The phone's off the hook, no one knows we're here

[raybear]

I love phone calls at 9:30 on Saturday asking me for money.

So, I rented a car in L.A. at Thanksgiving and they claim I owe them $200+ for some damage to the rear bumper. They're sending me the incident report and other misc. paperwork to back up their claim. I have said that no one mentioned anything to me when I returned the car, and she said that the inspection was made just after I returned it, and that if they did inspections right at return, customers would have to wait forever. To which I'm thinking, too bad, it's your business decision to create a gap between procedures that is unaccounted for, that's not my fault as a customer. I stood by my claim. Also, $223 seems like a way too much for some 'minor bumper' damage that 'probably happened while parked'.

But, perhaps I'm also just screwed. Am I going to have suck this up and pay it?

Also, I used to ALWAYS get the full insurance when renting, the extra $9 a day to cover such bullshit (as well as major stuff), but about a year ago, someone made fun of me for doing that and said she never in her life did it and that I worry too much, and plus I was really broke around that time and saving the dollars seemed like a good idea. Now I'm mad I ever stopped doing what I wanted to do and fck intrusive know-it-alls who say I have hangups for being too careful and equate spontaneity and freedom, with irresponsibility. You can pay my $223 bill.

Actually, fck me for not just doing what I want to do and ignoring the rest.

Or fck car rental places who are charging me more than twice what I paid to rent the damn car for minor isht. Alamo, for future reference.

Comments

[mirror-self.livejournal.com]

The rental car thing really sucks. I always used to buy the extra insurance (despite people telling me not to) until I found out for sure that my car insurance plan also covers rental cars. (Although I think that a $200 scrape would probably end up being all deductible and I'd have to pay it all anyway.)

Did you use a credit card to pay for the car rental? Some major credit cards include rental car coverage when you use them to rent a car, but you'd need to check with them. Still, a 15 minute phone call might save you a significant amount of money.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have "real" car insurance that covers major stuff while driving other people's cars, but like you said, $200 scrape isn't worth it.

But good idea on the credit card, I'll call the Visa and ask.

[econ-queen.livejournal.com]

I second calling your credit card company. Most supposedly cover stuff like that. Good luck. That made my mad just reading your post.

[chicagocowboi.livejournal.com]

they should have inspected the car when you returned it, or at least they should have done a walk around inspection in order to return it. I've been to all 3 major car rental places and they've always done that, and if there was ever a problem, they would say something then and there. I would protest this. This sounds a little shady to me.

best of luck with it all

[louche.livejournal.com]

i think you're not responsible. they can't prove that you did it-- especially because they didn't inspect the car in your presence. what does dya say?? i say tell them you're not paying. i don't think it's worth their while to take you to court.

[dommeyourass.livejournal.com]

my first response was that it was bogus. no inspection. no causation. without there being a judgment that he's liable, there's no "claim." thus no collection on a debt owed. who determined he owed that debt. the problem is that they can fuck with your credit even if you're right. once something's gone to collections, it's hard to get it off. i offered to write "i'm the attorney for raybear and..." letter to try and scare them off.

[broqued.livejournal.com]

ok, and wait- this happened over thanksgiving? it's january. please. you know that car went out, especially in LA, another 14 times between now and then.