GF Valet Damaged Our Car

[puzzles]

We just returned from our vacation at the Grand Floridian. Midway through our stay the valet damaged our rental car. We hardly even drove it, it was parked in the valet lot most of the time. When we picked it up one morning to drive to another resort for breakfast we saw the damage. We noticed it as the valet driver drove up. The valet mgr person came over and we immediately filed a claim and we are hoping for the best. They said they have cameras in the lot, and that they would review them. I hope this is true. Has anyone had a similar experience? Did Disney pay for the damage?

 

[bavaria]

Don't expect anything from 'cameras in the lot' - that statement is doubtful.

Your insurance from the rental company should cover it, so long as you had a qualifying rental and appropriate coverage. Otherwise your credit card company may have a rental insurance policy, or your personal policy may apply.

There really isn't any way to prove that the valet damaged your car, nor which valet damaged it.

And yes, I have had several cars valeted and subsequently returned with damage; I just went through my rental car insurance agreement with no pain and no hassle.

My colleague had her rental totalled in Orlando thanks to a tourist driving the wrong way down 535; she had no issues at all with the rental company.

 

[Lewisc]

My memory is at least one rental agency doesn't consider a valet as a free additional driver.

 

[bavaria]

Lewis brings up a good point. However, even if your rental agreement does not cover valet, the valet company insurance should cover the issue.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Lewis brings up a good point. However, even if your rental agreement does not cover valet, the valet company insurance should cover the issue.

And your personal insurance should cover a valet you authorized to drive the rental car, even if the rental car agency does not. Best of luck and le tus knwo how it turns out. -- Suzanne

 

[Fisney Fanatic]

It seems you are not the only person who has encountered problems with the valets at the GF. However, Disney does not run the valet service so they definitely are not liable. The contracted company may be.

www DOT dallasnews DOT com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/travel/columnists/celliott/stories/DN-trouble_0817tra.ART.State.Edition1.4e269a4.html

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It's funny that you mention this because when I was just at WDW I was speaking with a Cast Member at an event called Mickey's Pin Trading Night and he told me a valet at the Grand Floridian also crashed his car and caused some damage.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you took pictures of your car going into the valet area, would that help with a claim against the valet company?

 

[MickeyNicki]

Valet at the YC damaged my car in April. I had a complete melt down when he pulled up and there was a HUGE dent in my driver's side door and the passenger seat was adjusted as well. I refused to leave there until I had the manager of the resort and the valet reimburse me for the damage. I had it repaired when I got home and they reimbursed me the cost.

Now when I valet the car I have the head valet take a tour of the car with me and make a not that there is zero damage to the car. If they do not agree to do that (which no one has done) I will park my car my self at the farthest point possible.

 

[fall08CP]

Valet at the YC damaged my car in April. I had a complete melt down when he pulled up and there was a HUGE dent in my driver's side door and the passenger seat was adjusted as well. I refused to leave there until I had the manager of the resort and the valet reimburse me for the damage. I had it repaired when I got home and they reimbursed me the cost.

Now when I valet the car I have the head valet take a tour of the car with me and make a not that there is zero damage to the car. If they do not agree to do that (which no one has done) I will park my car my self at the farthest point possible.

But the manager of the resort has nothing to do with valet.. they're two completely different companies I'm sorry that it happened though..

 

[MickeyNicki]

But the manager of the resort has nothing to do with valet.. they're two completely different companies I'm sorry that it happened though..

While I was outside yelling at the valet DH went inside to get the manager. We raised such holy heck that I was not taking NO for an answer. I also refused to leave until I had in writing that I would be compensated for the repairs.

 

[bumbershoot]

While I was outside yelling at the valet DH went inside to get the manager. We raised such holy heck that I was not taking NO for an answer. I also refused to leave until I had in writing that I would be compensated for the repairs.

Good for you.

I had my car repaired by a valet service at a hotel in New Orleans. They really shouldn't have had that gorilla driving my car, as the gorilla pulled my stickshift up so hard (guess they weren't used to driving VWs with their funky reverse gear position) it ripped the fabric up around it and loosened the stickshift. I had it in writing they would be repairing it, and they did indeed cover it. So good for you for getting them to do that!

 

[Rpsemont]

In October, our rental car was damaged by valet at BWV. One of the times I went to pick up the car, the valet manager met me and told me that a valet drivers had clipped the front bumper of the car. I could be wrong, but I think our car was parked when it was clipped. He gave me card with a number to call for their insurance. I don't think I would have noticed it if he didn't point it out. I called the rental car company and reported it, but told them the car was driveable and they took a verbal report over the phone and told me to say that a report was already filed when I returned the car. Over the next couple days, I called the valet insurance number and was a little concerned when it seemed that had an in house person handling the claims. I was also concerned because she said the rental car insurance would pay and then would subrogate against valet company. I told her I did not get the CDW and did not want my personal auto ins paying, that she should handle directly with the rental company. I have no idea how it was handled, but we never heard another word.

I hope your claim goes as smoothly

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The valet company should take care of any damage they caused to the vehicle, just make sure you have your ducks in a row and have as much proof as possible that it was caused while in their possession.

 

[puzzles]

Thanks everyone for the info. We have not heard anything yet from anyone. National Rental Car told us that it could take 2 weeks before they would get the estimate for repairs, so I guess I really have to wait for that before I proceed in any direction.

I have photos of the car from earlier in the week where its just fine. And I took photos of the car as it was delivered to us in damaged condition. I dont have the highest of hopes that the GF will ever contact me re: the claim. I will just wait and see what National says, I guess.

Ive done some research online and it seems like MANY cars get damaged in valet, and nothing is ever resolved. Kind of sad.

 

[Jaymie]

We had our truck damaged by a valet at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. As soon as they drove up with our truck we could see the ding. It was a full size extended cab GM truck, so probably larger then they were used to parking in downtown Chicago. When we made the claim with the valet company, they insisted that a supervisor and manager were working that night (at 10 pm on a Friday night) and that the damage was there when we got there. They sent 2 or 3 letters stating that they wouldn't pay the damage. I kept calling the Drake and the valet's insurer and let them know I had all the time in the world and wouldn't stop calling until they paid for the damage which was only about $400 CDN. They got sick of hearing from me every single day and paid us $400 US. The US dollar was worth quite a bit more than the CDN dollar, so I even got a little extra for my trouble.

Normally, I would have let them know that the estimate was in CDN funds, but I figured they could read the address for the body shop on the estimate which was clearly in Canada, where we live.