Branch Closes Early, Forcing Additional Charges And "Discovered" Damages

I just had a run-in with Enterprise Rental about a month ago. Here is my story...

I was in a car accident and went to my local Enterprise store to rent a car while mine was at the auto body shop being repaired.

I received a call on Friday afternoon from the car repair shop telling me my car was ready to be picked up. Well my son and I arrived to pick up my car late Friday afternoon. By the time we got to Enterprise to drop off the car the shop was closed (before 6:00pm).

We left and went back home. I knew I had to work Saturday, but I thought I would have enough time to drop off the car after work.  I got to Enterprise at 1:00pm in the afternoon. The place closed at noon.  While my son and I were at Enterprise that afternoon, I noticed they did not have a lock box so I could drop off the key. I knew if I kept the car another day after picking mine up Friday night that the other insurance company would not pay and I did not have a place to keep an extra car at home.

So I decided to leave the car on the lot.  I took the keys back home to me.  When I got home I immediately left a voice message explaining to them that I would be in Monday after work to drop off the keys and pay for the gas I owed.

Monday morning came.  I am at work.  The first phone call from Enterprise advised me that they needed the keys to the car ASAP.  I explained that I would be in after work to drop off the keys and pay for the gas.

Second phone call; the lady starts yelling because the other insurance company was not going to reimburse me for the extra 3 days rental.  I explained I would be in after work that evening to pay for the remaining charges.

Third phone call; I now have damage to the car. I was told that there was a scuff mark down the driver's side of the door.

By this time I was totally upset. So upset I could not function any longer at work. I was told that they had to have keys made to get the car in the shop to be fixed.  I was not able to look at the damage and that there shop will bill me for the charges.

I had my brother-in-law take the check to the store Monday night.  Of course, the manager was not present at the time.

I was so upset I sent an e-mail to corporate site.  The regional manager called me.  I explained to him that if money was coming out of my pocket, why didn't I have a chance to see the damage, get 3 quotes and have it fixed?  I explained to him that his "chop shop" scam will charge me way too much!  He said not really that his shop is lower than most customers, but I guess we won't know that, will we?  He did not work to get me back as a customer if you know what I mean.  All he had to say is what do you want from us?

In the meantime, I have received a letter in the mail explaining charges. $614.00 for damages.  $100.00 of that was admin fees and other charges included a light lamp?  The pictures they provided to me are scanned digital black and white images of a black car!  I cannot see anything related to damage on these pictures.

I sent an e-mail to the company asking for color pictures or something I can see physical damage.  They have not responded.

I am so mad I can scream and not sure if I should pay this outrageous bill?

Any comments, suggestions, help would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Mel from Missouri

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