miniscule crack--replace ENTIRE windshield???

[playerchick]

First off all, you are naming the thread miniscule crack, yet you are referring to the damage in your post as a chip or star smaller than "birdcrap or dot of salt". WHich one is it a crack or a chip? There is a huge difference there!!
If I was you, this is the argument I would make : When you walked around the car the rental rep never looked at the w/shield nor asked you to look at it. Therefore there was no way for erac to know that the chip/star/crack was already there (Since you are claiming it was there). SO explain to the Loss control person that nobody from erac looked at the windshield how would they know if damage was there or not?
Also, in my group, they made us write CLEAR on the windshield part of the sketch on the rental contract. Of course if it wasn't clear and there were stars/chips we put dots there. If there was nothing written on the paper we couldn't fight it with the customer.

Good luck

[slave no more]

Originally Posted by playerchick

First off all, you are naming the thread miniscule crack, yet you are referring to the damage in your post as a chip or star smaller than "birdcrap or dot of salt". WHich one is it a crack or a chip? There is a huge difference there!!
If I was you, this is the argument I would make : When you walked around the car the rental rep never looked at the w/shield nor asked you to look at it. Therefore there was no way for erac to know that the chip/star/crack was already there (Since you are claiming it was there). SO explain to the Loss control person that nobody from erac looked at the windshield how would they know if damage was there or not?
Also, in my group, they made us write CLEAR on the windshield part of the sketch on the rental contract. Of course if it wasn't clear and there were stars/chips we put dots there. If there was nothing written on the paper we couldn't fight it with the customer.

Good luck

We had a branch manager almost get canned because he would write clear on the windhsield and when it came back smashed the insurance company would not pay because they said there was already damage on the windshield that was shaped like the word clear (in other words it was carved in) and they had a valid argument (as ridiculous as it sounds). We were always told if there is no damage do not write anything regardless of what the customer says. Some people used to also put rain or snow or whatever as well. PEACE OUT!

Originally Posted by slave no more

We had a branch manager almost get canned because he would write clear on the windhsield and when it came back smashed the insurance company would not pay because they said there was already damage on the windshield that was shaped like the word clear (in other words it was carved in) and they had a valid argument (as ridiculous as it sounds). We were always told if there is no damage do not write anything regardless of what the customer says. Some people used to also put rain or snow or whatever as well. PEACE OUT!

When a customer told me to mark down some really trivial damage that I knew we would not go after them for, I would just pretend to so they would shut up. I did this for the same reason you mentioned. If I marked a line or dot on the rear bumber because some customer points out some small ass scratch and then the car comes back with the bumper all fucked from an actual accident, it would be difficult for erac to collect because of the damage marked on the contract. The insurance could just say that the damage was pre-existing because of the small line I put on the contract.

I think we had a guy that came back in after doing the walk around with the customer and his pen dropped point first right on the windshield of the car diagram on the contract. If that car came back with a star in the windshield, there is a good chance that erac wouldn't have been able to collect because of the mark left by the dropped pen. It sounds stupid, but it's reality.

[agrointhemountains]

sorry to have gone MIA...not my intention. and oh, GROW UP?? I see, by refusing to pay for something I am not responsible for so that this company can get a repair I shouldn't be liable for done for free, I'm being immature. Oh, dear. Mea Culpa. Anyone else on the board need something fixed? Washing Machine? Your TV? Please, I don't want to be childish...send me the bill, will you?

It's a chip. Plain and simple...as I could barely see the damn thing, it's the only way to describe it. NO starring. NO additional cracking. nada. On the passenger side...and yes I drove this car many hours and didn't notice it---perhaps because it was barely visable and high up on the passenger side? I even photographed the location where the chip was and it's not visable in any of those either!

Incidentally, my friend who was waiting in her car to take me to work watched the sales rep---and she did not view him taking one look at the windshield. He viewed the bumpers carefully and the doors looking, I presume, for dents. Didn't even glance at the windshield---not. one. look. Gee, how strange. Almost like he already knew.

The car was taken over IMMEDIATELY to the glass repair place. The one across the street. The one that gets a crapload of business from Enterprise. Huh. According to someone I met who used to work in the plaza where the glass shop is, there's a lovely little kick back arrangement going on between the two businesses. How convienient, don't you think? Additionally, I called several other glass places in the area, and their estimates were HALF what the place across the street "charged". Again, slightly suspicious.

A chip is repairable. They got that effin car over to their pals across the street as fast as possible so as to negate any chance of me returning to argue the "chip" vs. crack debate again. They figured that getting rid of the "evidence" quickly was the best way to cover their asses. Oops, boys. I HAVE pictures. Several of them. Pathetic that I had to do that, but relieved that I did.

You know, if I HAD caused this chip, I'd still be pissed off that they are replacing a windshield when repair is the more appropriate option. But I would take responsibility. Trying to not only pin it on me AND screwing me for $450 when under $100 would repair it? Hell no.

[slave no more]

Originally Posted by agrointhemountains

sorry to have gone MIA...not my intention. and oh, GROW UP?? I see, by refusing to pay for something I am not responsible for so that this company can get a repair I shouldn't be liable for done for free, I'm being immature. Oh, dear. Mea Culpa. Anyone else on the board need something fixed? Washing Machine? Your TV? Please, I don't want to be childish...send me the bill, will you?

It's a chip. Plain and simple...as I could barely see the damn thing, it's the only way to describe it. NO starring. NO additional cracking. nada. On the passenger side...and yes I drove this car many hours and didn't notice it---perhaps because it was barely visable and high up on the passenger side? I even photographed the location where the chip was and it's not visable in any of those either!

Incidentally, my friend who was waiting in her car to take me to work watched the sales rep---and she did not view him taking one look at the windshield. He viewed the bumpers carefully and the doors looking, I presume, for dents. Didn't even glance at the windshield---not. one. look. Gee, how strange. Almost like he already knew.

The car was taken over IMMEDIATELY to the glass repair place. The one across the street. The one that gets a crapload of business from Enterprise. Huh. According to someone I met who used to work in the plaza where the glass shop is, there's a lovely little kick back arrangement going on between the two businesses. How convienient, don't you think? Additionally, I called several other glass places in the area, and their estimates were HALF what the place across the street "charged". Again, slightly suspicious.

A chip is repairable. They got that effin car over to their pals across the street as fast as possible so as to negate any chance of me returning to argue the "chip" vs. crack debate again. They figured that getting rid of the "evidence" quickly was the best way to cover their asses. Oops, boys. I HAVE pictures. Several of them. Pathetic that I had to do that, but relieved that I did.

You know, if I HAD caused this chip, I'd still be pissed off that they are replacing a windshield when repair is the more appropriate option. But I would take responsibility. Trying to not only pin it on me AND screwing me for $450 when under $100 would repair it? Hell no.

As far as your friend telling you that she did not see him looking at the windshield it is pretty easy to check out the windshield just by moving your eyes so if the person checking in the car did not climb onto the hood and stare at the windshield from two inches away that does not mean that they did not check it out. You can also check it out while you are getting the miles in the car simply by looking out the windshield. NOW, if the damage is a chip on the passenger side then you are getting screwed. Get the work order from the glass place and ask them WHY they chose to replace it. Get the other estimates and take them to ERAC and tell them that 1) they are getting ripped off by that vendor, 2) that the chip should have been filled not replaced and 30 go fuck yourself and just don't pay it. They will do 1 of 2 things which is drop it or fuck up your credit. That is about all you can do but make sure you get someone from loss control (not a supervisor but the manager) and if not him then the RVP or GM. Good luck!

I'm sorry but does anyone else here feel that the renter in this situation is over-implying a HUGE amount of cover-up and backdoor shadiness on the part of both the rental branch and the glass repair place. In terms of kickbacks that are spoken of, couldn't that possibly mean simply a free day rental a month for prioritizing Enterprise's vehciles when they come in (i.e. move them to the front of the line so they can be repaired first). And to assume that the damage was so minimal to the windshield is to assume that the renter in this situation has worked in or around glass repair shops for quite sometime and can make that educated decision. Well, that, or simply the renter is trying to minimalize the need for replacement, to suit his interests, rather than err on the side of precaution by replacing the windshield to protect future renters. There are times when small cracks/chips can be fixed and times when they can't. The times they can't they are replaced for the safety of future renters or anyone driving the car. Not for the financial gain of the office, because, at the very least, having a windshield repaired takes 30 minutes, having it replaced takes upwards of two hours - which is definitely not good financially for an office screaming tight on cars. Does anyone here agree that the renter, may have simply damaged a car, and should pay for it? Just bad luck, not an overt conspiracy.

[agrointhemountains]

Are you insinuating that one must be an expert in the art of glass repair to judge the difference between a tiny chip and a crack with spider lines?? You MUST be joking. Please tell me you were kidding...I've owned cars for 14 years and have had cracks in the windshield before. Pretty sure I can tell the difference. Pretty sure ANYONE could tell the difference, training in glass repair or not. That's kind of ludicrous.

Incidentally, how would you have ANY idea if this office is "screaming tight on cars"???? They aren't. I live in a state where the heaviest traffic in a rental office is in fall, summer and winter. We're in spring and the tourists are minimal. There were many, many cars in the lot. Many.

Why in the world would they replace a whole windshield that didn't NEED replacing if it WASN'T to their advantage?? And I'm not "over-implying" a damn thing...if I need to air dirty laundry, I'll come right out and explain what I was told about apparent "kick backs". It sure as hell isn't as banal/boring as moving to the front of the line for repairs...

I refuse to further plead my case regarding my causing the damage. Obviously, it's a moot point to some ERAC employees. Because if I'm not responsible, one of their cronies IS. That said, I'm NOT bending on the chip issue. Using a pen right now? Good. Turn it tip side up and look at it. The effing chip was no bigger than the point of that pen. And if you still insist that's grounds for repair, there's nothing anyone could do to convince you otherwise.

This is not bad luck. It's bad business.

[FailingEnterpriseAdmin]

Originally Posted by agrointhemountains

Are you insinuating that one must be an expert in the art of glass repair to judge the difference between a tiny chip and a crack with spider lines?? You MUST be joking. Please tell me you were kidding...I've owned cars for 14 years and have had cracks in the windshield before. Pretty sure I can tell the difference. Pretty sure ANYONE could tell the difference, training in glass repair or not. That's kind of ludicrous.

Incidentally, how would you have ANY idea if this office is "screaming tight on cars"???? They aren't. I live in a state where the heaviest traffic in a rental office is in fall, summer and winter. We're in spring and the tourists are minimal. There were many, many cars in the lot. Many.

Why in the world would they replace a whole windshield that didn't NEED replacing if it WASN'T to their advantage?? And I'm not "over-implying" a damn thing...if I need to air dirty laundry, I'll come right out and explain what I was told about apparent "kick backs". It sure as hell isn't as banal/boring as moving to the front of the line for repairs...

I refuse to further plead my case regarding my causing the damage. Obviously, it's a moot point to some ERAC employees. Because if I'm not responsible, one of their cronies IS. That said, I'm NOT bending on the chip issue. Using a pen right now? Good. Turn it tip side up and look at it. The effing chip was no bigger than the point of that pen. And if you still insist that's grounds for repair, there's nothing anyone could do to convince you otherwise.

This is not bad luck. It's bad business.

This is not bad luck. It's bad business.

Maybe this should be our motto.

Whoa, easy Agro, the other poster just seemed to be making a point, damn! I actually thought they were good points too! Pay your bill for the repair or take responsibility for not walking around. Either way, you're responsible. And what, how do you know it didn't need to be replaced? Let the people at the glass place determine that. Do we come down to your work and tell you how many pepperonis to put on the pizza? No we let you do it all on your own. Other people here have to agree this guy is responsible AT LEAST for not walking around the car, right?

[Former GoldenBoy]

Well, just know that ERAC will not have a glass company come out and replace the windshield if they don't think it is necessary. it is too time consuming and there is a chance that you will not pay. If it can be repaired for $20, this is a winning situation for the branch. The branch makes pennies on this type of situation and wouldn't go through all the red tape if not necessary. If they pursue make sure you ask for a receipt that shows the date and dollar amount. You said that you did not fill out or sign a damage report. Tell them to pound sand and tell them that you would like to speak to a regional manager if this is not cleared up. Ask them to clean your personal car while you wait. The shit we did...my God. I feel for the currect ERAC employees that have to go through this every day. Thank God I am out.