Getting blamed for pre-existing damage... what to do?
 

I rented a car for one day (actually, more like 8 hours) one way from Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco to SFO. When I picked up the car at Fisherman's Wharf I went into their office and signed all the paperwork and the agent had me sign a damage report showing there was no damage to the car even before I had seen the car (the car was a block away in a parking garage). She said that if I found any damage I should drive it over to their office and she would inspect it for me. When I finally got to the car I found a small ding on the front bumper near the headlight, so I went around the block and parked on the street in front of the Budget office.

I asked the agent to come out and inspect the car, and she was a bit reluctant to go out as it was pouring down rain at the time. Finally I got her out there and she looked at the ding and told me that it was no problem and didn't need to be noted on the report. I even mentioned that I was returning the car to a different location and wanted to make sure that it was noted, but again she said that it was nothing to worry about. I think she mostly wanted to get out of the rain. In retrospect I probably should have insisted that she note it on the damage report, but, unfortunately I didn't... I wasn't so fond of standing in the rain either.

Sure enough, 8 hours later when I returned the car at the airport the person checking the car in noticed the ding and asked to see the damage report I had signed, which, of course, said no damage. She said that she marked the car as damaged when she checked it in and stated that I would need to fill out an incident report. I took the incident report up to the counter and explained what happened and the guy behind the counter said that I should just fill out the report stating that the damage was pre-exsiting. The report was really designed to be used after an accident, so I left most of it blank as it didn't apply, but I simply stated that the damage was pre-existing and that it was shown to the agent at the time of the rental and she assured me that it was not a problem.

The guy behind the counter took the report and said that would take care of it, but I'm not entirely certain I believe him. I just checked with my credit card company this morning and so far, at least, I was only charged for the rental and Budget released the $200 hold on the card, but the car was only returned three days ago, so I'm not sure what to expect now.

Do you guys think that this is really over or should I expect another charge or letter from Budget about this incident?

Thanks,
Brett

I think...
 

you worry too much.

A large amt of credit cards pay for damage below your insurance deductible - so that could come in helpful. But I'm sure before that even comes into play, Budget may note your thus far fight of the situation and decide not to pursue it. There are posts throughout the rental car forums of folks getting "dinged" for damages, them telling the first person who contacts them the story, and then never hearing from them again. You should be OK.

And should it, in the unlikley event, go further, and they play the "we lost use of the car x days and therefore you owe us revenue of..." ask them to document that they were sold out and had demand that day. They won't be able to prove it.

first of all, credibility: I am well known as an ex avis manager around here, and avis and budget are different divisions of the same company.

second: small dings aren't really that big. If its really tiny, they get ignored, but they still get documented. "size" if the ding is important. If its less than a silver dollar, it just gets documented and moved on. Greater than a silver dollar, it will go to paintless dent removal before it gets returned, a standard process, and goes on, after bieng documented.

If the damage is great enough to warrant repair, usually when it eclipses the 250 dollar level, they do not automatically charge your card, they will send you a bill, so no worries watching your credit card.

If you get a letter from budget, call your credit card and call your insurance company. explain to them what happened and go from there. to qualify why I wouldn't worry too much about it, I figure that the dent has already been reported in some fashion. If they were such nazi's to catch something that small, they probably already have it documented by a previous renter, which means no letter.

ezmonee...
 

"I don't get paid for this. I do it for the good of the community. And Avis, screw you."

What a great line. You made my morning!

Oh the story that leads to that is even greater than the quote.

Lets just say that avis doesnt like me talking here and has told me as such, and along with my gripes with them, I gave them some very descriptive adjectives,including choice anatomically correct and incorrect phrases relating to where they can go to...

and that, my friends, was my 1000th post.

The above descriptive foray took place at around 450 posts.

Anytime anybody tells you anything....if it is the truth...they never mind writing it down. Only when there is a problem will there be difficulty in someone memorializing what they have said. Remember that...it will serve you well throughout your lifetime.

Since most posters carry a cell phone with camera or a separate camera, I find the easiest way to document pre existing damage to a rental car is to take a few pictures. I leave them on my camera for a few months.
When you take the pictures they are usually marked with date and time. This would provide an opportunity to dispute any later claim for the damage.

Loss of use is based on utilization, which they can easily prove, and is usually around 75-80%. Hence they charge 75% of the daily rate times however many days repair it takes.