Car Hire - Damage on Collection

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Tue 5 Sep 2017 12:27
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - oldroverboy.

This is a separate thread to the one I wrote about recently.

Why do car Hire companies NOT put the damage on the car on the rental contract before you leave the office. Is it really to hope you won't notice it and get "done" for it afterwards? If the vehicle is being checked in and damage is noticed (and I am sure invoiced) then it must be on their systems surely.

The other day I collected a car from Dublin and told the rep that I had a digital camera and would take photos after I declined the excess waiver premium. I still had to go back in and get the damage signed off, and when I pointed out that the car had not been washed, she shruggeg her shoulders and smiled, said oh sorry!

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 12:41
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - gordonbennet

Always worth lifting the boot floor carpet, some companies used to have a large sticker on boot floor with already noted damage marked on the three dimensional car silhouettes, a photo of that if it corresponds with what you have seen with a timestamped photo would be compelling evidence in a dispute.

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 13:08
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - oldroverboy.

I can no longer send an attachment to Hj with a question for him to show the damage, it would make you all laugh!

Avant, can I email it to moderators for hj to use?

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 13:31
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - RobJP

You can upload a picture to a site like tinypic.com (other sites may be available) and then post the link on here. People can then just follow the link to see the picture.

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 13:38
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - oldroverboy.

tinypic.com/r/5aoldy/9

Edited by oldroverboy. on 05/09/2017 at 13:43

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 13:45
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - RobJP

Were there any parts that weren't damaged ?

I've taken to using phone camera to take pictures all round of any hire car. Time, date and GPS location are embedded into the data, so it would be incontrovertible proof if neded.

I've only ever had one company (Sixt) try it on. They were informed that I'd taken a full set of pictures at the start of hire, and I'd view any dubious invoicing as fraud, and take out a private prosecution of the individual concerned for that offence if the CPS declined to do so.

Never heard another word from them, surprisingly ...

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 13:54
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - oldroverboy.

i don't seem to be able to upload the image to the suggested site. don't think the link i posted works

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 14:22
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - RobJP

It was up - assuming it was an inspection sheet, with notes written on it of the various bits of damage ?

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 15:00
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - argybargy

A couple of years ago I arranged to hire a vehicle to drive from the North West down to the Isle of Wight.

My car at the time was exhibiting numerous problems, and I doubted whether it could make the trip in one piece.

Having made the booking I was idly browsing the Net and came across several horrendous stories about people being charged for damage that they insisted had nothing to do with them; so horrendous indeed that I cancelled the car hire booking and didn't make the trip.

I'm never happy about giving my credit card details to anyone, but in the case of car hire companies it would feel like inviting them to a trolley dash at my expense. On the other hand, I've hired many vans over the years and never had a problem, probably because most of them already had the bodywork of the average Mosul gun platform.

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 15:39
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - oldroverboy.

It was up - assuming it was an inspection sheet, with notes written on it of the various bits of damage ?

yes that is it.

58000 kms but inside was clean....

there was a note as well. 100 euros cleanng charge if extra cleaning required, 500 euro charge if luggage compartment cover not in place or missing on collection.. tyres were all cheapo ditchfinders..

And this was a major brand name.

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 16:44
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - oldroverboy.

I forgot to add, tax disc was expired...(Irish)

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Wed 6 Sep 2017 21:37
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - nortones2

Similar experience in Dublin. Two cars rejected. First had bald tyres. Second had a cracked windscreen (major) which the "attendant" suggested I could get fixed at the Cork city depot.

Third example seemed OK. Didn't spot the insurance disc though. Well beyond its sell by!

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Tue 5 Sep 2017 18:19
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - Andrew-T

i don't seem to be able to upload the image to the suggested site. don't think the link i posted works

Nope, doesn't work for me either.

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Wed 6 Sep 2017 19:07
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - oldroverboy.

Just had an interesting conversation with holiday autos and have forwarded the links to this thread and the other. They will look at the things. I have specifically said it is not for compensation, do not want, but will avoid the rental company concerned, HJ knows it, but not sure if i can say as it was so poor an experience.

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Thu 7 Sep 2017 11:10
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - oldroverboy.

Little addition, while i was waiting at the car park at cork airport to find out who to give the keys to, some people were getting (insisting) one of the other companies people to verify damage on the car they were checking out, him saying it's ok, customer insisting it be marked on the report. damage to bonnet and windscreen surround.

Another customer with the same people as me colecting a car with a puncture and being told to go and get it inflated.. (sorry not my probem he retorted) (correctly).

No wonder i avoid car hire generally, and will in future be avoiding these people at all costs.

Who were they... clue ...........4 letter word.

Edited by oldroverboy. on 07/09/2017 at 11:15

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Thu 7 Sep 2017 13:09
Car Hire - Damage on Collection - Hugh Watt

Takes me back a decade or so, when I picked up a car at Cork airport (may well have been the 4-letter outfit). Spotted a couple of scratches/blemishes and popped back to the desk to point this out - nothing written down - "Yes sir, OK sir, that'll be fine" sort of thing. On return, I don't think they even looked at it.

Point is, we're all so justifiably wary of all these hire companies and their much-publicised sharp practices that it's difficult not to approach the transaction overly cautiously and defensively, with individuals whose casual and tolerant attitude may be entirely genuine. Call me naive, but...

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