Dealing with a similar situation now. 5-day rental from Budget a month ago, last week I got a damage report (8"+ scratch) stating the inspection was done 4 weeks after my return. I did not notice any damage when I picked it up (I take photos of any scratches or light damage) and I've never taken my own photos upon return (lesson learned). I did not do anything to damage the vehicle, but I was concerned I may have missed something when I picked it up in the evening after a full travel day. The initial damage report had a place for a photo, but there was no photo. I tried calling the location that I rented from this morning, but the automated system transferred me to their main CS line, I assume a call center in India. I did not expect to be able to dispute anything with the call center, I just wanted them to send photos. I was shocked I was able to get CS to understand this request and send me an additional damage report with photos. There was damage to the front plastic bumper that I definitely would not have missed when the car was in my possession. Interestingly the inspection report stated return mileage that matched my rental receipt, but there was a photo of the odometer indicating 250 more miles on the vehicle since my return.

I called Sedgwick but they said they had not received the report yet and it usually takes 30-60 days to do so, I will receive another email at that time and should call them back. Very annoying to have to wait this long to get it resolved. Hoping that the mileage discrepancy between the photo and the return receipt is enough evidence to make this go away, lesson definitely learned about taking photos upon returning.