Car Next Door Experience

LTimf001 on 10/11/2021 - 13:56
Last edited 13/11/2021 - 09:45 by 1 other user

Any one dealt with Car Next Door?

I got two random email from two people in their customer service department claiming I caused a flat battery on a van I rented. I provided proof that I wasn't responsible. Apparently they raised 2 separate cases - The first lady agreed to waive the charge and the second went ahead and charged it. I have now been told that I need to sort out the second case with the other customer representative to recover my $100.

Either this mob are incompetent or scammers. Any experiences?

Update: I have tried to reason with them asking why the owner didn’t check, showing pics that i secured all doors but radio silence. I will lodge a complaint with Fair trading - Sounds like they are going to score another $100! Not happy Jan but sounds like there is nothing I can do.

Automotive

Related Stores

Uber Carshare (Formerly Car Next Door)
Uber Carshare (Formerly Car Next Door)

Comments

  • MS Paint on 10/11/2021 - 14:06
    +5

    Sounds like a breakdown in communication or poor information management/sharing at Car Next Door.

    Just call the 2nd CSR and advise that the 1st CSR waived any responsibility and ask what is the process to claim a reimbursement.

    It's a pain but sh!t happens. Infact, in the time you spend writing and monitoring this thread you could probably have the $100 back on your CC.

  • pharkurnell on 10/11/2021 - 14:23
    +2

    scammers

    You need ask? $100 for a flat battery ?? $0 jump start, run down freeway all good…. SCAM

    by the way how do you prove you didnt cause it?

    • JimmyF on 10/11/2021 - 14:39

      Not everyone has a jump start battery around, also might not have been found out until the next renter went to pick up the vehicle, so there could be lost income etc.

      But I agree, unless the OP did something silly that caused the flat battery, the charge is a bit over the top.

      • jv on 10/11/2021 - 14:56

        Not everyone has a jump start battery around

        Are you insinuating they are not on OzBargain?

        Do you have proof ?

        • pformag on 10/11/2021 - 14:59

          yes

        • JimmyF on 10/11/2021 - 20:43

          Are you insinuating they are not on OzBargain?

          A true OzBargainer never owns one, only borrows them!

  • Fredfloresjr on 10/11/2021 - 14:25
    +8

    We need SlavOz opinion on this.

    Fredfloresjr on 10/11/2021 - 14:25 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
    • MS Paint on 10/11/2021 - 14:29
      +25

      The battery must have been vaccinated causing it to die prematurely.

      • geek001 on 10/11/2021 - 14:33
        +5

        The battery must have been unvaccinated causing it to die prematurely.

        There, I fixed it for you.

        • MS Paint on 10/11/2021 - 14:35
          +9

          Ok.

          Then the driver must have been obsese causing unnecessary strain on the electrical system causing the battery to die prematurely.

          Or

          The driver of the van must have exceeded 3000 RPM causing unnecessary stress on the battery causing it to die prematurely.

          Or

          The driver thought they were driving a manual when infact the van was automatic causing unnecessary stress on the battery causing it to die prematurely.

    • jv on 10/11/2021 - 15:01
      +2

      SlavOz consulted several battery doctors who concluded the age profile of the battery did not warrant re-charging and re-charging posed a genetic risk to the molecular structure of the electrolytes.

    • bobbified on 10/11/2021 - 17:43

      He would think it's fine to charge someone extra for revving the car over 4000rpm.

  • wiipantz on 10/11/2021 - 14:25
    +1

    CND is all right I've been renting for years and even put my cars up for rent before. However yes their comms is certainly lacking and there is clerical errors when stuff doesn't go exactly smoothly.

  • Drakesy on 10/11/2021 - 14:34

    I want to know how they can place the cost of a consumable on a customer, it's literally part of the rental price.

    Unless you drained it by leaving the lights on, but even then it'll just require a jumpstart/trickle charge. The battery isn't a write off.

    I guess in that case they could charge for labour to charge the car back up.

    • pharkurnell on 10/11/2021 - 14:37
      +1

      Im betting they do this each tim the car is "rented"… nutha hunge here and there … sounds great to me.

    • JimmyF on 10/11/2021 - 14:40

      Unless you drained it by leaving the lights on, but even then it'll just require a jumpstart/trickle charge. The battery isn't a write off.

      Car batteries don't like being drained dead flat. They generally don't recover very well from it.

      I would like to see the reason why they think the OP caused this issue though.

      • pharkurnell on 10/11/2021 - 14:44

        That would depend on the battery type. Mine has been flat a few times, still going 4yrs later.

        • AdosHouse on 10/11/2021 - 16:22

          I had my Optima down to 3V once, left it in ignition start for 3 days, my bad. Charged it up and lasted another 3 years.

      • bazingaa on 10/11/2021 - 19:11

        how come ? they are just Pb-Acid batteries :D

  • jv on 10/11/2021 - 14:54

    Any one dealt with Car Next Door?

    Not me.

    jv on 10/11/2021 - 14:54 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • netjock on 10/11/2021 - 16:03
    +1

    Interesting. If you handed a car back to rental firm I guess they would notice the lights are on. If you parked it outside front of owner's place then after every rental they would inspect for damage and obviously notice lights are on and battery might go flat.

    Unless you drain the battery and returned the vehicle by tow truck then I don't think you would be liable.

    • payless69 on 10/11/2021 - 19:20

      Instant keys you return the car by placing the key in a lockbox that hangs from the window. It is possible to leave the lights on and owner won't notice till next day.

  • payless69 on 10/11/2021 - 19:23

    Rented a few cars, yes they have software issues like cars with key handover but the owner does not show and claim he removed the car from rental. Similar to airbnb, I had listed a house for rent and the power company had turned the power off. Then Airbnb would not let me log in because I had rejected payment un US dollar gift cards before so clients ended up on the streets.

  • mmack on 11/11/2021 - 09:03
    +1

    Any one dealt with Car Next Door?

    Yes I have used it a handful of times over the past 6 months with no issues at all (although I haven't had any issues or had to deal with the customer service team). They seem pretty legit to me. The one thing that is pretty clear is that the onus is on the renter to make sure the car is in a good state once you have finished the rental term (locked, lights off, fuel above 1/4 tank).

  • The GM on 11/11/2021 - 09:53

    Only used them once, was a great experience E2E. Hired a Van from Lidcombe, drove the Wollongong and back, returned the van earlier than anticipated, was charged less than I anticipated because of this.

    Looks like a miscommunication with the CSR's - they would have notes on their CRM of your account on file / email correspondence confirming no charge. Just follow up with them.

  • OzHunterNSW on 11/11/2021 - 10:19
    +1

    How could you cause a flat battery? Did they ever explain? How could you return the vehicle, if it had a flat battery?

    Sounds like a scam. No more communication over the phone… all is to be done via email. E, stands for "evidence"!

    Contact the Dep of Fair Trading. They will advise you, or assist you.

    You can even take the company to a small claims court - yourself… it is the other party that needs to show proof that your caused a flat battery.

    And what where there two accusations, with one dropped?????

    Call their bluff

  • anthony t on 11/11/2021 - 11:21
    +2

    'Call their bluff' is so potentially time-consuming for relatively small amounts. This is the problem I encountered with CND. They just decide 'on your behalf', then take the action they think is right, resulting (in my case) in my credit card being debited with no recourse through them possible. They are all great to deal with until even something minor goes wrong. Maybe all these types of car renter companies operate this way. Op hasn't mentioned the reason why he's being blamed, so this is all a bit speculative anyway.

  • Mukduk on 11/11/2021 - 11:32
    +1

    I rented a van from them once. There was a hail warning that day and I got some bullshit sms from them saying something to the effect of "Any hail damage today even after you drop it back will be your responsibility"

    I sent them customer feedback telling them to get (profanity) and that the van is parked outside in the open as per their instructions and they'll be hearing from my lawyer if any charges turn up. Pfft I don't have a lawyer

    • TransportPosters on 12/11/2021 - 10:09
      +1

      Sounds like a bunch of morons are running the place.

  • Zachary on 12/11/2021 - 10:09
    -1

    Sounds like Levi using his car to power his 120W inverter for his 2200W juicer, and then returning the car after it turned out it was not very profitable….

  • nessism on 25/03/2022 - 06:29

    Used to be all right, not great, consistent app issues, but any issues in past I found ways around.

    And then - they sold to Uber last Jan.
    NO oz staff now.

    Have a look at all the NEW 1 star reviews since: https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/car-next-door

    I'm about to add another one in the key of "damage claim" (which battery falls under).
    There's mention of a class-action lawsuit that I'd jump on.
    The sudden level of incompetence, utterly borked systems and blatant cash grabs like these damage claims beggars belief.

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