Yet Another Damage Scam

[Never Be Defeated]

About four months ago I drove my old Volvo up north to give to my sister, and needed a one-way vehicle to drive home. I reserved a rental car in advance from Enterprise. I arrived at the agreed upon time, waited 45 minutes, and finally the branch manager said he had something for me, that it was a truck, that it was all they had, that I had to take that or nothing.

I urgently needed to get back home and was running very late by that time, and he seemed to be in a big hurry to get me out the door, and in all of that rush rush I took the car without the customary walkaround. The tank was only half full, so I went to fill it up, and that’s when I noticed a very small scratch on the door and a couple of other very minor scuff marks, I didn’t have time to go back to the Enterprise office, and my cell phone needed to be recharged, so I had no choice but to trust in the integrity of the people I had rented from.

I did not damage the truck at all during the time it was in my possession.

When I turned the truck in at the branch near my house, they noticed the three things I had noticed, and I told them what had happened, that there had been no walkaround but I had noticed the damage right after I got the truck, so that damage clearly was from a prior renter, and that I had not damaged the truck at all. They told me they would request an investigation and get back to me. I wasn’t worried; I continued to trust in their integrity.

Then last week I received a letter saying there was no evidence for my claim that the damage could have been prior to my renting the truck. Included with the letter was a bill for $409.80, and a list of damages that was much more than the three small things that had been noted when I dropped off the car. I spoke with the loss control administrator who had sent me the letter and the bill, told him what had happened, and asked him for all pertinent documentation. He scanned and emailed photos of the truck which purported to show damage, but only a couple of the photos showed anything at all. I emailed back and asked him for any documentation of a walkaround done for the person who had rented the truck immediately previous to me. He then called me and admitted that there was no documentation of any walkaround for either me or the past three renters of the truck. He said in light of that he would settle for 75% of the requested amount! I emailed him asking him to confirm what he had said on the phone, but he hasn’t responded yet.

I am just flabbergasted! I am sending him a letter giving him a chance to back off, and if that doesn’t work, I am not done fighting yet. Among other options, I am thinking class action suit. Are there any ongoing at this time that I can join in on?

[ExGp2399]

Good luck to you.

A law suit would be a total waste of time and money. Contact Corporate in St. Louis and let them know. Tell them that you will be notifying your local news stations and writing to travel magazines inquiring about similar situations. They'll say, "We dropped the ball on this one. Our apologies. Please, accept this 50% coupon for your next rental."

If they argue it ask them for their documentation on the vehicle- all damages ever documented for the vehicle- DX or OX related. Sometimes minor damage is documented but not fixed (Mainly scratches, scuffs, rock chips...). Example: John returned a truck with a cracked windshield and scratches to the hood and door. He said he was driving past a tree and didn't notice a low hanging branch. ERAC would then replace the windshield and depending on the severity of the scratch, take it to a body shop or document it and roll it as is.

Just as an FYI: Most of the Loss Control people are being laid off- Oh, wait, no! They're being "restructured"!- so don't be surprised if nobody gets back to you. Its not a scam, its just under-paid and over-worked people trying- but failing- to do their jobs. And the shit of it is, its not even the Loss Control person's issue. Its a branch level issue but Loss Control always takes the blame. Like I said before, your best bet is to contact Corporate.

You fucking pussy. Just pay for the damage you did and be done with it. Boo Hoo.

Originally Posted by Never Be Defeated

He then called me and admitted that there was no documentation of any walkaround for either me or the past three renters of the truck. He said in light of that he would settle for 75% of the requested amount! I emailed him asking him to confirm what he had said on the phone, but he hasn’t responded yet.

Settle for 75%??? They have nothing proving a walk around and they are telling you they will settle for 75%??? What a joke.

[Never Be Defeated]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Settle for 75%??? They have nothing proving a walk around and they are telling you they will settle for 75%??? What a joke.

Thanks for the support! :-)

[Never Be Defeated]

Originally Posted by ExGp2399

Good luck to you.

A law suit would be a total waste of time and money. Contact Corporate in St. Louis and let them know. Tell them that you will be notifying your local news stations and writing to travel magazines inquiring about similar situations. They'll say, "We dropped the ball on this one. Our apologies. Please, accept this 50% coupon for your next rental."

If they argue it ask them for their documentation on the vehicle- all damages ever documented for the vehicle- DX or OX related. Sometimes minor damage is documented but not fixed (Mainly scratches, scuffs, rock chips...). Example: John returned a truck with a cracked windshield and scratches to the hood and door. He said he was driving past a tree and didn't notice a low hanging branch. ERAC would then replace the windshield and depending on the severity of the scratch, take it to a body shop or document it and roll it as is.

Just as an FYI: Most of the Loss Control people are being laid off- Oh, wait, no! They're being "restructured"!- so don't be surprised if nobody gets back to you. Its not a scam, its just under-paid and over-worked people trying- but failing- to do their jobs. And the shit of it is, its not even the Loss Control person's issue. Its a branch level issue but Loss Control always takes the blame. Like I said before, your best bet is to contact Corporate.

Thank you so much for the good advice! I will try this.

And regarding the Loss Control employees, I am always aware that they are employees and they are only reacting to pressure. It's sad when that pressure comes to the point of having to try to rip off the public to keep one's job. And with the economy the way it is, they can't just quit. I feel bad for them.

[ExGp2399]

Originally Posted by Never Be Defeated

Thank you so much for the good advice! I will try this.

And regarding the Loss Control employees, I am always aware that they are employees and they are only reacting to pressure. It's sad when that pressure comes to the point of having to try to rip off the public to keep one's job. And with the economy the way it is, they can't just quit. I feel bad for them.

There is pressure that comes along with the job but not a single person- out of the 40 Loss Control people I used to work with- knowingly tried to rip anyone off. Mistakes are made, just like in any job. They are humans- regardless of what anyone says. Keeping their jobs has nothing to do with ripping off the public.

Going into the situation assuming that you have been ripped off is not the best way to deal with it. Would you rather deal with a person who has said, "I think there has been a mistake." or someone saying, "You are trying to rip me off!" ?

[iluvEcars]

Originally Posted by ExGp2399

There is pressure that comes along with the job but not a single person- out of the 40 Loss Control people I used to work with- knowingly tried to rip anyone off. Mistakes are made, just like in any job. They are humans- regardless of what anyone says. Keeping their jobs has nothing to do with ripping off the public.

Going into the situation assuming that you have been ripped off is not the best way to deal with it. Would you rather deal with a person who has said, "I think there has been a mistake." or someone saying, "You are trying to rip me off!" ?

very well put. we are certainly not out to get anyone.

take some personal responsibility and say, i messed up and signed a contract without even looking at it. now pay your bill



BTW, who the hell trusts a random strangers personal integrity these days? you must be very gullible!

[Never Be Defeated]

Originally Posted by ExGp2399

There is pressure that comes along with the job but not a single person- out of the 40 Loss Control people I used to work with- knowingly tried to rip anyone off. Mistakes are made, just like in any job. They are humans- regardless of what anyone says. Keeping their jobs has nothing to do with ripping off the public. Going into the situation assuming that you have been ripped off is not the best way to deal with it. Would you rather deal with a person who has said, "I think there has been a mistake." or someone saying, "You are trying to rip me off!" ?

I actually assumed from the beginning that it was an honest mistake, and I stressed for several days before contacting the loss control administrator, worrying that the poor employee might lose his job for an honest mistake. I thought, probably the previous renter got away without a walkaround, and the employee was afraid he'd be fired. Then I found out there was no walkaround for the previous three renters, and when I checked with the branch I found out the employee was no longer there, and I thought, it's because he didn't do those walkarounds. But when the loss control administrator insisted on putting it on me, I thought I'd google search Enterprise and it did indeed start to look like a widespread pattern of abuse. If I damage anyone's car, I take responsibility. I leave a note and I pay for the damage. That's how my parents raised me. And yes, I have in fact done this. The law of cause and effect is strict. That also means that if indeed Enterprise behaves inethically in my case, it will eventually be pulled down by the weight of its own negative causes. In this economy, I would hate to see that happen. Hence, I will see if they will do right by me, or if I will need to take this further.

[iluvEcars]

inethically? perhaps unethically is the word you are looking for.

all LC is doing is going off what they know. They will research the last 10 contracts to see if the damage was ever marked and if it was, you are off the hook. if not, you will be responsible.

and all that BS about how i would pay for it if i caused and blah blah blah, we hear that shit day in and day out... ive only had one little old lady admit to causing damage in my several year career. EVERYONE else says the same as you... i swear i didnt cause it, im a person of ethicals blah blah blah

shutup