"Supposed" Damage

Hi All,

Yesterday I received a letter from Enterprise regarding damage to a vehicle I rented over a month ago. Needless to say I was completely shocked because I definitely know that I did not cause the damage to the vehicle that ERAC claims I did. I am a pretty good customer there (I rent from them roughly twice a month) and I have even been back to rent other vehicles since the one they say I damaged. I have already cancelled my credit card so that they cannot automatically charge the damage to ($428 CAD) it. I plan on fighting this to the death if I have to, do they have a case against me? Wouldn't they notice the damage right after I dropped the car off? The agent never did a walk around with me when I dropped it off, but they never have before either. I simply drop the keys off and I'm on my way. How can they be sure nobody else damaged the car since I last rented it? Like I said, I rented the vehicle around a month ago!

PS: I was also "accused" several times about another car that I rented there and returned. They thought I never returned it when in fact they lost it and another customer had it for a few weeks. I received several calls regarding it and I had to keep telling them I returned it.

Sorry for the long winded message, I am really pissed right now and it's all I can do to not go down there and smack someone upside the head.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi All,

Yesterday I received a letter from Enterprise regarding damage to a vehicle I rented over a month ago. Needless to say I was completely shocked because I definitely know that I did not cause the damage to the vehicle that ERAC claims I did. I am a pretty good customer there (I rent from them roughly twice a month) and I have even been back to rent other vehicles since the one they say I damaged. I have already cancelled my credit card so that they cannot automatically charge the damage to ($428 CAD) it. I plan on fighting this to the death if I have to, do they have a case against me? Wouldn't they notice the damage right after I dropped the car off? The agent never did a walk around with me when I dropped it off, but they never have before either. I simply drop the keys off and I'm on my way. How can they be sure nobody else damaged the car since I last rented it? Like I said, I rented the vehicle around a month ago!

PS: I was also "accused" several times about another car that I rented there and returned. They thought I never returned it when in fact they lost it and another customer had it for a few weeks. I received several calls regarding it and I had to keep telling them I returned it.

Sorry for the long winded message, I am really pissed right now and it's all I can do to not go down there and smack someone upside the head.

This is one of the many unethical practices Erac engages in. I'm sorry you have to put up with it. This is what I recommend; Hopefully you have your final receipt and I would call Erac's Loss Control Department in your area. It should be on the letter or you can call any Erac branch in the area and they will give you the number. Explain to them that you cannot be found liable for any damages because you have the contract that shows you returned the car in the same shape you rented it in. Did they do a damage report? If they sis not, then you are in the clear. Hopefully you didn't sign anything but I know they are prone to have customers sign damage reports while explaining that they are nothing but for their records. Provide me some more info on this topic and we'll help you out.

Thanks a mil for the quick response. No I didn't sign anything but the original contract and I still have a copy. The Group Loss Control Supervisor actually sent me sent me pictures of the damage and it is an extremely noticeable scrape on the rear back panel. I am %100 percent sure the damage was not caused by me. I have not been told anything about a damage report. Should I ask to see it? I want to question why it took them so long to contact me about the damage....

[Disgruntled ExERACer]

One thing that ERAC is guilty of is that they do not carefully check in their cars upon return. Then they try to get an unsuspecting future renter to pay for damage that the branch should pay for. ERAC is self insured. Which means if anything happens to a car, they have to pay for it. There is no deductible that ERAC as a company pays to shops to have their cars fixed and no insurance policy that kicks in.

Now if there is damaged that is NOT caught and not paid for by a renter or an insurance company, ERAC eats it. What I mean by "eat it" is that the damage comes out of the branch's bottom line which effects the commissions of the Assistant Manager, Manager and everyone above them. It is in the best interest of these employees to get renters to pay for damage regardless of how it occurs. So if you are renting, go over that car with a fine tooth comb. If you have it for a day or two and get the cdw then you most likely don't have to worry about little issues like that. But always fight the damage. I worked for loss control, trust me there are ways around it.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks a mil for the quick response. No I didn't sign anything but the original contract and I still have a copy. The Group Loss Control Supervisor actually sent me sent me pictures of the damage and it is an extremely noticeable scrape on the rear back panel. I am %100 percent sure the damage was not caused by me. I have not been told anything about a damage report. Should I ask to see it? I want to question why it took them so long to contact me about the damage....

They have no case against you. How can they prove you did the damage? They would have to have you sign an accident report acknowledging that there was damage on the car when you returned it. They probably rented the car out 20 times since you had it. Bring this up and do a lot of yelling and screaming. They will submit and keep us informed.

You guys are all clutch, I feel a whole lot better after reading this. I am going to formulate a well written letter to Loss Control and even threaten to write my local newspapers action line explaining what happened. Last time I rent from these clowns.

[FailingEnterpriseAdmin]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You guys are all clutch, I feel a whole lot better after reading this. I am going to formulate a well written letter to Loss Control and even threaten to write my local newspapers action line explaining what happened. Last time I rent from these clowns.

This appears to be a common scam. Here's some more advice:

1. Ask for the name of the Area Manager.

2. Come back here and start a new thread with the Area Manager's name as the title. Explain your story in full and totally honestly. Include the branch location. In the message, demand the Area Manager give you a thorough explanation.

The best way to get rid of roaches is to turn on the light. Failing Enterprise is your light. They won't be able to withstand the scrutiny and if they screwed up, it will be obvious and they'll cave within two days.

Originally Posted by FailingEnterpriseAdmin

This appears to be a common scam. Here's some more advice:

1. Ask for the name of the Area Manager.

2. Come back here and start a new thread with the Area Manager's name as the title. Explain your story in full and totally honestly. Include the branch location. In the message, demand the Area Manager give you a thorough explanation.

The best way to get rid of roaches is to turn on the light. Failing Enterprise is your light. They won't be able to withstand the scrutiny and if they screwed up, it will be obvious and they'll cave within two days.

Admin makes some good points. Ensure you are honest and always threaten with the media. Write a letter anyways and give the specific branch. This unethical practice has to stop.

[gp65:(]

Ask Loss Control to pull out hard copies of all the prior rental agreements, to make sure it wasn't there. Some employees get a little frisky with the marking damage on the car, so they could have easily marked something in that spot on the car already.

If so, they haven't got a case. Holla!

[FailingEnterpriseAdmin]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Admin makes some good points. Ensure you are honest and always threaten with the media. Write a letter anyways and give the specific branch. This unethical practice has to stop.

Don't "threaten with the media", be the media. Post it here. Thousands of people visit here daily; they'll hear about it within the hour.