Vauxhall Corsa - Courtesy car scratches scam

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Sat 23 Oct 2010 08:56
Vauxhall Corsa - Courtesy car scratches scam - DoneDoneDone

I recently returned a courtesy car to an insurer approved garage in Wembley. We sorted out my car but then went to check over the cortesy car and found 1 scraped alloy and a neat 6 inch scratch on the passenger front wing that I diodn't recollect seeing before. I kicked myself because I hadn't made my own check prior to walking in, however the eagerness with which they handled this, the practised way that they told me it had happened while the car was "in my care" and the way that they were able to give me a quote off an almost identical recent occurrence left me feeling I may have been scammed. I guess they get a few damaged courtesy cars back all the time and the scenario of one of their staff nipping outside to scratch the car while I'm in the office doing the paperwork seems almost ridiculously paranoid on my part, but I have a real nagging doubt about this incident. I checked on google but dont see anyone else reporting the same sort of thing, normally they say the drop the car off and the garage phones them later on saying they found the scratch dent etc. These guys went through a joint inspection with me so am I just being ridiculously paranoid, or has anyone else seen this sort of thing before?

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Sat 23 Oct 2010 09:38
Vauxhall Corsa - Courtesy car scratches scam - fredthefifth

I know its not quite the same thing and its been a while, but last time I hired I'm sure I was *shown* around the car *and* given a diagram of all the scratches. Were you? Maybe legal advice is required but I think it might be significant because they can't *prove* it happened while in you care.

FTF

Edited by fredthefifth on 23/10/2010 at 09:40

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Sat 23 Oct 2010 09:47
Vauxhall Corsa - Courtesy car scratches scam - Simon

I don't think that they would be brazen enough to puposely scratch their own courtesy car in the time between you arriving at their premises and when you went to check the car as you handed it back, but you never know.

If it is really playing on your mind why not nip back to their premises, have a casual look around where the car was parked to see if they have any CCTV coverage of that area. If so then make a firm request to see those minutes of footage and depending on how cooperative they are and their reaction, you may settle the matter once and for all.

As for the kerbed alloy wheel, then that can only really have been done whilst the car was in motion, so if it was perfect when you were given the car then you have to reasonably assume that the wheel was damaged whilst it was in your possession.

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Sat 23 Oct 2010 09:44
Vauxhall Corsa - Courtesy car scratches scam - P3t3r

My main dealer (Fiat) seems to be the complete opposite. They give me cars covered in damage, including dents in the dashboard and missing trim. With the first car I tried to inspect the car and tell them about the damage, but they didn't care and just said "don't worry about it". When I returned the car they didn't even look at it, and dispite all of the damage that was there to start with they have never questioned me about it or tried charging me for it. This is quite good in many ways but it does slightly worry me that the cars are in such a bad state to start with.

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Sun 24 Oct 2010 01:05
Vauxhall Corsa - Courtesy car scratches scam - brum

There is a well-known car rental company - used by a lot of insurers - which does this all the time. It's an income stream.

They never repair the "damage", the car is sold after its 1 year stint. Often several people in a row will be accused/charged for the same damage. The amount they demand is out of all proportion to their cost - they never repair it and the effect on the value of the vehicle is minimimal.

If you didnt sign off an inspection report at pickup (you not them), I dont think they have a leg to stand on. Demand to see their inspection records going back several hires. I think you'll find they will back off.

It is a common scam relying on peoples unwillingness to challenge them.

Edited by Avant on 24/10/2010 at 18:26

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