damage we didn't do....more

[danemom]

My daughter was in an accident in minneapolis and had to rent a car from EPRC. I went to minneapolis to help her do this as she is 21 and a student. We rented the car on June 27th. I had a friend with me and my daughter. As we were doing the walk around with the EP dude aka (arrogant jerk), my friend was pointing out marks and dents on the car that were not noted and he told us that they were normal wear and tear on the car and not noteable. ( I will never do this again) we went ahead and took it because I only had that day off work so we felt that was our only option. She had the car until July 8thwhen she got her insurance money(the accident totaled her car) and got a different car. Our mistake was using the keydrop on a Sunday night and dropping the car. A week and a half later Ashley got a letter stating the car had damage and they would send a bill once it was fixed. We called and told them that there was no additional damage etc....After several conversations, we were told it looked like hail damage. I informed them that there was damage when we took the car that the ep guy did not mark down even though we pointed it out. Of course they said their employee would not have done that. Ash did not have any bad weather the whole time she had this car. I went into the weather archives for the year to date in minnesota and low and behold there were 52 reports of hail 1+ inches from may till (ironically)June 26th. 10 on the 26th alone. EPRC also rented this car out the week after she had it, because after she got her letter she went to take pictures and the car was out on a rental!! We just got a call from our insurance claims adjuster who has recieved a bill for the repair (on Sept. 20)

[tailfins1959]

Originally Posted by danemom

My daughter was in an accident in minneapolis and had to rent a car from EPRC. I went to minneapolis to help her do this as she is 21 and a student. We rented the car on June 27th. I had a friend with me and my daughter. As we were doing the walk around with the EP dude aka (arrogant jerk), my friend was pointing out marks and dents on the car that were not noted and he told us that they were normal wear and tear on the car and not noteable. ( I will never do this again) we went ahead and took it because I only had that day off work so we felt that was our only option. She had the car until July 8thwhen she got her insurance money(the accident totaled her car) and got a different car. Our mistake was using the keydrop on a Sunday night and dropping the car. A week and a half later Ashley got a letter stating the car had damage and they would send a bill once it was fixed. We called and told them that there was no additional damage etc....After several conversations, we were told it looked like hail damage. I informed them that there was damage when we took the car that the ep guy did not mark down even though we pointed it out. Of course they said their employee would not have done that. Ash did not have any bad weather the whole time she had this car. I went into the weather archives for the year to date in minnesota and low and behold there were 52 reports of hail 1+ inches from may till (ironically)June 26th. 10 on the 26th alone. EPRC also rented this car out the week after she had it, because after she got her letter she went to take pictures and the car was out on a rental!! We just got a call from our insurance claims adjuster who has recieved a bill for the repair (on Sept. 20)

....And some posters on this board berate me for being a pain in the butt custmer. It pays to raise a fuss until ALL the damage is on the contract. If your insurance company is has good customer service, ask them to contest this claim based on what you said here. NEVER drop off when the counter is closed. Don't forget to file a consumer fraud complaint. Here are two webforms to help you.

http://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/complaint.html

https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

PLEASE IGNORE THE disgruntled ERAC/ex-ERAC LOSERS on the board that tell you to just eat the loss. Don't let ANYONE get away with cheating you, it will just embolden them to do worse to the next customer.

[C9Kid]

I'd do what Fins said until the last part. NEVER, EVER drop a car. Worst mistake you can make, aside from not having DW in the first place. I always get make sure my customers go over everything when doing our T2T, if they don't agree to the condition as I have put it, they are welcome to add comments on the contract until they are satisfied.

As far as a fraud complaint, that would be a waste of time. You can't prove that it wasn't damaged overnight. Your best bet would have been to call the next morning to make sure everything was ok (most of the ppl who drop do this), and if they tell you that they re-rented it, or that things were fine...they can't pursue you...damages missed by employees go right off the branch's bottom line.

[tailfins1959]

Originally Posted by C9Kid

I'd do what Fins said until the last part. NEVER, EVER drop a car. Worst mistake you can make, aside from not having DW in the first place. I always get make sure my customers go over everything when doing our T2T, if they don't agree to the condition as I have put it, they are welcome to add comments on the contract until they are satisfied.

As far as a fraud complaint, that would be a waste of time. You can't prove that it wasn't damaged overnight. Your best bet would have been to call the next morning to make sure everything was ok (most of the ppl who drop do this), and if they tell you that they re-rented it, or that things were fine...they can't pursue you...damages missed by employees go right off the branch's bottom line.

The weather archive, an adjuster's statement that the dents are hail damage and evidence such as receipts to show where you went with the car sounds like pretty good proof to me.

[Jeahho]

It took all of 2 seconds to find this MAP which shows hail in the area you live, within the dates you list. Why is it so impossible to believe the car was damaged during this time?

[danemom]

That is exactly what I said. She rented the car on the 27th of june and returned it the 8th of July. The hail was prior to her renting the car.

[Jeahho]

Originally Posted by danemom

That is exactly what I said. She rented the car on the 27th of june and returned it the 8th of July. The hail was prior to her renting the car.

That map shows storm data for the 30th of June. Maybe it is time to call someone and apologize.....

Originally Posted by C9Kid

I'd do what Fins said until the last part. NEVER, EVER drop a car. Worst mistake you can make, aside from not having DW in the first place. I always get make sure my customers go over everything when doing our T2T, if they don't agree to the condition as I have put it, they are welcome to add comments on the contract until they are satisfied.

As far as a fraud complaint, that would be a waste of time. You can't prove that it wasn't damaged overnight. Your best bet would have been to call the next morning to make sure everything was ok (most of the ppl who drop do this), and if they tell you that they re-rented it, or that things were fine...they can't pursue you...damages missed by employees go right off the branch's bottom line.

Danemom . . . this post by C9kid about sums it up. As long as the car is in your name, you are responsible for the damages. Rain, hail, snow, fire . . . it's still in your name. It wouldn't even matter if Sammy Davis Jr. floated down from heaven and tap-danced on the bastard. Damage is damage. Sorry.

I'm not trying to be a dick. I'm just telling you the reality of the situation. And no, the fraud issue won't go anywhere. Lesson learned.

[tailfins1959]

My advice is based on facts being truthful. It is a crime to furnish false information to a law enforcement official.

Originally Posted by Jeahho

It took all of 2 seconds to find this MAP which shows hail in the area you live, within the dates you list. Why is it so impossible to believe the car was damaged during this time?

[C9Kid]

You're all taking the stance that the damage was actually caused by hail. "Hail-like damage" is alluding to small dents on the car, I would imagine. The employee was likely attempting to describe the damages, not necessarily pinpoint their cause...