Sixt Claims Damage, I didn't do any
Oct 22, 07, 3:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BRU
Programs: LH SEN, SN Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche, BA, QF, AF
Posts: 6,856
Sixt Claims Damage, I didn't do any
Rented a car from Sixt last weekend. I definitely did not do any damage to the car, and it looked fine when I returned it. Return location was closed when I returned the car, so there was nobody to do an inspection.
Now got a letter saying there was a damage, "Rear bumper Passengerside scratch down to metal", and "Rear Bumper middle scratch down to metal".
They ask me by giving my statement and filling in a form. But what should I say? I didn't bump the car against anything, I didn't see any damage when I left the car.
I have got insurance through my LH SEN Visa. Anybody knows how to claim?
SmilingBoy.
Now got a letter saying there was a damage, "Rear bumper Passengerside scratch down to metal", and "Rear Bumper middle scratch down to metal".
They ask me by giving my statement and filling in a form. But what should I say? I didn't bump the car against anything, I didn't see any damage when I left the car.
I have got insurance through my LH SEN Visa. Anybody knows how to claim?
SmilingBoy.
Oct 22, 07, 4:20 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: BRE
Programs: FB, SPG, AccorHotels, Hertz, Avis
Posts: 63
When that happened to me on past rentals in germany, I always did the following:
- Don't fill in the form
- Write a letter stating that the damage was not taken during me using the car, not do I know of the car being damaged while it was parked. Thus I assumed that the damage was already there when I rented the car and that I did not notice when picking it up or that it took place after the rental
I've never had to pay for any damages so far...seems to match the Sixt procedure to write these damage notice letters to the last couple of renters. Looks like they just try to see which renter is going to admit having possibly caused the damage.
Try to stay hard :-)
You can always invoke the Visa insurance at a later stage...
Cheers
Natcho
- Don't fill in the form
- Write a letter stating that the damage was not taken during me using the car, not do I know of the car being damaged while it was parked. Thus I assumed that the damage was already there when I rented the car and that I did not notice when picking it up or that it took place after the rental
I've never had to pay for any damages so far...seems to match the Sixt procedure to write these damage notice letters to the last couple of renters. Looks like they just try to see which renter is going to admit having possibly caused the damage.
Try to stay hard :-)
You can always invoke the Visa insurance at a later stage...
Cheers
Natcho
Nov 5, 07, 10:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SNA
Programs: Sixt Platinum, Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz President's Circle, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,520
I rented a VW Passat from Sixt in FRA a couple years ago. The scratch was already there and I checked the paper inside the car which also stated that the damage was already there.
That didn't stop them from sending me a letter saying I was responsible for the damage a month later. I called them right away, and they apologized and said it was a mistake. No problem.
That didn't stop them from sending me a letter saying I was responsible for the damage a month later. I called them right away, and they apologized and said it was a mistake. No problem.
Nov 8, 07, 12:48 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New York, Paris
Programs: AA ExPlat 4MM, AA Life Plat, Lufthansa FT, Delta Basic
Posts: 1,593
Just say NO
To make a long story short and to cover as many cases as possible, as long as there is no damage control on return, state just that and that you have no idea what can have happened to the car after you returned it. All renters try but Sixt is very agressive at it. Just say NO.
Sep 3, 14, 4:55 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2
Sixt damage claim
I am having a similar problem with Sixt. I rented a car from them two weekends ago. We returned it 2 minutes after the office was closed and an employee who was locking up told us not to worry and to put our keys in the drop box. Fine.
I have now received a damage claim for a 3 cm scratch on the bumper. I did not bump or scratch the car, when we left it I did not notice any new damage to the car. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos. They are now trying to charge me 318 for the scratch.
When we picked up the car we were their last customer of the day and were rushed through the initial inspection. On this occasion the damage record was on the employees phone, this is my first problem as I never saw the record of what damage had already been registered I just took the employees word for it, the second problem is that the employee was so busy looking at his phone and then only at the registered damage areas that he could easily have missed any damage not recorded by Sixt.
On top of this a couple of days after I returned the car I noticed that 44.00 had been taken from my card, I later found out that I had been charged an extra day because the car was checked in the morning after I returned it.
Never once was I told that this would be the case by the two Sixt employees that I spoke to. I was told that if I returned the car after the office was closed not to worry and to put the keys in the drop box as previously stated.
I have been sent the photo of the scratch, the letter asking how it happened and now the invoice for the amount of 318.00. I paid to reduce my excess from 1000 to 500 but unfortunately that was not enough.
Any advice would be grately appreciated.
I have now received a damage claim for a 3 cm scratch on the bumper. I did not bump or scratch the car, when we left it I did not notice any new damage to the car. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos. They are now trying to charge me 318 for the scratch.
When we picked up the car we were their last customer of the day and were rushed through the initial inspection. On this occasion the damage record was on the employees phone, this is my first problem as I never saw the record of what damage had already been registered I just took the employees word for it, the second problem is that the employee was so busy looking at his phone and then only at the registered damage areas that he could easily have missed any damage not recorded by Sixt.
On top of this a couple of days after I returned the car I noticed that 44.00 had been taken from my card, I later found out that I had been charged an extra day because the car was checked in the morning after I returned it.
Never once was I told that this would be the case by the two Sixt employees that I spoke to. I was told that if I returned the car after the office was closed not to worry and to put the keys in the drop box as previously stated.
I have been sent the photo of the scratch, the letter asking how it happened and now the invoice for the amount of 318.00. I paid to reduce my excess from 1000 to 500 but unfortunately that was not enough.
Any advice would be grately appreciated.
Sep 3, 14, 5:08 am
#7
Company Representative, Sixt Customer Service
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 469
Sixt Reply
Hi,
My colleague Louise has emailed your partner Jason regarding this query, and please note that this case is now with the claims department so for any further assistance or information you would need to contact them directly.
I can confirm that my colleague has refunded the additional days rental that you were charged. This refund was processed yesterday and so will appear in your account shortly.
Thanks, Jess.
My colleague Louise has emailed your partner Jason regarding this query, and please note that this case is now with the claims department so for any further assistance or information you would need to contact them directly.
I can confirm that my colleague has refunded the additional days rental that you were charged. This refund was processed yesterday and so will appear in your account shortly.
Thanks, Jess.
I am having a similar problem with Sixt. I rented a car from them two weekends ago. We returned it 2 minutes after the office was closed and an employee who was locking up told us not to worry and to put our keys in the drop box. Fine.
I have now received a damage claim for a 3 cm scratch on the bumper. I did not bump or scratch the car, when we left it I did not notice any new damage to the car. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos. They are now trying to charge me 318 for the scratch.
When we picked up the car we were their last customer of the day and were rushed through the initial inspection. On this occasion the damage record was on the employees phone, this is my first problem as I never saw the record of what damage had already been registered I just took the employees word for it, the second problem is that the employee was so busy looking at his phone and then only at the registered damage areas that he could easily have missed any damage not recorded by Sixt.
On top of this a couple of days after I returned the car I noticed that 44.00 had been taken from my card, I later found out that I had been charged an extra day because the car was checked in the morning after I returned it.
Never once was I told that this would be the case by the two Sixt employees that I spoke to. I was told that if I returned the car after the office was closed not to worry and to put the keys in the drop box as previously stated.
I have been sent the photo of the scratch, the letter asking how it happened and now the invoice for the amount of 318.00. I paid to reduce my excess from 1000 to 500 but unfortunately that was not enough.
Any advice would be grately appreciated.
I have now received a damage claim for a 3 cm scratch on the bumper. I did not bump or scratch the car, when we left it I did not notice any new damage to the car. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos. They are now trying to charge me 318 for the scratch.
When we picked up the car we were their last customer of the day and were rushed through the initial inspection. On this occasion the damage record was on the employees phone, this is my first problem as I never saw the record of what damage had already been registered I just took the employees word for it, the second problem is that the employee was so busy looking at his phone and then only at the registered damage areas that he could easily have missed any damage not recorded by Sixt.
On top of this a couple of days after I returned the car I noticed that 44.00 had been taken from my card, I later found out that I had been charged an extra day because the car was checked in the morning after I returned it.
Never once was I told that this would be the case by the two Sixt employees that I spoke to. I was told that if I returned the car after the office was closed not to worry and to put the keys in the drop box as previously stated.
I have been sent the photo of the scratch, the letter asking how it happened and now the invoice for the amount of 318.00. I paid to reduce my excess from 1000 to 500 but unfortunately that was not enough.
Any advice would be grately appreciated.
Sep 3, 14, 9:36 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2
Hi,
My colleague Louise has emailed your partner Jason regarding this query, and please note that this case is now with the claims department so for any further assistance or information you would need to contact them directly.
I can confirm that my colleague has refunded the additional days rental that you were charged. This refund was processed yesterday and so will appear in your account shortly.
Thanks, Jess.
My colleague Louise has emailed your partner Jason regarding this query, and please note that this case is now with the claims department so for any further assistance or information you would need to contact them directly.
I can confirm that my colleague has refunded the additional days rental that you were charged. This refund was processed yesterday and so will appear in your account shortly.
Thanks, Jess.
thank you for the refund for that additional day.
Best
Charlotte
Sep 5, 14, 10:36 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BAEC Gold, Sixt Platinum, HHons Diamond
Posts: 922
My advice when renting from any company is to go around the vehicle very thoroughly on pick up and take pictures of all damage. Very often you will find damage on a vehicle that is not recorded. This doesn't just happen with Sixt.
In fact I cannot remember a time recently where I didn't have to point out additional damage. I think too many renters don't do this and then suffer when they return their car and a more eagle-eyed rental employee notices damage that a colleague might have missed.
In fact I cannot remember a time recently where I didn't have to point out additional damage. I think too many renters don't do this and then suffer when they return their car and a more eagle-eyed rental employee notices damage that a colleague might have missed.
Dec 28, 22, 11:16 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 1
Sixt keeps harassing me - I will never rent from them again and you shouldn't either
I rented from Sixt in September in Germany and it was the worst car rental experience I have ever had. This is the first review I have ever left, regardless of how bad an experience has been, and just for context that I have never complained about a company in a forum before and I am middle aged and have rented cars from virtually every car rental company in the US and Europe.
I rented a car to drive from Frankfurt to Berlin in September of 2022 for a 24 hour rental. It was terrible from start to finish, and won't seem to end.
I took a taxi from our hotel in Frankfurt to the address on the website. When I arrived, the taxi driver said he was confused as he was at the address but didn't see Sixt. Luckily a guy ran out and told him that Sixt had moved and gave him the new location. Seems this was happening enough for him to know why a taxi pulled up there. The new location was back in the direction of the hotel, causing additional charges to drive 15 minutes back toward the hotel.
When we got there there was a long line and the counter agents were being extremely rude to everyone. Apparently a different office was closed and people were coming to this office to try and get a car based on their reservations. The agents were telling everyone with rentals from that other office that there were no more cars and that they were out of luck. I got to the counter and they told me that they were waiting for cars and that we had to wait for them to get one in. After an hour of sitting patiently waiting, I went back up and asked how long it would be as I had dinner reservations. He then informed me that they had an incident with the car carrier that was supposed to supply them the cars for rentals. Therefore, they had to drive the cars one by one from the airport location. Interesting coincidence that the cars they were going to provide had been in an incident that day. Could this be the reason they gave me a damaged car as a rental?
After 2 hours of waiting they called me to the counter and said the car was here. When they tried to bring up the agreement on the e-pad to sign it didn't work. They said to never mind about that and never handed me an agreement and never got a signature from me. The email they later sent with the agreement has no signature on it (the first time I saw it). They sent me to the depths of a garage to get the car through a bunch of stairways and tunnels that made me think of movies where people get abducted in foreign countries, just to be told by the attendant in the garage that the car was not here.
I went back to the office and the attendant was confused that the car was not there. Since it was so hot in the office I waited outside and after another 20 minutes an attendant pulled up in a car and said it was mine and threw the keys to me and told me to go ahead and go, and then ran around the corner. Happy to be on the road, and put that office and experience behind me, I got in the car and left.
I noticed later at a stop that the door and mirror on the driver's side were scratched, but thought just like every other rental I had ever taken that the damage must have been documented. Also, the damage was pretty minor.
When I went to return the car in Berlin, I went to the address I had and parked in a garage and went to the office. There was a sign that the office was closed, to go to another location. I drove to the other location after paying 2 Euros for parking in the first garage, and it was another unmanned garage. I parked and it took me 20 minutes to find the actual office on the street outside. When I got there he told me that I was just minutes over my 24 hours of rental. When I told him about the additional 2 hours I had to wait past the recorded rental time and the bad experience I had in Frankfurt, as well as the additional hour to get to the office he was at, he told me he would not charge for being just over 24 hours. I gave him the keys and left as he told me there was nothing else to do and I could go.
Two days later they sent two e-mails claiming damage. We then had a back and forth of e-mails where I let them know the situation that the damage was already there and they sent back automated messages that I must have done the damage so I needed to pay. I even pointed out that there paperwork was so poorly managed that there was no signed agreement and they were sending me two seperate sets of e-mails, one for the door and one for the mirror. They just kept sending back the same auot-gererated e-mails that they determined that the damage must have happened during my rental, so I had to pay.
In the beginning of November I finally gave in for my own sanity and to move on with my life and paid the bigger of the two (the door damage) since it was the maximum I was responsible for based on the basic insurance I had paid for at 950 Euros according to the un-signed agreement I had been sent.
They responded with a receipt for the damage.
Separately I continue to get auto-generated e-mails about the mirror damage and I keep sending that I have already paid the maximum I am responsible for. The mirror damage they are demanding is 407 Euros.
Finally today I received an e-mail from a person at Sixt that stated that they have determined that the damage from the mirror must have been a separate incident then that of the door, and that the agreement says that it is a maximum of 950 Euros per incident, so I must pay the mirror damage as well.
I replied that this is ridiculous since it was a 24 hour rental, 1) I didn't do the damage at all, but still paid the maximum I am responsible for 2) They are now saying I must have had two separate incidents in 24 hours, (3 When looking at the photos it is obvious it was the same thing that caused all of the damages as the scratches on the door are inches from the damaged mirror and are exactly in line with it.
I cannot believe that they are trying to bypass the maximum I am responsible for by saying it must have been two separate incidents. I can't believe they can just make up rules and charge people extra based on their determinations (which make them more money) without any logic or proof behind them.
I have told them it is now harassment and that they are to cease and desist contacting me, that I will never pay Sixt another cent. If they continue to contact me, maybe I will get a lawyer and start the class action suit that people on here are discussing.
I will definitely never rent from Sixt again and will tell anyone who will listen they should not rent from Sixt as well.
I rented a car to drive from Frankfurt to Berlin in September of 2022 for a 24 hour rental. It was terrible from start to finish, and won't seem to end.
I took a taxi from our hotel in Frankfurt to the address on the website. When I arrived, the taxi driver said he was confused as he was at the address but didn't see Sixt. Luckily a guy ran out and told him that Sixt had moved and gave him the new location. Seems this was happening enough for him to know why a taxi pulled up there. The new location was back in the direction of the hotel, causing additional charges to drive 15 minutes back toward the hotel.
When we got there there was a long line and the counter agents were being extremely rude to everyone. Apparently a different office was closed and people were coming to this office to try and get a car based on their reservations. The agents were telling everyone with rentals from that other office that there were no more cars and that they were out of luck. I got to the counter and they told me that they were waiting for cars and that we had to wait for them to get one in. After an hour of sitting patiently waiting, I went back up and asked how long it would be as I had dinner reservations. He then informed me that they had an incident with the car carrier that was supposed to supply them the cars for rentals. Therefore, they had to drive the cars one by one from the airport location. Interesting coincidence that the cars they were going to provide had been in an incident that day. Could this be the reason they gave me a damaged car as a rental?
After 2 hours of waiting they called me to the counter and said the car was here. When they tried to bring up the agreement on the e-pad to sign it didn't work. They said to never mind about that and never handed me an agreement and never got a signature from me. The email they later sent with the agreement has no signature on it (the first time I saw it). They sent me to the depths of a garage to get the car through a bunch of stairways and tunnels that made me think of movies where people get abducted in foreign countries, just to be told by the attendant in the garage that the car was not here.
I went back to the office and the attendant was confused that the car was not there. Since it was so hot in the office I waited outside and after another 20 minutes an attendant pulled up in a car and said it was mine and threw the keys to me and told me to go ahead and go, and then ran around the corner. Happy to be on the road, and put that office and experience behind me, I got in the car and left.
I noticed later at a stop that the door and mirror on the driver's side were scratched, but thought just like every other rental I had ever taken that the damage must have been documented. Also, the damage was pretty minor.
When I went to return the car in Berlin, I went to the address I had and parked in a garage and went to the office. There was a sign that the office was closed, to go to another location. I drove to the other location after paying 2 Euros for parking in the first garage, and it was another unmanned garage. I parked and it took me 20 minutes to find the actual office on the street outside. When I got there he told me that I was just minutes over my 24 hours of rental. When I told him about the additional 2 hours I had to wait past the recorded rental time and the bad experience I had in Frankfurt, as well as the additional hour to get to the office he was at, he told me he would not charge for being just over 24 hours. I gave him the keys and left as he told me there was nothing else to do and I could go.
Two days later they sent two e-mails claiming damage. We then had a back and forth of e-mails where I let them know the situation that the damage was already there and they sent back automated messages that I must have done the damage so I needed to pay. I even pointed out that there paperwork was so poorly managed that there was no signed agreement and they were sending me two seperate sets of e-mails, one for the door and one for the mirror. They just kept sending back the same auot-gererated e-mails that they determined that the damage must have happened during my rental, so I had to pay.
In the beginning of November I finally gave in for my own sanity and to move on with my life and paid the bigger of the two (the door damage) since it was the maximum I was responsible for based on the basic insurance I had paid for at 950 Euros according to the un-signed agreement I had been sent.
They responded with a receipt for the damage.
Separately I continue to get auto-generated e-mails about the mirror damage and I keep sending that I have already paid the maximum I am responsible for. The mirror damage they are demanding is 407 Euros.
Finally today I received an e-mail from a person at Sixt that stated that they have determined that the damage from the mirror must have been a separate incident then that of the door, and that the agreement says that it is a maximum of 950 Euros per incident, so I must pay the mirror damage as well.
I replied that this is ridiculous since it was a 24 hour rental, 1) I didn't do the damage at all, but still paid the maximum I am responsible for 2) They are now saying I must have had two separate incidents in 24 hours, (3 When looking at the photos it is obvious it was the same thing that caused all of the damages as the scratches on the door are inches from the damaged mirror and are exactly in line with it.
I cannot believe that they are trying to bypass the maximum I am responsible for by saying it must have been two separate incidents. I can't believe they can just make up rules and charge people extra based on their determinations (which make them more money) without any logic or proof behind them.
I have told them it is now harassment and that they are to cease and desist contacting me, that I will never pay Sixt another cent. If they continue to contact me, maybe I will get a lawyer and start the class action suit that people on here are discussing.
I will definitely never rent from Sixt again and will tell anyone who will listen they should not rent from Sixt as well.
Jan 26, 23, 11:56 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Louisville, KY, US
Programs: AAdvantage, Rapid Rewards, Hilton Honors
Posts: 89
I rented from Sixt in September in Germany and it was the worst car rental experience I have ever had. This is the first review I have ever left, regardless of how bad an experience has been, and just for context that I have never complained about a company in a forum before and I am middle aged and have rented cars from virtually every car rental company in the US and Europe.
I rented a car to drive from Frankfurt to Berlin in September of 2022 for a 24 hour rental. It was terrible from start to finish, and won't seem to end.
I took a taxi from our hotel in Frankfurt to the address on the website. When I arrived, the taxi driver said he was confused as he was at the address but didn't see Sixt. Luckily a guy ran out and told him that Sixt had moved and gave him the new location. Seems this was happening enough for him to know why a taxi pulled up there. The new location was back in the direction of the hotel, causing additional charges to drive 15 minutes back toward the hotel.
When we got there there was a long line and the counter agents were being extremely rude to everyone. Apparently a different office was closed and people were coming to this office to try and get a car based on their reservations. The agents were telling everyone with rentals from that other office that there were no more cars and that they were out of luck. I got to the counter and they told me that they were waiting for cars and that we had to wait for them to get one in. After an hour of sitting patiently waiting, I went back up and asked how long it would be as I had dinner reservations. He then informed me that they had an incident with the car carrier that was supposed to supply them the cars for rentals. Therefore, they had to drive the cars one by one from the airport location. Interesting coincidence that the cars they were going to provide had been in an incident that day. Could this be the reason they gave me a damaged car as a rental?
After 2 hours of waiting they called me to the counter and said the car was here. When they tried to bring up the agreement on the e-pad to sign it didn't work. They said to never mind about that and never handed me an agreement and never got a signature from me. The email they later sent with the agreement has no signature on it (the first time I saw it). They sent me to the depths of a garage to get the car through a bunch of stairways and tunnels that made me think of movies where people get abducted in foreign countries, just to be told by the attendant in the garage that the car was not here.
I went back to the office and the attendant was confused that the car was not there. Since it was so hot in the office I waited outside and after another 20 minutes an attendant pulled up in a car and said it was mine and threw the keys to me and told me to go ahead and go, and then ran around the corner. Happy to be on the road, and put that office and experience behind me, I got in the car and left.
I noticed later at a stop that the door and mirror on the driver's side were scratched, but thought just like every other rental I had ever taken that the damage must have been documented. Also, the damage was pretty minor.
When I went to return the car in Berlin, I went to the address I had and parked in a garage and went to the office. There was a sign that the office was closed, to go to another location. I drove to the other location after paying 2 Euros for parking in the first garage, and it was another unmanned garage. I parked and it took me 20 minutes to find the actual office on the street outside. When I got there he told me that I was just minutes over my 24 hours of rental. When I told him about the additional 2 hours I had to wait past the recorded rental time and the bad experience I had in Frankfurt, as well as the additional hour to get to the office he was at, he told me he would not charge for being just over 24 hours. I gave him the keys and left as he told me there was nothing else to do and I could go.
Two days later they sent two e-mails claiming damage. We then had a back and forth of e-mails where I let them know the situation that the damage was already there and they sent back automated messages that I must have done the damage so I needed to pay. I even pointed out that there paperwork was so poorly managed that there was no signed agreement and they were sending me two seperate sets of e-mails, one for the door and one for the mirror. They just kept sending back the same auot-gererated e-mails that they determined that the damage must have happened during my rental, so I had to pay.
In the beginning of November I finally gave in for my own sanity and to move on with my life and paid the bigger of the two (the door damage) since it was the maximum I was responsible for based on the basic insurance I had paid for at 950 Euros according to the un-signed agreement I had been sent.
They responded with a receipt for the damage.
Separately I continue to get auto-generated e-mails about the mirror damage and I keep sending that I have already paid the maximum I am responsible for. The mirror damage they are demanding is 407 Euros.
Finally today I received an e-mail from a person at Sixt that stated that they have determined that the damage from the mirror must have been a separate incident then that of the door, and that the agreement says that it is a maximum of 950 Euros per incident, so I must pay the mirror damage as well.
I replied that this is ridiculous since it was a 24 hour rental, 1) I didn't do the damage at all, but still paid the maximum I am responsible for 2) They are now saying I must have had two separate incidents in 24 hours, (3 When looking at the photos it is obvious it was the same thing that caused all of the damages as the scratches on the door are inches from the damaged mirror and are exactly in line with it.
I cannot believe that they are trying to bypass the maximum I am responsible for by saying it must have been two separate incidents. I can't believe they can just make up rules and charge people extra based on their determinations (which make them more money) without any logic or proof behind them.
I have told them it is now harassment and that they are to cease and desist contacting me, that I will never pay Sixt another cent. If they continue to contact me, maybe I will get a lawyer and start the class action suit that people on here are discussing.
I will definitely never rent from Sixt again and will tell anyone who will listen they should not rent from Sixt as well.
I rented a car to drive from Frankfurt to Berlin in September of 2022 for a 24 hour rental. It was terrible from start to finish, and won't seem to end.
I took a taxi from our hotel in Frankfurt to the address on the website. When I arrived, the taxi driver said he was confused as he was at the address but didn't see Sixt. Luckily a guy ran out and told him that Sixt had moved and gave him the new location. Seems this was happening enough for him to know why a taxi pulled up there. The new location was back in the direction of the hotel, causing additional charges to drive 15 minutes back toward the hotel.
When we got there there was a long line and the counter agents were being extremely rude to everyone. Apparently a different office was closed and people were coming to this office to try and get a car based on their reservations. The agents were telling everyone with rentals from that other office that there were no more cars and that they were out of luck. I got to the counter and they told me that they were waiting for cars and that we had to wait for them to get one in. After an hour of sitting patiently waiting, I went back up and asked how long it would be as I had dinner reservations. He then informed me that they had an incident with the car carrier that was supposed to supply them the cars for rentals. Therefore, they had to drive the cars one by one from the airport location. Interesting coincidence that the cars they were going to provide had been in an incident that day. Could this be the reason they gave me a damaged car as a rental?
After 2 hours of waiting they called me to the counter and said the car was here. When they tried to bring up the agreement on the e-pad to sign it didn't work. They said to never mind about that and never handed me an agreement and never got a signature from me. The email they later sent with the agreement has no signature on it (the first time I saw it). They sent me to the depths of a garage to get the car through a bunch of stairways and tunnels that made me think of movies where people get abducted in foreign countries, just to be told by the attendant in the garage that the car was not here.
I went back to the office and the attendant was confused that the car was not there. Since it was so hot in the office I waited outside and after another 20 minutes an attendant pulled up in a car and said it was mine and threw the keys to me and told me to go ahead and go, and then ran around the corner. Happy to be on the road, and put that office and experience behind me, I got in the car and left.
I noticed later at a stop that the door and mirror on the driver's side were scratched, but thought just like every other rental I had ever taken that the damage must have been documented. Also, the damage was pretty minor.
When I went to return the car in Berlin, I went to the address I had and parked in a garage and went to the office. There was a sign that the office was closed, to go to another location. I drove to the other location after paying 2 Euros for parking in the first garage, and it was another unmanned garage. I parked and it took me 20 minutes to find the actual office on the street outside. When I got there he told me that I was just minutes over my 24 hours of rental. When I told him about the additional 2 hours I had to wait past the recorded rental time and the bad experience I had in Frankfurt, as well as the additional hour to get to the office he was at, he told me he would not charge for being just over 24 hours. I gave him the keys and left as he told me there was nothing else to do and I could go.
Two days later they sent two e-mails claiming damage. We then had a back and forth of e-mails where I let them know the situation that the damage was already there and they sent back automated messages that I must have done the damage so I needed to pay. I even pointed out that there paperwork was so poorly managed that there was no signed agreement and they were sending me two seperate sets of e-mails, one for the door and one for the mirror. They just kept sending back the same auot-gererated e-mails that they determined that the damage must have happened during my rental, so I had to pay.
In the beginning of November I finally gave in for my own sanity and to move on with my life and paid the bigger of the two (the door damage) since it was the maximum I was responsible for based on the basic insurance I had paid for at 950 Euros according to the un-signed agreement I had been sent.
They responded with a receipt for the damage.
Separately I continue to get auto-generated e-mails about the mirror damage and I keep sending that I have already paid the maximum I am responsible for. The mirror damage they are demanding is 407 Euros.
Finally today I received an e-mail from a person at Sixt that stated that they have determined that the damage from the mirror must have been a separate incident then that of the door, and that the agreement says that it is a maximum of 950 Euros per incident, so I must pay the mirror damage as well.
I replied that this is ridiculous since it was a 24 hour rental, 1) I didn't do the damage at all, but still paid the maximum I am responsible for 2) They are now saying I must have had two separate incidents in 24 hours, (3 When looking at the photos it is obvious it was the same thing that caused all of the damages as the scratches on the door are inches from the damaged mirror and are exactly in line with it.
I cannot believe that they are trying to bypass the maximum I am responsible for by saying it must have been two separate incidents. I can't believe they can just make up rules and charge people extra based on their determinations (which make them more money) without any logic or proof behind them.
I have told them it is now harassment and that they are to cease and desist contacting me, that I will never pay Sixt another cent. If they continue to contact me, maybe I will get a lawyer and start the class action suit that people on here are discussing.
I will definitely never rent from Sixt again and will tell anyone who will listen they should not rent from Sixt as well.
Jun 23, 23, 10:47 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Boston
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 35
I know this won't help your current situation, but this is another example of the importance of taking existing damage documentation into your own hands. Your situation is completely understandable due to the difficulty of the pick-up process, but I cannot recommend any stronger taking just 1-2 additional minutes to take cell phone pictures of all exterior surfaces of the car at pick-up and at drop-off. I attempt to do this with every car rental company, but especially with Sixt. While I have no proof, it certainly seems that Sixt employees must either have a damage quota or they get paid a portion of damage charges they originate.
Edited in include final resolution:
So Sixt initially refused and whenever asked for the money stating I am still responsible, I replied the same. Finally I stated I won't pay for these made-up charges and they did back off asking for the same pics I sent in the first place and acknowledging that I don't owe them anything.
Last edited by deltrave; Oct 29, 23 at 5:10 pm Reason: Included final resolution
Jul 1, 23, 8:55 am
#13
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,377
I know it's an unpopular opinion in this forum and I agree that it shouldn't be necessary, but exactly to avoid this kind of hassle and headaches, usually I do book Sixt's 0 deductible insurance if the total cost overall of the rental is still competitive. Yes it is extra money and I have decent rental coverage from a credit card, but the possible claims hassles and back and forth and such are not worth it to me. YMMV.
Last edited by demue; Aug 2, 23 at 11:38 pm
Jul 11, 23, 6:25 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dorchester, Dorset UK
Programs: BA Gold, BMI, ANA, HH Blue, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,051
Sixt Inverness
I have just returned my car at Inverness airport and the employee, in fact, a company director checked the car with me before the rental. When I brought back the car, another employee checked car with me and agreed there was no damage.
today I received an email stating that the front passenger tire wall had a scratch on it. we checked the tires and there was no obvious damage.
today I received an email stating that the front passenger tire wall had a scratch on it. we checked the tires and there was no obvious damage.
Aug 10, 23, 10:48 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: UA 1P 1MM, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 594
Fake damage claims and incorrect charges seem to be name of the game for Sixt. Ive been dealing with one of those since renting from SIXT Chicago in April this year.
Upon return, they claimed the tire was damaged. I have photo showing the same tire condition at the time of pickup. Recently they sent another demand and added the claim that not only was the tire damaged, but that somehow the car was towed and impounded and I need to pay back for those charges. The car was never towed or impounded as it was mostly parked in the driveway of my relatives I was visiting in the area.
After wasting a lot of time on the phone, theyve finally agreed to drop the fake tow and impounding charges but now claiming they never received the photo of the tire I had originally sent. Luckily I still have the photo so was able to email it to them again. Lets see what the next excuse theyll come up with to continue with their damage con.
Did I mention they also billed me for inflated toll charges even though I had an Illinois toll by plate account setup to cover those charges and confirmed it was working fine? Another few hours wasted chasing them down for a refund as they had fraudulently charged $10/day toll administrative fee in addition to the few $ of actual toll.
Total nightmare. My recommendation to anyone planning to rent a car is to avoid Sixt like the plague. I certainly wont be renting from Sixt ever again.
Upon return, they claimed the tire was damaged. I have photo showing the same tire condition at the time of pickup. Recently they sent another demand and added the claim that not only was the tire damaged, but that somehow the car was towed and impounded and I need to pay back for those charges. The car was never towed or impounded as it was mostly parked in the driveway of my relatives I was visiting in the area.
After wasting a lot of time on the phone, theyve finally agreed to drop the fake tow and impounding charges but now claiming they never received the photo of the tire I had originally sent. Luckily I still have the photo so was able to email it to them again. Lets see what the next excuse theyll come up with to continue with their damage con.
Did I mention they also billed me for inflated toll charges even though I had an Illinois toll by plate account setup to cover those charges and confirmed it was working fine? Another few hours wasted chasing them down for a refund as they had fraudulently charged $10/day toll administrative fee in addition to the few $ of actual toll.
Total nightmare. My recommendation to anyone planning to rent a car is to avoid Sixt like the plague. I certainly wont be renting from Sixt ever again.
