Incident/Damage Advice
 

On Thursday evening around 9:30 PM, I rented a car from Dollar at AUS. For obvious reasons, I did a walk-around inspection of the car's exterior looking for blaring problems (i.e. dents, broken windows/mirrors, etc.). I should note that it was particularly dark in the airport parking garage where I picked up my car. At this point, I should note that I declined all coverage.

Upon arriving this morning at the AUS Dollar car return, the Dollar employee noticed a scratch (about 10 inches long) on the hood of the car. She claimed that this was my responsibility because it was not noted when I got the car Thursday evening. She requested that I fill out an accident/damage report that basically said I understood that I was liable for the damages. I refused to sign this form -- there was no accident. No "reasonable" person would have noticed the scratch on the car's hood -- especially given the conditions present when I picked up the car.

At this point, I believe they get an estimate. The employee could not give me a "guesstimate," because this was not a scratch that could be buffed out and required a paint job. I assume they will attempt to bill my credit card for the damages.

What would you do in this situation?

Dave

Never had it with Dollar, here's my National story
 

For what it's worth.

Returned car in PHX. They noticed damage. It could have been there when I drove away with the car. It definitely didn't happen when I was in/near the car, but it could have happened at some other time during my rental.

I had my regular State Farm insurance, plus my credit card insurance (MC). $500 deductible on my collision. Damage estimate was about $625. I got National to lower the bill to $500 and got MC to pay the whole thing. No claim against State Farm.

How you handle this really depends on your insurance. I didn't make a huge stink about the possibility that the car was damaged when I drove it away. Why? I suspected that National wouldn't let it go with just my word that it didn't happen when I had the car. When I spoke to the National adjuster he was quite unfriendly about the whole thing. I figured that if I told MC insurance that it must have happened before I rented the car (something I didn't know to be true), they wouldn't have paid anything. So I'd be left to duke it out with National without any help or coverage (unless I wanted to sue MC or make a claim against my State Farm policy). After all, there's nothing to stop National and MC from taking inconsistent positions.

Having considered all of that, I simply submitted the claim to MC telling them that I had no idea how the damage occurred and that it even conceivably could have occurred before I rented the car (completely true).

My only point is that sometimes fighting over all of this doesn't actually help you. In my case, my only out of pocket costs were a couple of stamps on some letters. I still don't know for sure if the car was damages when I had it, but it really doesn't matter.

Hope that helps. I must also say that I'm think about getting a Diner's Club card just for rental cars given that their CDW is primary.

I have learned that if it is dark and your leaving the lot, always write too dark on the inspection slip before leaving lot, 9 out 10 times the attendant will just sign off, thus your one step ahead is case you have a scratch,dent, chip, etc.., alot of times the people checking in cars dont even look at car

Wow, now that is a great idea! I rent from Dollar every Thursday night and it is indeed too dark to tell for sure just about anything that is not blatant. I will start doing this.

Thanks!!! :)

I like that! Thanks. :cool:

*Deleted*
 

*Deleted - duplicate thread*

Hi,

My story is in this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=372216. I just received a bill from Dollar for a damages - $800 to replace the convertible top. Do you think I should demand a second estimate? Should I try to negotiate down the damage claim amount? I'm going to call corporate Dollar offices to handle this situation.

Thanks,
David