Europcar

[Warren]

Just this last week my Wife and I were host to some old friends of hers from Missouri.

I had never met them before but we are now like family, Pam and Brent are the best and Brent and I shared some great Cubans together, what a great guy.

Any how. After showing them around Brisbane for a few days we flew up to Cairns where we rented an Audi A4 and from there we drove up to Port Douglas where we were to base ourselves for the next few days.

We had a wonderful time and then it all went to shite.

We returned the car.

Now I am a very careful driver, particularly when the car doesn't belong to me. I also know damn well when I have so much as grazed past something.

Back to Cairns airport and drop off the car where I jokingly say to the old crow inspecting the car.

" so did we pass muster?".

She walks around the car and then gets on her hands and knees at the front left hand corner where she declares that she has found some damage and that we will have to go to the office to sort it out.

Now this damage is only visible if you get on your hands and knees or indeed have spent some time in your life lying on your side in the gutter, which this woman looks to have some experience of.

We go to the Europcar desk where I declare that I am prepared to sign a statutory declaration to the affect that the damage was not caused by me or anyone else I my party. I am told that that doesn't matter and that I need to write something in my defense before I leave for my connect to Brisbane.

Not effing happy, I get on the plane and upon arrival home I do some Googling and find that this a scam that Europcar are famous for around the world. Just Google Europcar damage and see what comes up, frightening, just frightening.

Some of these people say that they had a stone chip and got a credit card bill for $5,000.

I am yet to hear from them but I am expecting nothing short of an extortion attempt.

To my thinking this is fraud and needs to be stopped.

I baby'd this car to the extent that my Wife and friends thought that I was having a love affair with the damn thing. I was just being careful and I know for a fact that I did not damage it.

Have any of you had a similar experience and what should be my next step.

[LGC]

Did you purchase any type of Loss Damage Waiver?

[CaptainQuintero]

Ken was a lawyer right? Maybe you can ask him to make a personal visit down to their office and make them realise it's not worth their time?

[Warren]

Did you purchase any type of Loss Damage Waiver?

From what I've been reading it doesn't seem to matter, I'll just have to wait and see what they try to do to me.

All I know is they will have a fight on their hands.

[rfenst]

Got any "before" or "after photos"? Use a credit card that provides insurance when you rented the car? Does your personal auto insurance cover the rental so that your comprehensive or collision coverage will apply? remember, if there really was damage that occurred, even though not your fault, you are still liable...

[PigFish]

Warren while this is certainly not right it is your due diligence to walk "about" the car before taking it. I am not saying that you have not been scammed, you most certainly have been taken advantage of. You may want Ken (if he will do it) as an attorney to request all the previous rental records of the automobile that you rented to show that this particular damage was not already accounted and paid for.

If you don't take the insurance, and you agreed that you took the car undamaged then as far as they are concerned you did it! Your own vehicle insurance may actually cover rental vehicles and if there is a scam going and your insurance pays I am sure that will likely litigate this for you. After all, that is what insurance is for, and subrogation is a part of their process to recover losses.

They may also help you find the information that you need concerning "normal wear." Collision damage and normal wear are defined somewhere and that distinction must be made to decide which is which. Your insurance company is the place to go. In the mean time you may want to tell the CC that you intend to dispute the charges regarding the car.

Best of luck mate. -Piggy

[Warren]

Thanks for the replys guys.

The damage in question is consistent with parking nose in to a curb and grazing the top of a concrete block.

For one the car had a system that warned you when you were within a meter of any obstacle .

Secondly I never parked nose in until later in the trip. I did take pictures of the car but only upon arrival at the motel in Cairns one hour after picking it up, silly I know but my passengers were tired and it was very hot in Cairns and they didn't want to stand in the sun while I put the car up on blocks for an all points inspection.

I did look the car over and it all looked fine.

After the fact I looked back at the photos I took of the car and you can just make out a very small mark in the area that is in question. Remembering that this picture was taken only an hour after pick up and taking into account the rout I took this damage is absolutely impossible.

I guess we'll see what happens.

[El Presidente]

Wazza

Don't let it ruin a great break

1. ask for complete hire and return report records of the car since inception.
2. ask for a detailed damage report.
3. Let them know that the case will be referred to the Insurance Ombudsman.
4. Contest any charges with your CC company.

I have hired 100's of cars over the years and can't recall anyone looking under one. They can't reasonably expect you to do so either when you take possession.

[Warren]

Wazza

Don't let it ruin a great break

1. 1. ask for complete hire and return report records of the car since inception.
   2. ask for a detailed damage report.
   3. Let them know that the case will be referred to the Insurance Ombudsman.
   4. Contest any charges with your CC company.

I have hired 100's of cars over the years and can't recall anyone looking under one. They can't reasonably expect you to do so either when you take possession.

Thanks Mate, these are all things that I have planning to do.

It was strange that the person checking the car went to it like she knew it was there. The spot just isn't visible from a standing position and the only spot she got down was at the left front.

[Fuzz AI]

Whilst most rental companies don't check the underbody for damage, it is listed in their Terms & Conditions... if you can read the small print. I too have never checked the underbody (sump, oil pan, etc), but I have noted damage to the bumper bars and side skirts in the past.

From the Europcar website:

Damage means any loss or damage to the Vehicle, including that caused by hail, theft of the Vehicle, towing and salvage fees, assessing fees or Loss of Use.

Underbody Damage means any damage to the underside of the Vehicle and includes but is not limited to all parts of the drive train, chassis, steering, suspension, brakes, exhaust, floor pan and fuel systems.

[Blackham]

Thanks for the heads up i was going to rent a car with time in my upcoming trip.

Googled "Europcar damage" and its full of horror stories

[BENN]

When I rent I paid the 24 euro extra per day that covers all damage with no fee if you damage the car as long as you have not been racing or drinking. Worth the extra money not to care if anything happens to the car

[Warren]

My credit card covers me for car rentals. I already know that. I also know 100% that I did not damage that car.

Today I received an email from them stating that they will be invoicing me for the damage.

If I had done damage to that car I would not object to paying but I will not be played for a sucker