Need Advice - Feel like I've been robbed!

Originally Posted by jsimone

Yes, I've finally started to realize that even if the people on this site are ERAC employees, they're just baiting people because they have no life.

Thanks for the feedback. I know that it would cost less than $100 to have the ding fixed, even the guy at the collision center next to Enterprise told me that before I left when I caught him outside. I'm also wondering if they will actually have the car repaired. That's something that I'm discussing w/ the attorney general.

Thanks again!

ERAC can choose whether or not they repair thier car, just like you can choose to repair your car or pocket the $$ if it was someone else's fault.

You are starting on a wild goose chase with that line of thought.

The issue is whether or not the damage was caused while under your control and if the repair estimate is fair.

I do not believe ERAC should have taken your deductible up front. Did they have an estimate first? I believe that in some states it is illegal to collect a deductible before getting an estimate.

[jsimone]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

ERAC can choose whether or not they repair thier car, just like you can choose to repair your car or pocket the $$ if it was someone else's fault.

You are starting on a wild goose chase with that line of thought.

The issue is whether or not the damage was caused while under your control and if the repair estimate is fair.

I do not believe ERAC should have taken your deductible up front. Did they have an estimate first? I believe that in some states it is illegal to collect a deductible before getting an estimate.

---
No, they did not have an estimate first. They won't even tell me when they are planning on getting an estimate. That's why I cancelled the check.

I'm not sure if it's illegal or not, but I certainly think it should be. I'm hoping the Attorney General can tell me that.

I really am thinking that the damage was already there when I p/u the car, but I missed it because it was so small.

Luckily, I did take a picture before I left after they harassed me into giving them the check. (not that you can even see it in the pic) Next time, I'll do an more thorough check. I called yesterday and asked them to pull the last 5 contracts, but was told that it could take several weeks. And the person that was supposed to call me back, suprisingly, still hasn't.

Thanks for your advice.

[jsimone]

Originally Posted by realitycheck

If that door ding was minor, they probably had that car clean and ready to roll as soon as you left. By the time the damage report finds its way to the loss control rep, the car will probably have been rented out a couple of times. Did the branch take a polaroid picture of the damage to that car when you returned it? They're supposed to. I'm sure loss control will love that DX. I bet what will happen is that the DX will get turned into an OX and hit the branch anyways. And all the branch accomplished was pissing off a customer who will tell everyone that Enterprise sucks.

no, the branch did not take a picture, but I did, luckily I had my digital camera in my own car.

Originally Posted by jsimone

I'm also wondering if they will actually have the car repaired. That's something that I'm discussing w/ the attorney general.

Thanks again!

what the hell are you talking about? Whether erac fixes the damage or not, the car has depreciated becuase of it, so you owe! You will get an estimate honey, just not on your terms, it will be on ours!

The situation you are dealing with unfortunately occurs frequently. Not to start any issues, but let it be a lesson learned that you pay close attention to the condition of the vehicle. Enterprise is one of the few companies that actually walks around the car with the customer. Other companies do not even do that opening you up to all sorts of issues with past damages, etc.

My suggestion is to call the RVP. The Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General of your state going to bury your concerns. I wish I could say these offices were speedy, but chances are things will not be resolved before they turn you over to collection for paying the damages.

Also, it is not illegal to collect a deductible from a customer for damages. When you sign the legal and binding contract, you agree to all facets of the rental agreement. This means taking responsibility for undocumented damages, whether you caused those damages or not.

I would suggest taking a step back and re-evalutating the situation. For example, I would stop firing back and forth with the people on the site. The folks who use this website are using it as an outlet against Enterprise and corporate America.

The best course of attack is to work with the local office (by this I mean the group or regional office). The reason there is not a customer service hotline dedicated to customer service is because each group or city runs "independantly" and has the antonomy to do as they see fit with customer service. There is a standard, but each situation can be handled differently depending upon the circumstances. They are not "hiding the number", the company wants to promote local assistance over calling a service center in another state who would have no idea of the situation.

Hopefully this helps - I would just relax and work your way through the problem with avoiding to create any more problems for yourself than you already have.

[Old_TR]

Jsimone:

A basic element of insurance is that you cannot gain from an incident. Insurance is there to put the claimant back in an ordinal position. The claimant cannot gain from an incident; that is insurance fraud. If ERAC collects $500 for a $100 repair that is fraud without remitting the difference. Remeber that ERAC is not a private individual - a private company yes, but they are still a corporate entity and different rules apply.

It is illegal for them to collect for damage above the cost of repair and not refund the money. Of course they could get someone to estimate that the repair cost $500, many bodyshops do just that. It, too, is illegal, but it goes on all the time.

I don't think there is one reader here who has not been overwhelmed by events and made a mistake. It is understandable that in such an event you can get rattled. You sound like an honest person. It seems that certain elements of this company reward dishonety.

By the way, I talked to the insurance director of my company on this very subject. Last year we had four claims where ERAC said the car was damaged but the employee says it was not. I am getting this third hand so I cannot provide specifics, so bear that in mind. The interesting fact was that all four cases involved damage to the under carriage. I always do a walk around looking for defects. At least during the lengthy rental process you have plenty of time to look at the car. I must confess that I have never looked at the under carriage. I will from now on.

Given you experience, I think I'll take my digital camera next time I have to rent.

[jsimone]

Just a follow up to this horrible experience. Thanks to everyone who suggested that I have Enterprise pull the last 10 contracts. They did and what a surprise the damage was pre-existing! I'm just so glad that this horrible experience is OVER! The are refunding the fee that I paid my bank to have a stop pay put on my check as well as sending a letter to my insurance co. explaining the mistake.

If it weren't for this site I think I would have ended up paying for bogus damage.

Thanks everyone!

Congratulations!

I have been an employee for over three years now, and I'm a current assistant manager. I'm also ready to get the hell out!

Unfortunately, the situation you were in does happen all the time. As for me, I've only taken a customer's deductible about three times, and that was for major damage or the car wasn't even driveable. Dents and door dings, I'll do the DX report, act with EMPATHY toward the customer, and explain that they will be contacted by loss control. It's still a horrible situation to be in on both sides of the counter (believe it or not, not ALL Enterprise employees thrive on being assinine to customers) but how it is handled will determine a positive or negative outcome.

Yes, CDW would have prevented everything that you went through, but as always, that is only an option for you to purchase. If you don't feel you need it or it is not in your best interest to purchase that product, that is your choice.

I'm certain that you won't be using Enterprise in the future, and that is also your choice. And I'm certainly not going to sit here and defend the company! However, I always will defend myself, and can honestly say that in the same situation, I would have treated you better than you were treated.

Take care

[twinfinz]

Congrats on your outcome!! Just a note here--Enterprise does not sell insurance. They never have and are not licencensed in selling of insurance, because they would have to meet State insurance regulations in every state and have to set aside a portion of their revenues into a reserve requirement (which they would never do-they just want to keep more for themselves) It is collision damage waiver up to a specified amount. It is like buying the privage of not having worry about smaller damages-but once you go over the specified amount of the Damage Waiver limit they will still file with your insurance company. I compare Collision Damage Waiver to "protection money" like the legit business owners pay to the mob (never a good deal). Several States have outlawed the practice of selling collision damage waiver because of the shear amount of confusion it causes.
If anyone has had the misfortune of having an accident in a rental car YOU ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO GIVE THEM YOUR INSURANCE INFORMATION. Believe me, your insurance carrier doesn't want to part with money, either. They have a lot more $$$ than Enterprise and chances are, they will settle with your insurance for less than what you would have to pay. Your liability insurance automatically transfers to any vehicle you rent. Don't hand them a penny. Seen too many screwed by E

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Congratulations!

I have been an employee for over three years now, and I'm a current assistant manager. I'm also ready to get the hell out!

Unfortunately, the situation you were in does happen all the time. As for me, I've only taken a customer's deductible about three times, and that was for major damage or the car wasn't even driveable. Dents and door dings, I'll do the DX report, act with EMPATHY toward the customer, and explain that they will be contacted by loss control. It's still a horrible situation to be in on both sides of the counter (believe it or not, not ALL Enterprise employees thrive on being assinine to customers) but how it is handled will determine a positive or negative outcome.

Yes, CDW would have prevented everything that you went through, but as always, that is only an option for you to purchase. If you don't feel you need it or it is not in your best interest to purchase that product, that is your choice.

I'm certain that you won't be using Enterprise in the future, and that is also your choice. And I'm certainly not going to sit here and defend the company! However, I always will defend myself, and can honestly say that in the same situation, I would have treated you better than you were treated.

Take care

So what you are basicly saying is that you have no balls to look a customer in the eye and tell them that they have damaged the car and you will be filing a claim and you will be collecting their deductable xs. it is because of fools like you that our uninsured losses are so high!!

GROW SOME BALLS AND DO YOUR JOB IT IS WHAT YOU GET PAID FOR YOU FAGGOT