
I'm sure we would have heard if there were any incentives provided to employees regarding flagging damage on a vehicle.
Originally Posted by
RocketGoBoom
Many people have requested copies of repair bills and they are never produced.
Many people have seen substitute damage pictures sent, that are entirely different from the pictures they themselves took of disputed damage.
I've seen some of these complaints on here and agree that this would be an issue. We have to remember that these are upset people that potentially have been caught trying to get away with damage. Also, if they were under a corporate contract, Hertz will deal directly with the company and not the renter. If substitute pictures were provided, this was most likely a simple mistake and not a scam.
Originally Posted by
RocketGoBoom
There is clearly a scam in the foreign rental car industry to try to take advantage of credit card insurance that most consumers have.
Many of those countries have very weak insurance fraud laws and lax prosecution history for such insurance fraud.
So to foreign car rental operations, it is an easy victimless crime, small enough scale that it won't get prosecuted, and it helps the profit margins dramatically in what would otherwise be a thin profit business.
At the end of the day, it is the credit card insurance businesses that is eating the bills.
I can't speak to anything about the laws and prosecution, but do agree that some countries do have an issue with fraudulently adding additional insurance charges to customers and lying while implying it is needed. I don't see your point on damage claim scams though. Do you really think these credit card companies that provide insurance would not see a red flag if they are constantly receiving insurance claims from any rental car company. And you don't think they have a database of claims received/processed that include plate numbers and the repair order and pictures of the damage?
European road are smaller than US roads. You have to parallel park more often in the EU. Parking spaces are smaller in the EU. Garages are extremely tight in the EU. All these things add up to more chance of a car being damaged if you are not vigilant and careful.