Car damage that I haven't done....

[vivara]

I rented a white car at ERAC last Weekend. It was $20 a day to rent and another $20/day for CDW. I declined buying CDW because it was too much and I was sure there will be no problem (stupid).... When we walked around the car with the ERAC employee, I didn’t notice any particular damage. However at the evening of the same day, I noticed some dents on top of the hood. Top of the hood was not where I paid my most attention to find damages when I was renting this car. At the same time when renting, it was very sunny and in direct sunshine I didn’t see some small dents on the hood. Any way, after returning the car I was told to be responsible for the damage. I asked them for condition report or past contracts, but they wouldn’t give me those.... Now I am waiting that Loss Control dept looks at the previous contracts for me and if the damage was reported before, I wouldn't be responsible. Otherwise I will be responsible and have to pay for something that I haven't done for sure. Any suggestions? What should I do?

[tailfins1959]

Originally Posted by vivara

I rented a white car at ERAC last Weekend. It was $20 a day to rent and another $20/day for CDW. I declined buying CDW because it was too much and I was sure there will be no problem (stupid).... When we walked around the car with the ERAC employee, I didn’t notice any particular damage. However at the evening of the same day, I noticed some dents on top of the hood. Top of the hood was not where I paid my most attention to find damages when I was renting this car. At the same time when renting, it was very sunny and in direct sunshine I didn’t see some small dents on the hood. Any way, after returning the car I was told to be responsible for the damage. I asked them for condition report or past contracts, but they wouldn’t give me those.... Now I am waiting that Loss Control dept looks at the previous contracts for me and if the damage was reported before, I wouldn't be responsible. Otherwise I will be responsible and have to pay for something that I haven't done for sure. Any suggestions? What should I do?

Do you own a vehicle? Check and see if a rental is covered under an owned vehicle's insurance coverage. Also check with your credit/debit card issuer, sometimes they offer coverage. Also, send a certified letter to Loss Control stating that conditions at the rental location did not lend themselves well to pre rental inspection. Handle nothing by phone and everything by certified mail. If it's not written down, it didn't happen. Also go to bbb.org and file a complaint, it will get their attention.

[MarbleCheese]

Originally Posted by tailfins1959

Do you own a vehicle? Check and see if a rental is covered under an owned vehicle's insurance coverage. Also check with your credit/debit card issuer, sometimes they offer coverage. Also, send a certified letter to Loss Control stating that conditions at the rental location did not lend themselves well to pre rental inspection. Handle nothing by phone and everything by certified mail. If it's not written down, it didn't happen. Also go to bbb.org and file a complaint, it will get their attention.

Bad Advice!
1) Debit cards do not offer protection, some credit cards do.
2) The location did not lend themselves well to an inspection? The sun was in his eyes, now you're going to blame erac for the sun coming out!

To the original poster: Enterprise just wants the car repaired. Try again to have them check previous contracts regarding the damage.
If they determine you did it and your car policy covers it, great. If your CREDIT card covers it, great. Otherwise you will be on the hook.

OK. When you sign the contract, you are agreeing to the inspection report. Therefore you are saying the car is in the said condition when you accept it. If it is not returned in said condition, you agree to compensate the company.

If the weather conditions do not favor the inspection, ask them to move the car - they will. All ERAC offices legaly have to have the provision to carry out an undercover (ie under a roof) inspection (even if it means travel to another location). Also, you are just as responsible for checking the car.

I am a former ERAC worker, and what I believe happens is, sometimes, damage occurs to the vehicle when under the care of the customer that the don't necessaraly know happens. I.E. stone chips, scratches from bushes etc. Many of such instances people come back saying 'it was there when I got the car'. Unfortunatly, they have signed saying it was not.

Not much you can do about this. However if you do believe it to be an ERAC error, here is what I suggest;
1. As soon as you notice the damage get in touch with ERAC. Normaly, they will trust you if it is within 24hrs.
2. Do not go in 'with all guns blazing'. Pop by the office, be polite.
3. Tell them why you couldn't have done it. "The scratch is discoloured, that shows it's been there for a while'
4. Don't try too hard, and don't lie! "I couldnt have done it - I cot the car and drove it to my house, and never used it. i only live 50 meters away"... "Yes, but sir, it says you have diven 200 miles..."
5. Remember that you are in a legaly binding contract. You have agreed to pay for any damages not noted on the sheet. They can hit you for your excess without any hesitation. Remember you position.
6. Dispite what is implied by this website, the majority of ERAC employee's and offices do not like hitting you for damage you did not cause. If they point it out to you, the chance is you done it!
7. Always take EXs protection. It may seem cheaper to not. But in the long run it is not always.

Stephen

[Enter-tHE-Pyramid-Scheme!]

I think Stephen still works for ERAC and he is trying to help the company out.

You have to understand that Stephen was kind of right in saying for them to move the car. But the last ERAC representative probably missed the damage for the same reason you did or they knew that car had damage. You see if the branch can charge you for it, then the branch manager wont have to pay for it out of his commissions. It has been done before to know that a car has damage and for the representative to miss it altogether, when you come back they find the damage and can do a DX rather than an OX so they can charge you for it.

Here are some ways to get around that. In the future like Stephen said get the damage waiver and then if something happens you are covered and you can pin it on Enterprise. If nothing happens you act surprised when they add up your charges and say you didn’t want that and you were misguided in the presentation of the damage waiver. You specifically told them you didn’t want it and they said sign here. So you did. You then make a big scene in the office and complain about the customer service and ask for the main # to complain. What you have to understand is they have an ESQI survey to rate their customer service and they get over stimulated with that number you bitch and moan and you can part the sea. And your DW is wiped clean.

I don't work for enterprise. I don't even live in the same country as my old office, so a 9 hour commute is not all that possible.

You talk about making a scene and b*tching - that won't work. If someone done that to me. I would tell them that they are legaly responsible for the damage, and remind them that I have their CC on file, and by the contract I am authorised to take the XS. I would then give them a copy of their contract, and ask them to leave the office. I can not stand people who yell, b*tch and genraly go off on one.

I would then forward the details to loss control and the legal department. Seriously, when it comes to ESQI, I don't care about it when people are being overly rude to me.

On the other hand, a lady dinged a car she had from us - she didnt tak XS protection. She was appologetic, and worried about the situation. I spoke with my manager, and we decided to get it smart repaired - it cost her $30.
I would always try my hardest to help those people who had genuine concern.

I also found great reward in charging other offices for damage - better let them get the hit, than a customer!

Oh, and by the way, our branch had a 98% loss recovery, and an esqi 87 - 94!

I feel that there are 3 types of people who use this board;
1. Ex employees who dislike the company
2. Customers who dont want to pay for what they have agreed to pay for
3. People who have recieved poor service - the minority

Please remember Enterprise is one of the top rated hire companies. They are one of the few rental companies that makes money. They musn't be pissing off too many people.

Stephen

[C9Kid]

Stephen,

Nice posts. I like your train of thought.

But you forgot the fourth type of poster:

Those who are still happily employed with the company because they're willing to work hard (and smart) to succeed.

[Enter-tHE-Pyramid-Scheme!]

Stephen I would like you to take a step back from this site for a second. If you were really not employed and not a complete ERAC nerd who really cares about ERAC Crap like ESQI once you have left that doesn’t mean anything any more. So let it go or let everyone know you are a fraud and you still work for the company.

Who are you kidding loss control and the legal department, they don’t have the first clue to what is going on they are like chickens with there heads cut off with attitude…lol

C9Kid thank you very much for strengthening my over all point of the Pyramid “Those who are still happily employed with the company because they're willing to work hard (and smart) to succeed.”

So other companies can’t have the same outcome on their employees working hard and smart to succeed. That is the tunnel vision one sidedness that keeps the young brainwashed members believing in the top of the Pyramid. By saying ERAC is the only place you can do so. lol You need to get real become your own thinker with your own ideas and not be scared to make it on your own. I am sorry for you C9kid…take a good look in the mirror and try to put all those coined phrases out of your head and realize you haven’t had an original idea since you have been there and it is okay to be successful with other companies…

[C9Kid]

Pyramid:

I'm not spouting lines my ARM told me over the past year...it's merely from my experience. So far, I've been promoted as I was told I would be, provided the training and support I needed, etc. I've many times thought of leaving, but I like where I'm at right now. People who succeed at ERAC will likely succeed anywhere else, and will be that much better off with their experience at ERAC...but it's just not for everyone.