Please Help Me!

[Jessica]

I am a 24 year old with a terrific driving record. Outside of a run-in with a deer, I haven't had so much as a fender bender in my over six years of driving. Now, I'm being threatened with a damage claim for damages that I *did not* incur. Here's what happened:

I hit a deer. It's PA... these things happen. NO ONE I know hasn't hit a deer at least once in the past year. Knowing the danger of deer, I opted for full coverage, complete with rental insurance, when I bought my insurance policy. So, after hitting the deer, I tooke my car to the shop and then went to enterprise for a rental car. The guy ran around the car with me, I signed the waiver, opted out of the outrageous insurance (10$ a day? That would add up to over 3 months insurance payments!) and drive away relieved. My troubles are over, right?

20 days later, I get a call at 3 in the afternoon from my collision repair shop, telling me my car is finished. I have a little panic, knowing that I don't have enough time to return the rental between getting out of work and the rental office closing. "Don't worry... you can drop the car off here. We've worked with Enterprise in the past. They'll pick the car up here." Relieved, I head to the collision center by 4:30 and drop my car off. "Better call the Enterprise office and let them know the car is here." The woman says. I do, and get a very terse-sounding man who tells me that there is absolutely no way they'll pick the car up. I'm just going to have to drop it off at their office after-hours and pay for the extra day.

This, of course, is wonderful news to a struggling college student who can't even pay for a new pair of socks, never mind a 40$ bill for an extra day in which I won't even be using the car. The collision lady looks surprised, and explains that she doesn't usually work with the Vestal office of Enterprise. She calls Tunkhannock's Enterprise, which offers to pick the car up. Once again, I'm relieved, and drive away in my car, sure that everything is right with the world.

Eight days later, I recieve a FedEx overnight letter. It's a form letter informing me that damage was done to the rental car, and that I have exactly ten days to return the form, filled out, or else. Also, that I have three days from return of the vehicle to notify Enterprise that I wish to inspect the vehicle, and seven days to perform the actual inspection, otherwise I waive that right. Keep in mind, I recieved this letter *exactly eight days after I returned the vehicle* During that eight days, I did not recieve any information at all that the vehicle was damaged. Not a phone call, not an email, not so much as a TWITTER.

I even called the Vestal office sometime during the week to ask for a receipt for the rental. I gave them my name, and they instructed me to print it out online. At no time did they ever say "Oh, by the way, your vehicle was returned damaged. You might want to take a look at it."

So, here I am with this letter in hand. There's no explanation of the damage, no identifcation number, nothing. Just a blank form and a quote of NY state law. Furious, I call the Vestal office to demand some answers. "Nope, we don't have any records of this damage. You'll have to call the Tunkhannock office, since they're the ones that picked it up." The saccharine lady on the other side of the reciever informs me.

I call the Tunkhannock office. "No... sorry. We may have found the damage, but it was Vestal that filled out the incident report." An equally-saccharine man says. Now I'm livid.

I call Vestal again. "Oh... did you have an Acura?" The woman asks. Yes, I did rent an Acura. "Oh, yes, there was some damage. Some scratches on the rear tailight and front bumper. Can you give me the damage number on the form you were sent?" I explain that there was no information at all on the form. She puts me on hold.

For fifteen minutes.

"Hi. Sorry, having some trouble finding the damage report, and the car is still at the Tunkhannock office. Please hold."

Another five minutes at least. "Jessica? Yes, I have the report here. It says you cracked the bumper." I'm shocked. Cracked bumper? Wouldn't one KNOW if one CRACKED a BUMPER?? Please remember that I have never even had a fender-bender, not so much as a ding in my paint job or anyone else's, in the six years I've been driving. I can't afford recklessness... I can't even afford Ramen Noodles. The only thing I CAN afford is my stellar insurance... which Enterprise is now eyeing up with the yearnful longing of a teenage girl at a Jonas Brothers concert.

I demand to speak to a manger. "Please hold on." The saccharine voice has now taken on a whiney, put-upon quality. I don't care. I hold. Ten minutes later, I'm informed that the manager will have to call me back. He's busy.

An hour later, I get a call. "You're going to have to funell all further inquiries to DRU at 868-300-4407." She says crisply and finally. I get the picture. I'm not going to be speaking to a manger any time soon.

I call Tunkhannock again, and demand to speak to one of THEIR managers. I wasn't really surprised to hear that all of THEIR managers had gone home, too. I tell the receptionist that I demand more time to assess the damages, and he says "okey-dokey" and hangs up.

Here's my issue. I DID NOT damage the car. I did not so much as scratch the car. What happened to it after I dropped it off at the Collision Center is beyond me. For all I know, a stampeding herd of Yaks carrying Hun warlords could very well have run over my car. Or, Enterprise could have rented the car out, during the very busy Thanksgiving holiday, to someone who DID opt for their insurance, and DID crack the bumper. Or, they could be sleaze-balls that cracked it themselves or simply found damage that was already there that I didn't see when the manager RAN around the car with me when I picked it up. Does that make it my fault?

Unfortunately, no one inspected the car with me when I dropped it off. This is my first time renting, and as I look back now I realize how incredibly stupid and niave it was not to drag someone out from the garage to attest to the intact state of the car, but what's done is done. I'm now faced with the possibility of very expensive damages and a permanent black mark on my driving record that will send my insurance rates soaring. What do I do? Please, please... anyone who can help me... please help me.

[pt driver]

Don't make such a big deal regarding this. Let your insurance company handle it. You hit a curb with your rental and scuffed it. Take some of the drama out of your life and forget about this.

[BubbaGUmp]

Dude, really, you dropped the car off at the Body Shop so any damage that occurred to it is still YOUR responsibility. That's why you were told verbally AND on your contract to return the vehicle to n Enterprise Branch. You fucked up now deal woth it and find something else to worry about. You have STELLAR insurance...right? let them handle it.

You have no idea how many times people like you piss and moan and complain when damage is found on a vehicle and they have to have their insurance pay for the damage. They are normally pissed because they have to fork over their deductible or $250, $500 or more. If they had taken the DW NONE of this would ever be an issue!

So, quit whining and suck it up.

[BubbaGUmp]

It just amazes me how stupid you people are...why in god's name would you want to use YOUR insurance to pay for MY car??? So, your agent tells you NEVER to take the coverage for a rental car...really??? If that's the case, ask him if he'll be paying your deductible for you then...I assure you, he/she WILL NOT!!! They will laugh all the way to the bank when YOUR insurance rates increase due to a claim filed against OUR rental car! Really, you cheap bastards, think about it...just like this poster, you get all bent out of shape when we dare to charge you for damage to a vehicle YOU TOOK RESPONSIBILITY for!!!!! Just buy the coverage and be done with it. Then you lazy fucks can drop the car wherever you want with no repercussions when it gets damaged while sitting at the Body Shop. You all make me sick and I hope that you have an accident that costs you a bundle...especially OUR CAR!!!

[IPSE_DIXIT]

"Jessica" should write novels....

"The saccharine lady on the other side of the reciever informs me."

"The only thing I CAN afford is my stellar insurance... which Enterprise is now eyeing up with the yearnful longing of a teenage girl at a Jonas Brothers concert."

"I'm now faced with the possibility of very expensive damages and a permanent black mark on my driving record that will send my insurance rates soaring. What do I do? Please, please... anyone who can help me... please help me."

I'm not a big fan of the Lazy-E, but listen......next time, buy the DW. Or stay in your melodramatic world.

Two things to note: (1) it doesnt hit your driving record, ding dong, and (2) its not a permanent black mark.

Get. A. Life.

[Jessica]

This was actually really fun for me. Look at all the replies of pathetic, worthless RAC employees! How does it feel to spend your life living in your mother's basement, working for the man? Keep up your lifeless existence. I'm glad I'm not you :)

[BubbaGUmp]

Originally Posted by Jessica

This was actually really fun for me. Look at all the replies of pathetic, worthless RAC employees! How does it feel to spend your life living in your mother's basement, working for the man? Keep up your lifeless existence. I'm glad I'm not you :)

Does it make you feel better about yourself to belittle others? is your life that shallow and meaningless? I, as well, am glad I am not YOU.

[Eracthese]

Originally Posted by BubbaGUmp

It just amazes me how stupid you people are...why in god's name would you want to use YOUR insurance to pay for MY car??? So, your agent tells you NEVER to take the coverage for a rental car...really??? If that's the case, ask him if he'll be paying your deductible for you then...I assure you, he/she WILL NOT!!! They will laugh all the way to the bank when YOUR insurance rates increase due to a claim filed against OUR rental car! Really, you cheap bastards, think about it...just like this poster, you get all bent out of shape when we dare to charge you for damage to a vehicle YOU TOOK RESPONSIBILITY for!!!!! Just buy the coverage and be done with it. Then you lazy fucks can drop the car wherever you want with no repercussions when it gets damaged while sitting at the Body Shop. You all make me sick and I hope that you have an accident that costs you a bundle...especially OUR CAR!!!

Well, I worked there for several years. And on average we'd do a DX=damaged rental...hmmm about maybe 10-15 the others we missed.
Rented about 500 rental in same month so let's see....YEAH odd are DON"T TAKE THE CRAPPY WAIVER.

[fritznbud]

Go pay a lawyer a minimal fee to send a registered letter to the St. Louis headquarters with your intentions to sue the shit out of them, with their track record, Entercourse will back off, they have enough horseshit going on to take on a lawsuit. REMEMBER, THE SQUEAKY WHEEL ALWAYS GETS THE GREASE. Good luck to ya sweetheart.

[Annoyed]

I had something very similar happen recently. I was having some work done on my car and was direct to Enterprise through my insurance company. Initially the experience was fine, I was given a Toyota Corolla, as I told the agent I would only drive a car comparable in size to my own. I also didn't take their insurance, I thought it was very strange, when I had insurance. This was also my first rental experience. I was given the car and did a walk around of the vehicle with the agent. The car was started and in a shaded area. We walked around and the agent pointed out a ding on the right door and some road tar. Having never rented I figured he knew what he was doing. I took the car and noticed it had a lot of crumbs and smelled, but figured it drove I'd deal with it. I had the car for about a week. I went to pick up my car from the shop and return the rental. Two people were ahead of me and the agent there at the time seemed to be speedy. I gave him the keys and was excited to get my car back and get out. I am very particular when borrowing anything, and was sure to fill the tank exactly to 3/4 like it was when I picked it up. I figured if anything they would charge for the gas being under. The agent came back in and called the office of the agent who gave me the car initially. I heard him ask if the agent remembered scratches on the front bumper, covered in spray paint. Immediately I started to panic, because I knew where this was headed. I too am female in my mid twenties, and was alone. After the agent was off the phone he told me i was responsible for the damage to the car. I was shocked, I asked why i needed to pay for something done by another customer. I also asked why I was paying for something the agents didn't catch initially or when the car was given to me. I just kept being told it was not documented, so I caused it. I told him numerous time this is not the type of person I am, and as I did with my own car, if I made a mistake. I would fix it the right way, not cover it with spray paint. I then asked him if the agent was perfect, because he was clearly stating they never made mistakes. Then I asked the agent if he was implying that I was lying, since I was told I was paying for it. After this and the agent not responding whatsoever he told me to pay my deductible or collections agencies would be after me. I have an excellent driving record and credit and this really upset me. I started crying at this point and told the agent I would never return and I would tell everyone I knew not to return. The next day I called the agent who gave me the car. He said he would investigate and talk to some people. I followed up later in the day and was told that it was a "long story". In short he said, the agent the night before was correct in his actions (I guess they are trained to treat customers as the enemy), he told me they were going to eat the cost. He didn't just say they were eating the cost, he told me this isn't something they typically do, as if I was getting a break. I would've been getting a break had I actually scratched and spray painted this car. He said out prior conversation upset him. I felt very manipulated and abused as a customer, and especially a young female. I guarantee a man wouldn't have had this occur.