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[Varche]

Oh dear, a good friend has acquired some damage to a very new hire car from a premier company in the Uk. It happened whilst parked in a car park. The damage is just a few very small scuffs on the bumper.  Of course he didn't pay for all damage included excess but now wishes he had!

What do you think he should do?

1. Take it back and hope they don't notice.
2. Take it to a "We repair all minor damage" place and get it fixed with an ink pen.
3. Own up when he takes the car back and face the music (whatever tune it may be)
4. Something else.

Are the major hire companies like Hertz fair or do they treat damage as a way of increasing profit?   

[omegod]

It's a gamble hoping they don't notice so I would get a SMART repair done prior to taking it back personally.

Chances are they will want a hefty sum for the repair.

[zvi]

3. with a police report on hit & run

[Varche]

3. with a police report on hit & run

It is only very very minor damage. I suspect the police wouldn't be interested and in any case surely you the hirer are responsible for any damage incurred if you don't have the excess.?

[Dishevelled Den]

Assuming the damage wasn't on the vehicle when collected the only sensible thing to do is to point it out upon return - having taken photograps of not only the damage but of the remainder of the vehicle.

They should also take comfort from the fact that experience can be a great teacher

[mantahatch]

I would also canel the credit card he used to hire the car very quickly indeed !!!

They charge you not only for the repair but also for the time the car is off the road whilst being repaired, they also do it by estimate and do not actually repair the car.

It is a total con by hire car companies and programmes like Watchdog have covered it before.

You basically sign an agreement which if you read the small print says we can take any money off your credit card up to the value of the car. 

[plym ian]

Happened to me when I took the car back parked it near a wall chap came out to inspect it he looked it over and cause he couldn't be bothered to move it he signed it off job done. Once its signed off its there problem

[zvi]

I returned a car with scratch on the door, with a police report and wasn't charge for it.

[PhilRich]

If the damage really is minor Varche, wouldn't a bottle of T-Cut & some elbow grease work wonders? When I was LPG,ing my car, I forgot to put a cover over the wing whilst working & my overall studs made a heck of a mess of the paintwork, it looked really bad but my son had it back 'as was' within half an hour!
Just a thought?

[cem_devecioglu]

bring back the car on a very busy hour 

seriously it depends on the firm and the worker.. :-/

dont try to repair it ..

[Plomien]

I would also canel the credit card he used to hire the car very quickly indeed !!!

They charge you not only for the repair but also for the time the car is off the road whilst being repaired, they also do it by estimate and do not actually repair the car.

It is a total con by hire car companies and programmes like Watchdog have covered it before.

You basically sign an agreement which if you read the small print says we can take any money off your credit card up to the value of the car. 

Won't work, they will already have the payment authorisation.
if he gets them to sign that it was in good condition when he returned it (do it at lunch or another busy time) they cannot charge for it

[Mr Skrunts]

As cem mentioned, take it back when they are very busy and park the damaged part near to an obstruction but not in an obvious way.   

Honest bunch ar'nt we. :-/

[cem_devecioglu]

As cem mentioned, take it back when they are very busy and park the damaged part near to an obstruction but not in an obvious way.   

Honest bunch ar'nt we. :-/

 

life teaches to play fair 

[PhilRich]

As cem mentioned, take it back when they are very busy and park the damaged part near to an obstruction but not in an obvious way.   

Honest bunch ar'nt we. :-/

 

life teaches to play fair 

Fair....ish Cem 

[Mr Skrunts]

As cem mentioned, take it back when they are very busy and park the damaged part near to an obstruction but not in an obvious way.   

Honest bunch ar'nt we. :-/

 

life teaches to play fair 

Saying that, this is why you need to check a hire car on pick up in case you get the blame for other people's damage. :-/