credit card car rental insurance coverage

[valleygirl]

While researching rental car insurance coverage I came across this article with current (2010) information regarding credit card coverage. I thought people might find it interesting and informative.
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/rental-car-credit-card-protections-vary-1273.php

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I don't think there is anything new in that article (read it really quick), but there could be some misleading information, including diminished value which cannot be charged in many states (even if the rental agency wants it). Also utilization logs/loss of use is usually not charged in the end because in a court of law they would in most cases be denied and if the insurance company/credit company holds out long enough, they know the rental companies will give up because they know they'd be required to substantiate the loss in a court of law.

Remember, to claim damages, you have to be able to substantiate damages and loss, you cannot claim an insurance loss without cause or loss and insurance (regardless of the type) will only pay up to the damages deemed when it comes to property and reasonable is not as grey as the article makes it out to be, there are guidelines for insurance and payments, it's not just made up on the fly.

 

[seashoreCM]

But ...

... won't your credit card company take the loss of use charge off of your credit card bill and leave the rental company unpaid (called a charge back) when you dispute that item on your credit card bill(?)

... isn't the fleet utilization log needed for the rental company to prove its case and win a suit they may bring to collect for loss of use(?)

 

[jlewisinsyr]

But ...

... won't your credit card company take the loss of use charge off of your credit card bill and leave the rental company unpaid (called a charge back) when you dispute that item on your credit card bill(?)

... isn't the fleet utilization log needed for the rental company to prove its case and win a suit they may bring to collect for loss of use(?)

That's just it, rental companies will say they are not required and some general front lines will agree, but if the case ever made it to court or was threatened to go to court, they would need to prove their loss, which would mean fleet utilization records.

I think the lesson to be learned from this would be if a rental company insists you pay something, make sure you just don't lie down and agree to it, take the time to fight back.