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If you're going to comment, say something I already didn't know. This is more along the lines of possible fraud and scamming someone, so no need for the slick remarks
Let's put it this way. Let's say this wasn't a rental car company but a private party. How do you prevent them from scamming you after you damaged their property?
You get their info, fill out a report to your insurance company, and take pics, right? Then you wait until they get repair estimates to see whether they are scamming you.
I'm sure to you it was "minor damage" but to the owner of the property you damaged will think otherwise. Prepare to pay for the days the rental car is out of commission for repairs as well.
I'm trying to not use my insurance as A) I have a perfect driving record and don't want it affecting my premium and B) The damage may not even come out to my deductible, it's that insignificant.
I've rented out many vehicles without the use of a credit card, I don't know why you think that's the only form of payment. Also, they even returned my deposit. The deposit was held in case I brought the car back late, if I didn't bring the car back at all, if the gas tank was empty, etc. Don't ask me why it was returned but that's A-OK with me.
I was really trying to guage how much negotiating power you had. If you used a debit card and they took out $2,000 in anticipation of damage then you are already screwed (which is why boys and girls - don't use debit cards). Credit cards are much more protected.
But if you paid nothing for the damage yet - like I said you hold the cards and have really no fear of being ripped off.
Wait until they're done with their damage estimate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fernweh
If you're going to comment, say something I already didn't know. This is more along the lines of possible fraud and scamming someone, so no need for the slick remarks
I agree with jaypee. You don't even know what the car rental company will do and what is the quote for repair, and you are already speculating "along the lines of possible fraud and scamming someone". Seems like your jumping the gun...
If you're going to comment, say something I already didn't know. This is more along the lines of possible fraud and scamming someone, so no need for the slick remarks
What a weird response. The post was accurate- there is nothing you can do until they've sent you a damage estimate. The only thing you could have done differently was to get a damage estimate at a body shop while you still had the car.
Call your Insurance company. Good lord. I promise you one accident on a perfect record is not going to raise your premium. Not sure why people are so paranoid about that. I've made 2 insurance claims and my premium hasn't gone up one penny.
This is why you pay for insurance.
Call your Insurance company. Good lord. I promise you one accident on a perfect record is not going to raise your premium. Not sure why people are so paranoid about that. I've made 2 insurance claims and my premium hasn't gone up one penny.
This is why you pay for insurance.
Why would you call your insurance company before you've even received a bill for the damage?
Fraud? Nothing has happened yet. You are panicking over what has not yet happened. See what they say after they assess the damage then panic or not depending on what happens.
Since you didn't put it on a credit card with protection and don't want to go through your insurance company you have no one else to advocate on your behalf. It sounds like this company has more experience in this and you may need to decide if you want to get your insurance involved or get an attorney if the estimate comes back high. I hope you took photos of the damage.
Unless I'm missing something, I've never been able to rent a car without a plastic card that said Visa/Mastercard/Discover/Amex on it. Now, I have used my debit card before, but that still says Visa. It is my understanding that the benefits are the same no matter from Visa if the card is debit or credit.
Why would you call your insurance company before you've even received a bill for the damage?
Because once the insurance company gets involved, I have feeling they'll change their tune a bit. If it's just you -- a single person -- they aren't too inclined to be very helpful. I'd call my insurance and let them loose.
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