Car Next Door - Charge for Theft of Lockbox Fee

dannycheapcheap on 19/07/2022 - 21:22
Last edited 19/07/2022 - 21:26

Here's a good one for you all, I'd love to know your opinions and next steps.

Last Sunday (10th July), I rented a van for a few hours via Car Next Door picked up from St Kilda Botanical Gardens area.

I received an email today the 19th saying

On 10/07/22 you borrowed a 2003 Toyota Hiace. On the 12/07/22 The vehicle owner has advised us that the vehicle was left unlocked which later resulted in the theft of the lockbox and compromised the security of the car.

Please remember to always double-check that the car is locked at the end of your booking. As I'm sure you can imagine, the owner was quite worried to find that their vehicle was left unlocked.

We hate charging fees but unfortunately, this has a $50 penalty fee as per our Fee Schedule. We have now charged that fee. You might also be liable for any repairs that the vehicle needs due to this incident, please keep your lines open so our Repairs team can advise this further.

I'm like 99% sure I locked it as I checked, and they aren't providing evidence of a police report or investigation. There are so many ways someone could have broken into that vehicle in that time period especially on a vehicle of that age in a poor condition.

I replied asking for evidence and the reply was "We know that you believe that you are not at fault and that you wish to dispute this liability. But all the evidence points otherwise."

What do you all think here? I've used them for years and had a positive experience but this is all a bit strange haha.

General Discussion

Comments

  • sharkyoz on 19/07/2022 - 21:24
    +22

    ask them for the evidence

  • [Deactivated] on 19/07/2022 - 21:35
    +6

    chargeback if they refuse to provide the so called "evidence".

    likely story is that the driver forgot to lock it him or herself, they can't accept that and are blaming you.

    "We know that you believe that you are not at fault and that you wish to dispute this liability. But all the evidence points otherwise."

    that is not acceptable. by the sounds of it, all they have as "evidence" is the drivers word.

    • Mechz on 19/07/2022 - 22:17
      +1

      Can't chargeback against fees you've agreed to by signing up to a service…or something to that effect.

  • Drakesy on 19/07/2022 - 21:42

    So if they stole the lockbox wouldn't they of stolen the key?
    In which case $50 is much less than the cost of a replacement key

    Bit sus.

    • SnoozeAndLose on 19/07/2022 - 21:47

      So they have this term 'You might also be liable for any repairs that the vehicle needs due to this incident, please keep your lines open so our Repairs team can advise this further.'

      $50 is just for the mistake, there is a repair fee on top.

      • Drakesy on 19/07/2022 - 22:06

        Sounds like they'll be losing a few customers then.

    • bdl on 20/07/2022 - 10:01

      Maybe Car Next Door uses insurance to cover key replacement and $50 is the excess with their insurance company?

      They probably don't want to make it the true cost of the key otherwise no one would use their service :)

  • thatonethere on 19/07/2022 - 22:01
    +4

    2003 hiace is hardly fort knox

    • JIMB0 on 19/07/2022 - 23:38
      +2

      One could fashion up a coat hanger to gain access.

      • thatonethere on 20/07/2022 - 18:52

        Plenty of YouTube on how to open a hiace…

  • bobbified on 19/07/2022 - 22:10
    +5

    On the 12/07/22 The vehicle owner has advised us that the vehicle was left unlocked which later resulted in the theft of the lockbox and compromised the security of the car.

    This is bullshit. How does the owner know that the vehicle was unlocked which then resulted in the theft?

    The owner either:

    1) found it unlocked (and didn't lock it themselves after finding it unlocked or unlocking it themselves) or;
    2) found that the vehicle had been broken into and the lockbox missing (and doesn't know if the car was left unlocked prior)

    It cannot be both!

    • vinnychase on 19/07/2022 - 22:13
      +3

      yeah exactly its Bullshit. How does owner know OP didn't steal lockbox?

    • Presence on 20/07/2022 - 07:23
      +1

      St Kilda only has honest thieves who only rob unlocked cars.

  • inherentchoice on 20/07/2022 - 09:59
    +1

    You didn't upload photos when you returned the car? Did any photo show the lockbox on the car? Is there CCTV at all in the street?

  • FoxJump on 20/07/2022 - 10:16

    When my Prius C was on car next door …i had the lockbox at home separated from the car - as the car has a proximity key.

    perhaps the vehicle you rented also had a proximity key? in which case it shouldnt be your fault.

    Also, once … someone returned the car - and not only left it unlocked - BUT THE ENGINE RUNNING. Being a hybrid they probably didn't realise it was still on.

    Thank fully i was sitting on the balcony when they returned it so went down to check and omg - dealt with the issue. I did not report it to CND.

    • JimB on 20/07/2022 - 10:37
      +2

      '2003 Toyota Hiace'….. 'proximity key?' unlikely.

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