So, in addition to Sixt, we also have "scam" stories about Enterprise, Budget, Europcar, Thrifty and Avis. I guess no one will be renting from any of these companies either. I suppose that Hertz is the only company worth using now. ;)

My father had the same negative experience with Europcar, but everything ended fine. They also tried to prove the father's guilt in the appearance of scratches on the door, but they did not know that he had previously photographed the car in service.

In another case, we took a car for hire, stopped at a roadside cafe for a snack. When we were going to go further it was found out that the car did not start, found out that the battery had sat down. We loaded it with a special charge (https://www.bestadvisers.co.uk/car-battery-charger) that was given to us by one of the drivers who were in the same cafe. We spent 4 hours that the battery accumulated the necessary charge and we were able to start the engine.

I do not understand such a negligence of Europcar employees - why do not they care about their cars? Why do such cases as our happen often? And it's good that it's just a battery, but if the malfunction was in the engine or with the brakes?

Just a few times it happened that there was no spare wheel in the car.

If you (or your insurance) actually paid the $1,118, then probably no one else was ever charged for it.

Enterprise is a lot of things, but fraudulent scam artists isn't one of them. Pushy about sales and willing to lie to you to get you to buy something that pads the employees' and locations' sales figures and aggressive about damage, yes, but there is no process in place in the back office to charge someone for damage and then not actually either note it as existing damage in the system or send it to the body shop to actually fix it.

Recovering damages twice
 

I was privy to an interesting argument on the Greek Island of Rhodes recently. A gentleman returned a car with damage to a side panel. He admitted to the damage, but pointed out that there was damage to the same panel marked on the rental contract.

His argument was that they had already recovered the cost of repairing this panel from the previous renter, so there was no reason for him to pay again.

The rental company (I have forgotten whom it was) said that no, he would have to pay for the damage irrespective, as per his contract he was liable for any damage. 250 Euro.

Renter lost the argument, but I thought it was a good try and there is some justice on both sides.

HELP! WHAT DO I DO? I am in the exact same position!