Rental car boo-boo...now what?? - UPDATE BELOW

[Hillbeans]

My DH broke the convertible window the first 30 minutes we were in Florida by putting the top down without realizing our luggage was blocking the top area. It shattered, but luckilly these convertible windows are generally pretty small.

We got a new rental car and had a great vacation, but we're waiting for Budget to contact us.

Has anyone had an "accident" with a rental car and what generally happens next? My DH was told that an agent would call when we're home, but we've been home now for going on 2 weeks.

 

[CarolA]

Are you using your credit card as the insurance coverage? If so, concact the credit card company and let them know what is going on.

Which window did he break? The rear?

 

[Hillbeans]

It was the back little window in the actual convertable top.

I just called Budget....apparently the whole process is done via mail. I'd rather just pay the amount and just be done with it. My poor DH felt awful, and it wasn't less than 30 minutes we were in that car.

 

[CarolA]

WARNING!
The amount will be much higher then you think. Make sure they send you PROOF! I have read of Rental car companies just asking for $1,000 bucks just to see if they could get it.

What kind of convertible was it? On mine the top won't go down if something is blocking the space it has to go to just to prevent this. It just stops moving and the warning light comes on on the dash!

 

[Hillbeans]

That's the problem...it was a Chrysler Seabring. We had rented a Ford Escape but they were out of those, so we got this one. We were trying to adjust our luggage at our first stop outside of the airport. My DH put the top down and CRASH....

We brought the car back and got a Mercury Sable.

We obviously didn't get the insurance and my DH has never driven a convertible and didn't realize our luggage had the area blocked.

I have no issue paying for the broken window, but now i'm scared to death to have to pay for "out of commission" charges on the car. It sounds like these things are outsourced and we'll get a note from Budget at some point in the future.I get the feeling we'll be getting a huge bill for this whole mess.

 

[CarolA]

On out of commission, they are required to prove to you that they rented ALL of their other convertibles. So ask them to send you the full rental records for the MCO location. (According to the person in my office who deals with this, that scares them off 99.9% of the time!)

 

[ktglads]

Last summer my friend had her purse stolen at Universal. (She left it in a bathroom and when she came back it was gone). Well, we had a slight problem of having the rental car key in the purse. Luckily we were searching through the car earlier and noticed a spare key so we called AAA and got the car opened so that we could use the second key. We filed a police report and let National know, but besides a vague letter saying that the case was being investigated, we have heard nothing about the incident. This was almost 9 months ago. Also, we had no additional insurance on the rental besides what the credit card companies provide.

 

[Hillbeans]

OMG...I just called a Chrysler dealer and those rear convertible windows go for about $700!!!

I'll probably just eat this bill and not send it to my insurance. I just hope Budget doesn't tack on more to this cost.

What a total mess. If they just had the car we wanted in the first place we'd never even have gotten this convertible. We obviously didn't know how to use it.

 

[VAgal76]

I'm soooo sorry to hear about your ordeal! What a way to start off your vacation. Glass is very easy to replace. They probably already have it done by now. I wouldn't imagine rental car companies letting it sit around with the chance of more damage being done (weather, animals, not to mention increase chance of theft with easier access). So I wouldn't worry so much about "out of commission" charges - it's their livelihood, why not fix it quick and get it back on the road. Also, like CarolA said - you can always ask for reports to back up their claims against you if it seems really out whack. I hope it turns out that they see this a fluke thing and let you slide.

 

[Hillbeans]

Thanks Vagal.....i'm a nervous wreck over this.

 

[DemoBri1]

Originally posted by Hillbeans
OMG...I just called a Chrysler dealer and those rear convertible windows go for about $700!!!

I'll probably just eat this bill and not send it to my insurance. I just hope Budget doesn't tack on more to this cost.

What a total mess. If they just had the car we wanted in the first place we'd never even have gotten this convertible. We obviously didn't know how to use it.

Hillbeans...NEVER, I repeat, NEVER go to a dealer to get an estimated price on what that window would cost, or any repair for that matter. Dealers are notorious for sticking it to you regarding parts and labor. Track down an independent convertible top installer in your area, tell them what happened and what kind of car it was, and let them give you an idea of what it would cost to fix.

Brian

 

[CarolA]

DemoBri1 is probably right.
I had an accident and broke the headlight on my car. I took it to the dealer for an estimate $700! Even the dealer said that he figured my insurance company would want me to go someplace else. (However, my insurance company just wrote the dealer a check! LOL!)


I later totaled this same car. When I was worried that they would want to fix it rather then total it, my boyfriend pointed out that if a headlight cost $700 they would have to total it! (I got sandwiched in an accident and the woman who hit me was going 60 miles an hour when she hit my stopped car.)

 

[ktglads]

I would be willing to bet that the rental agencies either have their own mechanics or a contract with an organization that does all the work that would possibly be needed for them. They most likely would not pay what we would have to pay to get something like a window fixed. I'm guessing that all the extra insurance that they sell people who do not need it would more than coverage the times that damage is actually done to the cars.


Do you think that the rental agenices have their own insurance (glass, collision, etc) on these cars as owners to cover themselves in case of serious accidents to reduce their actual liability?

 

[AJfan]

Do be careful, just today I saw an expose on budget car rental. It was exposing the fact that budget was way, I mean outrageously way overcharging on clients credit cards, changing quoted prices etc..... the show did a real job on this company and I for one, will never rent a car from them. They did have a spoksman and he was no help and pretty much made excuses for all of it (lame I may add!) It was just terrible what they did to those poor people, especially when you are on vacation!
I am afraid either way you are in it deep, but do ask for proof and documents so that maybe they will not go so hard on you. Good Luck!

 

[Hillbeans]

UPDATE -

Just wanted everyone to know I did get the bill yesterday from Budget in regards to the broken window on the convertible. They only charged one day out of service and $420 for the window (which I know the part cost about $800 at my local dealer).

All and all, it's a few hundred less than I had originally expected, and i'm not going to contest the $24 out of service because I feel in this case it's justified.


Just wanted to let everyone know that Budget came through and in no way shape or form stuck it to us. I'd even use them again.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Hillbeans
UPDATE -

Just wanted everyone to know I did get the bill yesterday from Budget in regards to the broken window on the convertible. They only charged one day out of service and $420 for the window (which I know the part cost about $800 at my local dealer).

All and all, it's a few hundred less than I had originally expected, and i'm not going to contest the $24 out of service because I feel in this case it's justified.


Just wanted to let everyone know that Budget came through and in no way shape or form stuck it to us. I'd even use them again.

That is not bad at all. I do have to say, I love your attitude about this entire matter. It is people like you, who take responsibility for their actions, that make the world a nice place to live. I do wish more were like you.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'm agree with Gail. Often, people pass the blame along without taking responsibility for thier actions. Kudos to you for being a stand up person.

 

[HappyMommy2]

I'm glad to hear everything worked out. I agree with the above posters; it's great to see someone who takes responsibility for their mistake and is eager to make things right (and it's also great to see a company that doesn't take advantage of a customer's error!).

 

[Hillbeans]

Wow, thanks everyone.

I try to be a stand up kind of person, and I try not to conduct myself in any other way. It's an unfortunate situation that cost us a few bucks, but what can you do. We still had a great vacation and like I said, Budget has been very professional all along as well. I plan on sending a check, and filing this away for good.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Yes, well done!

Also glad you didn't blame it on the previous administration or anything either