Dodgy car rental creating a debt bill for me

[Deactivated] on 01/02/2022 - 09:57
Last edited 02/02/2022 - 05:37

Hi all

Hoping to get some guidance from you guys.

I rented a car from a local (QLD) rental company (none of the mainstream like Hertz, etc) for 32 days.

Their business management was generally poor (like charging hidden fees in the name of direct debit, grace fee, late fee, etc).

However, at the end when I returned the car there were some minor scuff on the bumper. I said it is wear and tear arising from 32 days of rental and they accepted (accepted means the person got the keys and drove the car away to a carpark).

The next day I get an email that they have showed the damage to a professional and got $900 quote for repair.

I don't accept that it was a damage to be repaired (very minor marks) or that I am responsible for it. They threaten that if I don't pay they will send debt collectors.

This is a very dodgy business so my email to them to explain receives no reply.

Not sure what I should do especially if a debt collector contacts me later.

Edit: I thank everyone for some very helpful comments (some other lunatic comments were ignored). I proceeded and got multiple quotations which are as low as $190 and will use against the dodgy rental company in the courts

Automotive

closed Comments

  • Hybroid on 01/02/2022 - 09:59
    +52

    What does the contract you signed say in regards to vehicle damage? Did you have full 0 excess insurance cover? Scuffs are not wear and tear, it's accidental damage.

      • Hybroid on 01/02/2022 - 11:04
        +47

        Based on the image you posted below, that's definitely accidental damage and you are liable for the repair. Whether you would or wouldn't repair those marks on your own vehicle is not relevant. It's someone else's car that you damaged.

        Next time make sure you purchase $0 excess cover or at least have excess reimbursement insurance.

        • CalmLemons on 02/02/2022 - 10:44
          +1

          Yes, OP has to pay. $900 is an OK price, as given the damage, the whole bumper needs to come off and replaced, or resprayed. Not sure you can remove paint on a plastic bumper and just respray it.

          The labour alone would be half a day, $120 an hour, 4 hours, $480 + parts + paint + time in the kiln if required. $900 is a fair price.

          • cookie2 on 04/02/2022 - 10:41

            @CalmLemons: 120 per hour in labour? Is this an exaggeration or the norm? (Serious q btw)

            • algy on 04/02/2022 - 12:32
              +2

              @cookie2: Labor includes things like electricity, rent, tools, disposables, etc. 120 is fairly normal.

            • CalmLemons on 06/02/2022 - 00:15

              @cookie2: It's normal. As deeper breakdown at per algy below

              Of that $120

              $35 would be the actual employee cost, $10-15 rent, $10 other cost plus your 2x-3x markup.

              If you're not marking up 2x on labour at least you wouldn't be in business very long.

        • Intoxicoligist on 03/02/2022 - 14:42
          +1

          JFC how can someone look at that photo and claim wear and tear. You've clearly hit something….

      • Scrooge McDuck on 02/02/2022 - 17:36
        +3

        I said it is wear and tear arising from 32 days of rental and they accepted (accepted means the person got the keys and drove the car away to a carpark).

        Perhaps there was a communication issue. I don't think the onus is on them to argue with anything you say if they don't agree with it. If you sought to be absolved of any liability for the car that's something which should've been acquired in a written document.

  • holdenmg on 01/02/2022 - 09:59
    +3

    Did you get a photo or quote?

    Sounds like they are stacking the downtime (car off the road) to the repair bill.

    Got Insurance?

    Was the Bumper scuff on a Ford or a Ferrari?

      • holdenmg on 01/02/2022 - 10:45
        +20

        That won't buff right out…

      • lewislardboy on 01/02/2022 - 11:16
        +2

        what amount do you think would be acceptable to pay to repair that? a few hours at a crash repairer + admin/logistic costs? sure $900 is a little high, but i see how they get to that.

        especially when all it cost you was $75/day for the car. they need to still pay their admin staff to manage this process.

        not endorsing the usual care hire extortion processes tho. this, however, seems to be all on you.

      • bobbified on 01/02/2022 - 11:20
        +57

        That picture shows actual damage that's not just 'wear and tear'. That bumper has been scraped on something. So unless it was there when you got the vehicle, they're rightly charging you for it.

      • AustriaBargain on 01/02/2022 - 12:57
        +24

        That's an ugly scrape and I wouldn't want to rent a car with that kind of damage. They need to get it repaired and were quoted $900. If you thought it would buff right out you should have buffed it right out before returning it.

      • geekcohen on 01/02/2022 - 13:02
        +10

        That is no wear and tear, my wife car and my car are used daily with no marks like that.

        • jv on 02/02/2022 - 14:22
          +9

          my wife and my car are used daily with no marks like that.

          lol, that's what I read…

      • brendanm on 01/02/2022 - 20:12
        +13

        That is not minor marks. I would fully expect to be charged if that is the condition I returned a hire car in.

        Would you be happy if you lent someone your car, with no marks on it, and it came back like that?

      • Munki on 02/02/2022 - 01:19
        +13

        Mate…That's not wear and tear. That's downright you hit something and it's now scratched the car.

      • smartazz104 on 02/02/2022 - 10:06
        +2

        Most cars I see in streets have that kind of paint marks on bumpers.

        So you and most cars you see can't navigate underground car parks?

        • StalkingIbis on 02/02/2022 - 10:52
          +1

          Most cars in your suburb look like that? …Sunnbank??

          • ankor on 03/02/2022 - 20:51

            @StalkingIbis: Well those are some very tiny carparks - Sunnybank mum, maybe.

            • StalkingIbis on 04/02/2022 - 22:54

              @ankor: you're not wrong! Those tiny parks certainly don't help!

          • Kangal on 03/02/2022 - 21:51

            @StalkingIbis: My Ute has been hit in the back, front, and a nasty big dent on the side. All when left at carpark. All Sunnybank/Area. I'm lost for words.

      • trapper on 02/02/2022 - 12:00
        +3

        This is not a 'scuff', it is a scrape, which is legit damage that will need repairing.

      • jv on 02/02/2022 - 14:21
        +4

        Image of minor marks https://ibb.co/nRYshTn

        That's pretty bad.

        I'd be pissed off if you did that to my car…

      • F1ProjectOne on 03/02/2022 - 01:35

        You should have got any buffing compound from those auto shops for $10-20 and they would have not noticed it.

  • apsilon on 01/02/2022 - 10:02
    +69

    Scuffed bumper after 32 days is not acceptable wear and tear IMO.

    • life is suffering on 01/02/2022 - 10:04

      Yeah I don't think so but OP did you have insurance? I think what happened here is an employee took it didn't realise it was something to report now the bosses are behind.

    • ThithLord on 01/02/2022 - 10:31
      +19

      I'd hate to see OP's personal car after a year of owning it!

    • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2022 - 10:39
      -4

      15000 km (pain $2400 in total for rental and km)

      • matt_will_fix_it on 02/02/2022 - 22:42
        +4

        Actually its $2400 rental fees + $900 for the bumper.

      • Drakesy on 04/02/2022 - 16:24

        Probably would've been better off buying an old bomb, crashing it a few times then handing it to the wreckers.

      • rambao9 on 01/02/2022 - 11:08
        +44

        You are right, that's a great reference.

        i) paints gone
        ii) much bigger than 20mm
        iii) can't be polished out

        they are all not met. .: it doesn't fall under Fair Wear and Tear

      • apsilon on 01/02/2022 - 11:21
        +2

        Well, you've said the place you hired from wasn't a major rental place, just a local, and even if they were members my understanding is those things are a voluntary code of practice, not law. Their own T&C may be different. Additionally you haven't supplied a photo so no idea if your scuff would even meet the criteria.

        The only thing we do know is they are pursuing the damage and the contract you signed will hold you to it. If you want to engage a solicitor and fight it I'm pretty sure it'll cost you more.

        EDIT: saw you supplied a pic in another post. Not clear enough for me to tell if it can be polished out or not. Light spots could be paint transfer or could be through to the primer.

    • Brick Tamland on 02/02/2022 - 15:36
      +3

      That wear and tear evidenced in the photo might be ok on a 20 year old car, not wear and tear over 30 days.

  • pharkurnell on 01/02/2022 - 10:04
    +9

    Did you scuff it?? If so - pay up.. 32 days or 12 years doesnt matter.

  • Tech5 on 01/02/2022 - 10:11
    +25

    What do you mean a scuff is minor wear and tear after 32 days? Ive driven for 10+ years and have not gotten a single scuff on the bumper.

    If you are picking up a scuff every 30 days, I'd hate to see what your car looks like after a few years.

    • bdl on 01/02/2022 - 10:45
      +1

      If you are picking up a scuff every 30 days, I'd hate to see what your car looks like after a few years.

      Probably a Camry :)

  • Big Lenny on 01/02/2022 - 10:12
    +3

    sounds like you messed up parking somewhere

    they have every right to charge you

    • life is suffering on 01/02/2022 - 10:40

      But 900 come on Ah

      • Big Lenny on 01/02/2022 - 10:46

        or it could of been someone else hitting you and did a runner

        should insurance cover it then?

        • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2022 - 10:48
          -4

          It was front left bumper, when I first saw I couldn't think of how another car could have made it so I assumed it was a parking mark. Consistent with pulling out of street park

          • Gronk on 01/02/2022 - 11:04
            +26

            @[Deactivated]:

            Consistent with pulling out of street park

            Wait, are you suggesting that those sorts of marks are a normal part of leaving a parking space?

            They are not…

          • BillyStm on 01/02/2022 - 11:45
            +13

            @[Deactivated]: As in you often hit other cars when you pull out…

            …also guessing you didn't leave your contact details for the other car you clearly hit as you believe that kind of damage to only be general wear and tear to a vehicle.

            Pay the bill and move on…

          • FloatingPoint on 02/02/2022 - 17:36

            @[Deactivated]: Hang on. I found my RH rear mud guard was damaged while my car was parked on the street recently, and no contact details was left.
            Hello OP?

      • MS Paint on 01/02/2022 - 11:36
        +13

        The PD i30 Active (which this appears to be) has reverse sensors, a reverse camera, a rear vision mirror and side mirrors.

        You totally stuffed up.
        Take some ownership of your actions.
        Pay up.
        Move on.

  • KaTst3R on 01/02/2022 - 10:13
    +12

    It is not normal to rub your bumper onto someone else's bumper.

    • holdenmg on 01/02/2022 - 10:15
      +27

      Are we still talking about cars? lol

      • WhyAmICommenting on 02/02/2022 - 09:06
        +8

        Either way, it needs to be mutually agreed.

  • rektrading on 01/02/2022 - 10:49
    +7

    https://ibb.co/nRYshTn 🙀

    That is bad. Nobody should treat a borrowed car like that.

  • rambao9 on 01/02/2022 - 11:19
    +28

    This is terrifying, how is it that you have a license and i'm sharing the road with you?

      • ankor on 03/02/2022 - 20:53
        +4

        Maybe learn to park without hitting shit?

  • ZachBlasphemy on 01/02/2022 - 11:34
    +11

    You have damaged someone else's property, you need to fix it.

  • Qazxswec on 01/02/2022 - 11:40
    +3

    Scuff marks on the bumper is not wear and tear, you obviously hit something to make those marks, if you scratch your car every 32 days as "wear and tear"
    i would hate to see what a car you owned for 2 or 3 years would look like

  • apu on 01/02/2022 - 11:54
    +2

    That ain't wear and tear. It's rubbed on something. It needs to be fixed. If you did the damage, you pay (and ultimately, that's what you presumably agreed to contractually when you signed the rental agreement). Learn for next time, pay the extra dollars and get the $0 excess option. Works out cheaper (or at least, less stressful) if you're a bad or unlucky driver.

  • tsunamisurfer on 01/02/2022 - 12:25
    +12

    at the end when I returned the car there were some minor scuff on the bumper. I said it is wear and tear arising from 32 days of rental

    I have driven my car almost daily for 8 years.

    I have zero scuff marks on the bumper.

    I would charge you the max amount just for trying to feed this BS.

      • holdenmg on 01/02/2022 - 19:42
        +7

        Wha…

        In your OP you said "they accepted (accepted means the person got the keys and drove the car away to a carpark)"

        Sure, they received to Car back. That is what they do… they Rent and then Cars come back.

        Maybe what happened is you said, "Here is the Car"
        They said "OK"

        I think you are reading way too much into their acceptance and it wasn't unqualified.

        Introducing now the idea that some damage may have occurred subsequent to your returning and them "receiving" is a bit rich.

        You have tendered a photo which I presume you took, do you accept the damage was incurred while the Car was rented by you or not?

      • Lucille Bluth on 02/02/2022 - 01:18
        +22

        The guy drove it like a race car to the back of his yard away from my vision, he might have hit something there I don't know

        You took the photo, the damage is there. So now you are going to say they did this damage and commit fraud?

        You really are a piece of work, on top of being a shit driver.

      • SydStrand on 02/02/2022 - 10:45
        +4

        The guy drove it like a race car to the back of his yard away from my vision, he might have hit something there I don't know

        Shameless attempt to deflect blame. Did the car have these scratches when it was delivered to you? No? Then it happened on your watch. Even if he was the parking attendant from Ferris Bueller, it doesn't matter how he drove it so long as it wasn't dinged.

      • iCandy on 02/02/2022 - 12:20
        +1

        You’re also forgetting the rental company can charge you for the time their car is off the road when they could have been renting it out. $900 is acceptable for the damage you caused.

      • Lichen6420 on 02/02/2022 - 16:26

        Look $900 for a panel beater to remove spray and refit a bumper is pretty normal.

        Most large rental car companies will also charge you at their full daily rate for the time the car is in getting repaired so your actually getting a pretty good deal.

        You stuffed up and scraped the car… time to pay up unfortunately.

  • AndyC1 on 01/02/2022 - 14:02

    Use the OZ bargain search facility and see what people have done in the past for the same issue you are having as it has come up before.

  • PissLUR on 01/02/2022 - 14:20
    +12

    so this is dodgy car rental customer?

    • Munki on 02/02/2022 - 01:19
      +1

      What a surprise twist.

      /s

  • Davo1111 on 02/02/2022 - 00:32
    +3

    Looks at photo.

    Pay the $900. That isn't fair wear and tear

  • BartholemewH on 02/02/2022 - 04:47
    +4

    Was the object you hit another car? Did you leave details for the other driver? Shame it was only $900 for this kind of behaviour.

      • SydStrand on 02/02/2022 - 07:39
        +24

        You probably scraped another parked car, and didn't leave a note. Now that other driver is staring down the barrel of needing their own repair. Kind of a dog move. You keep fixating on this $900 quote, but the more worrying thing is your lack of willingness to accept responsibility.

      • gimli on 02/02/2022 - 14:18
        +2

        Nah shame on you for being dishonest

  • PeterSnoot on 02/02/2022 - 07:43
    +1

    Will we see how this saga finishes? I'd love to see the court case ;-)

  • foolsgold on 02/02/2022 - 08:04
    +4

    Car hire companies make money on keeping their cars constantly hired out. Not defending outlandish costs, but it is generally well known if you damage a car your going to get stung, that's why you purchase additional covers, use credit cards cover etc, take photos of existing condition and return condition

    From the rental companies point of view they are not only recovering the cost of repair, but the loss of business from not having their cars out, the time to take it to the repair place, pick it up, and now it seems how much time they have to waste with a customer who thinks a bumper scrape a month is wear and tear, what does your car look like after a year?

    And what does every body else's car/property look like that you come across? Your probably the dick who hit my car and drove off last month, wear and tear.

    • Davo1111 on 02/02/2022 - 14:21
      +5

      what does your car look like after a year?

      OPs car "mint condition"

      • ankor on 03/02/2022 - 20:56

        Terrifying.

  • Nebargains on 02/02/2022 - 08:27
    +1

    Honestly, I would be surprised if they even get it repaired and will just pocket the money but you can't say that is wear and tear.

    Most hire cars I have used over the years (both in Australia and overseas) have pre-existing damage which is mentioned on the report they normally give you when you check the car before you leave, things like dents, scratches, chips in windscreens etc.

    • ankor on 03/02/2022 - 20:56

      Scroll up and look at the damage. It's not a tiny chip from a rock lol

  • Big Lenny on 02/02/2022 - 08:53
    +3

    and will use against the dodgy rental company in the courts

    mate that $900 charge they've initially given you is gonna look like chump change once you lose that case

  • kiitos on 02/02/2022 - 08:55
    +1

    Please let us know how the court case goes, or if you settle before that.

    • holdenmg on 02/02/2022 - 09:10
      +3

      I want the Popcorn rights as it travels up to the High Court…

  • Waltervp on 02/02/2022 - 09:26
    +1

    I feel your pain. I would've gotten some polish and cleaned it off, in which case they may not have even seen the actual scratch if there was one. $900 is acceptable unfortunately and the others are right that you need to be more careful. If you were more careful and took this scratch as a sign you need really need to be more careful, then you would've tried to remove it. BUT I would also not be surprised if this happened to you whilst parked in a car park in your total absence!!! Either way, should've tried to polish it out at least

  • Lunarboogie on 02/02/2022 - 09:43
    +1

    I’m sorry to hear this OP. These minor infractions can be a headache to deal with. But in this case, pick your battles bro. You’re not going to win and may even come out of it worse off.

    You’re at fault. Not them.

  • JimB on 02/02/2022 - 10:12

    This post needs a MS Paint drawing of said bumper.

  • fprjet on 02/02/2022 - 10:16

    Why can I never see the picture?

    • Mistredo on 02/02/2022 - 10:23

      The picture was shared - https://ibb.co/nRYshTn

      • Hangryuman on 02/02/2022 - 10:31

        beautiful - I can just see the OP … 'fair wear and tear ?'

        rental company … 'no'

      • fprjet on 02/02/2022 - 10:36

        Thanks I thought it was in the thread…..

        • ankor on 03/02/2022 - 20:57
          +1

          It was in one of the comments provided by the OP. However, the comment was downloaded to oblivion and therefore hidden lol

      • gromit on 02/02/2022 - 11:09
        +1

        wow, I pictured in my head a minor surface scuff, that is significant damage.

  • Hangryuman on 02/02/2022 - 10:28
    +1

    'there were some minor scuff on the bumper. I said it is wear and tear arising from 32 days of rental and they accepted'

    they accepted the keys, but what you should have asked for is their signature on your rental agreement with them agreeing the car was returned undamaged.

    lol - a scrape mark on a car is not considered fair wear and tear like a rental property after you've lived in it for a year.

    I spent 3 months fighting Avis Germany after there was no-one at the return parking site (I later realised deliberately) so they could later fraudulently charge me for a damaged rear bumper. Fortunately I had many photos I took when I returned it showing no damage, and told them I would post bad reviews to every Avis site in Europe until they refunded my money, so they eventually folded and refunded the $1500 fraudulent claim.

    But you damaged the car and don't want to pay for it - sorry - watch out for those $3000 excesses - that's your pain point there.

  • fprjet on 02/02/2022 - 10:39
    +2

    After seeing the picture op has to be kidding…How could you call that wear and tear??? Would op be happy if I borrowed his new phone and left a scuff mark in the glass…Sorry op if it was an accident own up take it on the chin…. I would feel bad giving the car back like that…..

  • gromit on 02/02/2022 - 11:03
    +1

    As everyone else has rightly pointed out, what you have shown in the picture is NOT minor wear and tear and definitely not the rental company doing anything dodgy, it is damage and by the looks of it pretty bad scratches that definitely won't buff out. Regardless this is why I always take out rental insurance (not with the rental place, but separately, it is cheap easy and avoids any problems like this if you stuff up, which you have).

    FYI, don't forget when challenging this in court they will also claim costs for court and costs for loss of rental while they are getting this fixed. Be prepared for court to possibly send your costs skyrocketing

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