Rental Car Damaged Prior to Pickup

[Cossie]

This wasn't a problem, but I thought it was going to be a major one. Picked up a nice Citroen DS3 at Heathrow last year and went only a short distance that evening. When I opened the car door in the morning it was obvious that someone had been smoking in the car. After seeing my friend near Richmond, I was going up north past Heathrow so I called into the Avis office and explained this to them. I wanted someone to note on the form the smell of smoke. The person I dealt with said 'don't worry about it', (even though I did), it happens occasionally. When I dropped the car off at Gatwick a week later, I filled it up at the petrol staion there and drove off, the gauge only went up to 3/4! OK, made a mistake, went back and managed to squeeze another couple of pounds worth in, it was definitely full now. Was expecting issues over both items at the return place, neither was a problem, although I fully expected to get a hit on my credit card later and the added anxiety of having to deal with it.
I explained about the fuel gauge and the chap said it was a known problem with Citroen and Pugs, they take a little while to move to full.
Quite pleased to have that result, and I never heard another thing.

A couple of years ago I rented a car out of Alanda with Hertz, returned it a couple of weeks later without any problems. After I got home I received an email stating i had been caught speeding on a road side camera and that they had given the Swedish police my details and they would be in touch, Hertz was going to charge me about $120 for administration.

At first I thought it was possible, there are speed cameras everywhere in some communes. Fortunately they gave the place of the photo, checked a map and realised I'd hadn't been anywhere that place and given that the time was past midnight, I was tucked up in a hotel bed in Karlstad.

Emailed them back, they weren't too keen to help, said I must be wrong. So I phoned them and as I was going through the details with them I realised that they had the correct rental agreement number, but had the rego incorrect.

Not a happy chappy, I don't like having to deal with this sort of cough at the best of times!

 

[Westozi]

Have always used Thrifty and never had problems. I do like the idea of photographing the speedo as well as all the dents, bumps and scratches so will add that to our pre-trip check.

 

[thedrivesman]

I had a similar experience with Hertz in Perth last month. We arrived on the late flight from SYD, so it felt like after midnight, it was dark and we were tired. On being told there was no damage, I did a cursory check of paintwork, but missed a broken door mirror indicator light. Only the next morning, when we were over 200km from Perth did I notice the damage, which exhibited marks on the exposed surface from where the car had been wiped over with a wet cloth, so it was definitely pre-existing. I immediately took photos. Just after that it rained and the 'evidence' was lost. On returning the car the attendant gave the impression he knew the damage was there, going straight to it. I told him I had photos to show it was pre-existing and showed the 'evidence' to support it. He insisted on seeing them - a pain when I had to dig out an SD card from my bag and work through hundreds of shots to find them. But, he accepted my argument. Since then I have rented through a Hertz franchise at MQL to be told the condition report was inside the glove-box and I was requested to sign at the rental desk prior to seeing it, on the basis I could call them if there were any discrepancies! Fortunately I had no issues, but I could imagine this being used to 'trick' people into overlooking pre-existing damage.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Europcar has irked me a few too many times, so these days I check each rental rate on a daily basis and even it is just a dollar cheaper, I cancel the booking and rebook.

And I thought I was the only one doing that. :shock:

I think the system (by design) slowly discount the cars as it gets closer to the day if there is a high availability so it's all legitimate. I'm about 2 hires away from Europcar Exec but heading over to Hertz in the last 6 months or so have saved me hundreds of dollars (which comes out of my own pocket). Rental car status just doesn't have the same ring as airline or hotel status, I suppose.

 

[thedrivesman]

It might work for long rentals, but I usually get 3-4 day rentals and the savings are minimal.

It can also work for a 1-way trip to the airport.... (if you dare rent a car after reading some of the stories posted here!)
It seems from anecdotal evidence that many people rent from an airport location and drop off in suburbs.
The big rental companies need to re-locate vehicles to the airport from those suburbs (in Sydney for example places like Parramatta or Castle Hill) and will negotiate deals to save them the hassle.
Especially of you are on a flight at 'sparrow's', a 1-day rental driving a car back to the airport can be much, much less expensive than getting a taxi.
I know people who saved over $120 with a $40 rental rather than a $160 cab fare. And they didn't even put petrol in the car

 

[Bandicoot]

Car rental companies should take and provide photos of pre existing damage. Or they should have provision for you to send your own photos back to them prior to leaving. As the rental cars are often some way from key pick up, who wants to trudge all the way back - through sleet if you are in Hobart. I have on occasion trudged back to report damage not noted on the condition report - only to be told that such damage is minor and doesn't count. What doesn't count for one company might cost you an arm and a leg with another. The other scam is when they know you are coming and have the paper work sorted and car booked out before your flight has even left and then check your car back in some time after your return flight has taken off. This can result in another days rental being charged. Maybe if you work for a big corporation this might be passed by but as a small business owner this comes right out of my pay. And how is it that car rental companies can tack on umpteen charges including GST on top of the original quote. They are almost - but not quite - as bad as prepaying for airport car parking. Now that is another thread.

 

[Bandicoot]

Easy to miss damage in that dark and dangerous rental car park at Perth Airport. They should put torches in rental cars.

 

[TonyD]

I have been with Hertz for years and a gold 5 star whatever! A few months back Hertz were giving out a brochure which explained small incidental marks that were / are not chargeable - which included scratches smaller thans a $2 coin among others
but last feww rentals that has disappeared.
Alot of rental companies keep a master copy of damage in the wheel well
In January I renturned a car to Newcastle and told them of a nail in the tyre ( too honest!!) and they wanted to charge me $200 for a new tyre - after a stern call for manager it was downgraded to $17 for puncture repair

 

[Bandicoot]

Perhaps the ACCC should do to Hertz what they did to Coles re bread baked on premises (not). All Hertz Rental Counters and Hire Cars to be plastered with notices stating that they have been charging customers for pre existing damage and over charging for repairs.

 

[Bandicoot]

I've had similar experiences with Budget - I hadn't even left home when I supposedly picked up the car. I used flight data to provide landing time. I also apparently returned the car whilst I boarding the return flight - provided time stamped petrol receipt and flight departure data. Money refunded. I suspect that this has happened many times - I've been puzzled by some total charges but have been too busy to look closely. Now I am rather pernickety.

 

[ethernet]

Game on! I have ANZ $2 rental car insurance - never needed it.
Always photograph, inside and out and the roof. if the car is wet or just washed - from a different angle.
Check for smoke smell and pet hair too. Be finnicky, and let the overworked staff know if you come back to note the new 'pickup time' - or if you arrive - delayed checkin. Always check rear bumper for siutcase scuff marks or chainmail fence scratches. Saw a Hertz cleaner zoom/fang the car in reverse to a fence.

Still, I have returned cars with dents I did not see on pickup - unless the sun was at the right angle.
Thrifty were good - until they made day 1 a lot more expensive. And my my case still cheaper than a Canberra Taxi. However the holiday premium bit (120 per day) wore me down, so I have a junker to commute.

Gloat: I just discovered SYD 400 outside T1 to Mascot then Mascot to Central $4. Terminal access fee can fisk themselves. Seems backpackers with iphones get told in real time = cheaper and faster fresh off the plane - and miss the $17.40 airlink sting. Hurts me to see foreign tourists comment on such so soon.

 

[prozac]

...

Gloat: I just discovered SYD 400 outside T1 to Mascot then Mascot to Central $4. Terminal access fee can fisk themselves. Seems backpackers with iphones get told in real time = cheaper and faster fresh off the plane - and miss the $17.40 airlink sting. Hurts me to see foreign tourists comment on such so soon.

Can you please decipher this in language we can all understand?

 

[lakeman]

Can you please decipher this in language we can all understand?

I think he is referring to the trick of catching rhe T400 bus to mascot to avoid the station access fee and iphones must get a live feed of the T400s location

 

[jetkins]

Apparently this is not uncommon - from today's Age: "Hertz to refund hundreds of customers it falsely accused of damaging rental cars"

(I would post the link, but the site won't let me because my post count is not high enough. Sorry. Perhaps someone else can oblige.)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Apparently this is not uncommon - from today's Age: "Hertz to refund hundreds of customers it falsely accused of damaging rental cars"

(I would post the link, but the site won't let me because my post count is not high enough. Sorry. Perhaps someone else can oblige.)

The story was previously linked to. The Age is being the times, Brisbane's Courier Mail had it on Wednesday, and also made mention of Europcar being still under investigation.

 

[jono88888]

About 2 years ago I hired a car from Hertz, Paris to Milan. Checked it all over, no real issues. When I handed it in at Milan they went over it like forensic scientists. Among many things they did was open the boot, take out the floor to check the spare tire. Whilst the tire was ok, the jack and tools were missing. My immediate thought was ****, I'm going to get hit for money here, and that was certainly the approach they were taking. But after me protesting and saying 'why would I take a jack " and "it's me that should be angry with Hertz, not the other way around", they eventually got on the phone to Paris and it was agreed that it must have been missing from the start.

Whilst it was a happy ending on this occasion, my checks of cars have gone up a notch since that occasion.

Along with a few other professions, I wouldn't trust a car hire company/employee one little bit. Having said that, whilst not a very frequent hirer of cars I would guess I've hired cars about 30 times over many years and touch wood have not been hit for extras once, but I am careful in checking and noting any damage when I pick the car up. Like others, even if they say a mark is just wear and tear, I still want it noted down.

The Hertz folk in Milan did say they were checking it thoroughly as it was from out of country, so I would advise anyone making such a hire to be especially vigilant in checking the car at pick up.

 

[lobos305]

I always photograph my rental car 360 degrees and then immediately email to myself. My thought is that I could possibly alter the photo timestamp but not the email.

 

[coco50]

Can you please decipher this in language we can all understand?

I thought I was the only dumb one!

 

[prozac]

I thought I was the only dumb one!

I spent some time on google working it out coco50 after the tip-off from lakeman.
Turns out the train is called Airport Link. The private company (Westpac) and NSW State Govt own the airport stations and charge a premium over the usual fare for accessing them, $17.40 for Domestic and $18.20 for International.
Price of Train Tickets | Airport Link

There is a Sydney Buses public bus route 400 (not T400) that runs Bondi Junction - Burwood and reverse.
http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/find/service-categories/service-listing/service-detail.aspx?ser={AEC2C58D-1956-428D-B625-C64A8DC1DD99}
This bus stops at the Domestic and International terminals. The poster is indicating it is cheaper to catch the route 400 bus away from the airport.
The T - Bus is actually a shuttle bus service between T1 International and T2 Domestic Terminals which costs $5.50

There is also a list of Apple and Android transport apps available, so not restricted to iSomethings.
Look here - Real time transport - Apps - Keep updated - Travelling with us | transportnsw.info

Apologies for the thread drift, but I think it needed explaining.

 

[coco50]

I spent some time on google working it out coco50 after the tip-off from lakeman.
Turns out the train is called Airport Link. The private company (Westpac) and NSW State Govt own the airport stations and charge a premium over the usual fare for accessing them, $17.40 for Domestic and $18.20 for International.
Price of Train Tickets | Airport Link

There is a Sydney Buses public bus route 400 (not T400) that runs Bondi Junction - Burwood and reverse.
http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/find/service-categories/service-listing/service-detail.aspx?ser={AEC2C58D-1956-428D-B625-C64A8DC1DD99}
This bus stops at the Domestic and International terminals. The poster is indicating it is cheaper to catch the route 400 bus away from the airport.
The T - Bus is actually a shuttle bus service between T1 International and T2 Domestic Terminals which costs $5.50

There is also a list of Apple and Android transport apps available, so not restricted to iSomethings.
Look here - Real time transport - Apps - Keep updated - Travelling with us | transportnsw.info

Apologies for the thread drift, but I think it needed explaining.

Never, I repeat never attempt to travel on the surface between terminals at SYD or between SYD and the City. As an age pensioner, I am happy to pay the $5.50 between T1 and the DOM terminals and the reduced fare from SYD to the city. The time it saves is worth the cost.