Car Rental Damage..Now I got a Bill!!! UPDATE Post 24

[rgf207]

About 2 months ago I was in L.A for business. I rented a car from Thrifty. When I returned the car, they said I damaged it. Now I did not damage it. There was a couple scratches on the bumper that I know I didn't do but they insisted that I did. Even so, these were run of the mill, city parking scratches that would happen no matter what.

Yesterday I get a bill from a place called JNR Adjustment Company for 450.00. This is insane. There is no way this cost that much. What should I do. I'm worried becuase first this place is a Collection Agency which screams Black mark on my credit. This is the first I have heard of this bill. I wasn't sent anything before so I dont know why a collection agency. I have perfect credit and I want to keep it that way. What can I do to assure that my credit will not be harmed and to disput this 450.00 bill

THanks

 

[L107ANGEL]

Customarily you and an agent of the rental place will examine the car and note any damage that is there and note it on the rental contract. Did you do this?

 

[JoiseyMom]

Did you have take out extra insurance when you rented the car? If not, I would contact your insurance company. I would also call corporate, and ask to speak to someone on this matter. Tell them you did not do any damage to the car, and want to see an itemized bill that they want you to pay, and tell them that you will go to your attorney. There is a good chance they will drop it. Just keep going up the chain of command until you find the right person to speak too. Keep records of dates, times and names of people you have spoken to. If they say something good, tell them you want it in writing.

Good Luck.

 

[Randi]

If you were on business, isn't your company's insurance liable for the charges? That is how it is done where I work. Charges would have been sent to the company, who forwards them to the insurance. If unpaid for reasons you don't know, the collection company has your name and is trying to get you to pay.
Check with your company first.

 

[rgf207]

To answer all of the questions above. I travel a lot and rent a lot of cars. the only place where they actually walk around with you is Enterprise. I rent from Thrifty, Budget, Enterprise, Dollar, etc and Enterprise is the only 1 so, no there was no inspection by both parties.

I did not take out insurance because we are not supposed. Our AMEX card is supposed to pay claims. I make all of my reservations myself, so my company's name isn't on my bills, it's just mine. I'm not so much worried about the money, it's the Collection Ageny Calls and Letters. I am going to make some calls tomorrow and try to get to the bottom of this but Since I got notice on a weekend it gives me a few days to work myself up abou it.

 

[Feralpeg]

If you used your Visa to pay for the car, they will cover the repair. Now, I'm not going to tell you it is easy. It is a royal pain. You have to get a bunch of paperwork for them, but you won't have to pay the bill for the car repair.

 

[rgf207]

If you used your Visa to pay for the car, they will cover the repair. Now, I'm not going to tell you it is easy. It is a royal pain. You have to get a bunch of paperwork for them, but you won't have to pay the bill for the car repair.

I used my Corporate American Express Card

 

[DawnCt1]

Like you said, your AMEX should cover your deductible and it looks like it is small enough that it probably didn't even tap into your own auto insurance. I have the additional protection from AMEX that covers the entire car up to $50K. It activates with every rental for $19.95. Of course I am going to get hit for the short term 3 day and 5 day rentals that I have coming up for this summer but then I have a 9 day in there as well. I mark down all of the dings prior to removing the car from the lot with the attendant. I don't care how busy they are. Call your Amex and see what they are doing for you.

 

[MeanLaureen]

Did you sign anything at the time stating that you damaged the car? I would also demand a copy of the estimate to repair it.

 

[rgf207]

Did you sign anything at the time stating that you damaged the car? I would also demand a copy of the estimate to repair it.

Yep...They made me fill out a form or they would not release the car to them and would not give me an expense receipt. I wrote minimal info about myself. They wanted my SSN and I absolutely would not give it to them. I will demand a copy also, I also want pictures of the car showing before and after the repair.

 

[tmt martins]

Hate to point out the obvious but this is the newest ploy of the rental car companies.

They are all offering in one way or another of walk right up pick a car and drive off.No personel contact at all until you hit the gate and drive away.

We also use AMEX Business and they will go after them for you .This is why they go directly to a collection agency as well it's harder for the CC companies to hold this over their head .

We are told if a problem arises just sign whatever is needed fill out as company name on all info never yours and make a note on it that you are disputing the info on the form and damand a copy .Take names and as much info as possible record with phone (after telling them )if you have a voice recorder.

We now take some pics with our cell phone before we get in the car of the normal damage areas ( doors ,bumpers and roof.).Most of the times they don't even get the cars fixed and try to pass this on others as well.They will move car from location to location.

I'm sorry this happened to you and is also a problem with AMEX business ,even though it's in corporates name you are really held accountable (not like Visa & MC).

 

[rgf207]

Hate to point out the obvious but this is the newest ploy of the rental car companies.

They are all offering in one way or another of walk right up pick a car and drive off.No personel contact at all until you hit the gate and drive away.

We also use AMEX Business and they will go after them for you .This is why they go directly to a collection agency as well it's harder for the CC companies to hold this over their head .

We are told if a problem arises just sign whatever is needed fill out as company name on all info never yours and make a note on it that you are disputing the info on the form and damand a copy .Take names and as much info as possible record with phone (after telling them )if you have a voice recorder.

We now take some pics with our cell phone before we get in the car of the normal damage areas ( doors ,bumpers and roof.).Most of the times they don't even get the cars fixed and try to pass this on others as well.They will move car from location to location.

I'm sorry this happened to you and is also a problem with AMEX business ,even though it's in corporates name you are really held accountable (not like Visa & MC).

So are you saying that Amex will help or not as much? I am going to have my company contact AMEX too and probably the rental car company

 

[tmt martins]

So are you saying that Amex will help or not as much? I am going to have my company contact AMEX too and probably the rental car company

AmEX will help take care of this but the time it takes sometimes plays against you as it's in your name.If they get it resolved quickly your all set but if they or the rental/collection start to drag their feet it could black mark you.

Make sure you let them know as well as your company that this is a concern and if you just pay will they reimberse you and go after the rental company.

 

[debden]

I have nightmares of this happening to me when renting a car.We picked up a car once in New Jersey and just before we got there they had washed the car down and it was still dripping wet when we got there.Well we checked everything out and did not see one scratch.We drove the car about 30 miles and stopped and parked near a beach.When we got out of the car we noticed alot of scratches all over the car! We could not believe it.They were not there when we inspected them.So when we told our friends that we were meeting about this strange turn of events they said that the water hides all the scratches.And their harder to see when the car is wet.Well we both worried and worried about what was going to happen for five days until we got back to the rental car place.We thought they were going to say WE scratched the car up while using it.....Luckily they did not.We were positive they were going to blame us for scratches that were on it in the first place.
So sorry this happened to you.I hope everything works out OK.
Debbie

 

[rgf207]

AmEX will help take care of this but the time it takes sometimes plays against you as it's in your name.If they get it resolved quickly your all set but if they or the rental/collection start to drag their feet it could black mark you.

Make sure you let them know as well as your company that this is a concern and if you just pay will they reimberse you and go after the rental company.

Yep. I'm worried about the black mark. Is there a way I can assure this will not happen? I am getting married soon and we are going to buy a house. This could affect a lot.

 

[rgf207]

Duplicate Post

 

[tmt martins]

Yep. I'm worried about the black mark. Is there a way I can assure this will not happen? I am getting married soon and we are going to buy a house. This could affect a lot.

See what your work has to say then AmEX in the morning .Again stress the problem with what happens with MY credit while your investagating this.

Ask about if you pay with they reimburse you or is that admitting guilt and not covered.

Call the headquarters of the rental and ask why nothing was sent and it went right to collections and not on the original form of payment.


Make sure you get Names ,Phone numbers ,dates and time of all coraspondence from here out keep them all in a note pad.

Don't admit to anything with the exception that they were making you miss your flight unless you signed documents you didn't agree with.

 

[rgf207]

I pulled up my credit report and there is nothing on it as of now so that's good. I will talk to my company tomorrow and see what can be done

 

[rgf207]

I did some research and by law they are not allowed to put a negative mark on credit until they notify me of doing so. They have not. And they must cease collections once I notify them of a dispute (which we will do). This is all so stressful

 

[tmt martins]

It will be alright .Just think it does take your mind off your wedding.

I think they do this because a high percentage of people will just pay and it's a revenue generator.Many people are denying coverage and that made them lots of money .So they will do this and everyone will start paying for the coverage again.