Courtesy Car

[JohnC6]

Today my wife and I collected a courtesy car whilst ours is being repaired. We got a call from the garage doing the job (through insurance) and were there within 30-40 minutes. About 1245. The car..a Kia Sportage..was parked in a line of cars with the rears to a wall or metal barrier, I can't recall. The receptionist got into the Kia and drove it forwards a few metres into the open yard. She then helped us showing how this and that worked. It was an automatic hybrid. "We eventually found how the front seat moved. I was standing back when I noticed a lot of damage to the rear bumper. The lady then got the damage report sheet that was on the passenger seat. It showed a dent by one of the wing mirrors and a few stone chips here and there and that was it. Nothing re the bumper. Written on the damage report sheet was 'the time 1215 and also, "rain and wind not all damage visible" Absolutely not true. There was no wind and we didn't have rain. We'd driven there without using the windscreen wipers. I think the driver may have come through rain en-route from Bristol butr it wasn't raining here at the time. he arrived. Of course, he just went to reception and handed the key to the receptionist and it's not her job to check for damage.

My guess is that the person who delivered the car hit the wall as he reversed between the line of cars. It's as though he felt guilty about not reporting it and didn't want us to have to foot the bill when we returned the car and he'd be able to say it was possible it was like that when he delivered it. I don't know. I should have checked the wall or metal barrier. So, as soon as we got home my wife called the Kia supplier and spoke to a chap there offering to send, by Email, the photos she'd taken of the damage with her iPhone. He said that wasn't necessary and that he'd just "make a note of it" .I'd have wanted the photo.

We then decided to call the company's HQ to report it and they said they'd follow it up with the branch. That all went on this afternoon and tomorrow,we've decided to inform the insurance company who that hire company have a contract with.

It's because of this sort of thing that I would never hire a car if atall possible, especially abroad. I've read in newspapers and heard on "Money Box" Radio4 horror stories about people having to pay for damage they absolutely know they haven't caused. A lot of sharp practice in the industry. The petrol gauge shows we have 225 miles worth to go and we won't use the car much..just to the supermarket, so I assume we'll have to fill it up until it shows 225 miles again..I think. I'm so pleased we have the receptionist who can say that we hadn't even got into the car, let alone drive it, before we saw the damage.

 

[gman]

So, what did paragraphs do to you?...

 

[broc]

I picked up a rental Skoda Octavia 4x4 estate at Keflavik airport a week after their last major volcanic eruption had ended. As usual I inspect hire cars all around before driving off. In this case the car looked as if it had been sand-blasted as most of the lacquer coat had been sanded off by whoever had valeted the car. When you opened the doors you could still see volcanic ash around the openings. I also looked underneath as Icelandic hire cars often sustain floor pan damage.

I took a video of the whole car, every panel and went back to speak to the rental agent. He wasn't very pleased to be dragged outside, but I made sure he had agreed that every panel was damaged on the paperwork before leaving.

 

[JohnC6]

So, what did paragraphs do to you?...

..As with GeeJay57 over in 'War in Ukraine",I also have 'off days'(4,453)

As you see, now sorted. Much better.

 

[JohnC6]

A couple of the neighbours have looked at the damage and are of the opinion that it's old (ish). One suggested that they thought that as the hire was to a women she wouldn't notice it until maybe a day or so later and could charge her for it. Who knows ? They also didn't think that it had been reversed into a metal barrier or a wall as the damage is also where the bumper, which is 'plastic,' tucks in a bit. The car has been ticked as having been 'cleaned' too but it's dirty on the driver's carpet and the foot pedals have dried mud on them .The rear offside footwell carpet has grit on it and even a sauce sachet from a takeaway left there .The inside metal panels adjacent to the doors are filthy,too. I took photos of all that today. Even the details of the previous hirer have been left in the glove compartment with the damage check list and the damage to the bumper not recorded.

We're not concerned, darned annoyed but not concerned, because we contacted the company immediately we got home and there's also what the person who delivered it to the repair garage had written on the damage check list ..ie.. "rain and wind not all damage visible" We're contacting the insurance company on Monday and will only use the car for essential journeys. ie .to the supermarket.

 

[Box Brownie]

I think you have done all you can to ensure there are no unforeseen consequences of the cavalier attitude of the repairers hire company.

I, thankfully, have had limited 'in for repairs' courtesy cars. The two occasions I can recall....

Whilst still having a company car I needed as a suitable equal or better car......and I picked up a well prepared and very 'clean' estate car.

The other occasion was after I left that company so it was my own car and my insurance cover included a basic car. The repairers had their own (basic car(s)). When my car was received they went over it with a fine tooth comb noting the claimed for damage and the very minor little scratches etc plus a small ding it had. The guy said would you like us to repair that too whilst here? I asked if there was any extra cost to me or the insurance company ~ answer "no" so rude not to accept

As for the courtesy car, it had its damage sheet and it was as thorough as their examination of my car. Also, IIRC it was a full tank and had to be returned full IMO a perfect system. FWIW I insure with LV and as an aside......that claim I mentioned above was deemed a 50/50 so I was entitled to half my excess back. However, the other parties insurers had known history with LV as being difficult & obfuscating when such a 50/50 claim needs finalising!

 

[Pixbarmy]

I picked up a car in Italy, which showed no damage on the form (Hertz). On reaching the car, there wasn't one panel without damage of some sort. I took pictures from all angles and walked back to the office. The guy on reception just laughed and said "You haven't hired a car in Italy before have you!" I replied that I had driven in Italy before and wasn't going to get a huge bill for something I didn't do. He said that it was the end of the season and that they didn't have any other cars available! We went to the car and recorded all the damage on the form and I drove off into the sunset. After my holiday, I received a 20% rental discount and an apology! I used to be a transport manager, so knew all the "angles"! Don't get caught out by the bumps, mechanicals, valeting and fuelling scams!

 

[Bebop]

We got stung being fined for damage that we didn't do to a hire car in Munich airport. We had picked it up in a dark car park at night and hadn't spotted a minor mark on one alloy wheel and tyre - it didn't even look like a fresh mark. If I remember rightly they were going to charge us hundreds of £s, but eventually I think it cost us about £100. We had driven it to our destination and parked it up all week and know we didn't bump it. We now take photos and a video of any car that we hire and absolutely scrutinise it... although we've never needed them since.

@Pixbarmy That made me smile. We found the Italians to be more relaxed than the Germans when hiring cars Actually holidaying in Italy altogether seems to be a lovely relaxing experience.

 

[Pixbarmy]

@Pixbarmy That made me smile. We found the Italians to be more relaxed than the Germans when hiring cars Actually holidaying in Italy altogether seems to be a lovely relaxing experience.

Our last Italian holiday was to Bagni di Luca. It was like stepping back in time to the 1920's (apart from the traffic!). We collected our keys to the apartment from an agent's office next to Punta Diablo (Devil's Bridge) and drove up into the mountains to find the cottage open! Not burgled, but to keep it cool for our arrival! The views and surroundings were breathtaking (Bella Vistas), the people were lovely and a wonderful holiday was experienced.

 

[Bebop]

Our last Italian holiday was to Bagni di Luca. It was like stepping back in time to the 1920's (apart from the traffic!). We collected our keys to the apartment from an agent's office next to Punta Diablo (Devil's Bridge) and drove up into the mountains to find the cottage open! Not burgled, but to keep it cool for our arrival! The views and surroundings were breathtaking (Bella Vistas), the people were lovely and a wonderful holiday was experienced.

That looks like an amazing place. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, and apologies to @JohnC6 for going off topic, but I think further hire cars may happen!

 

[ancient_mariner]

It's a bit variable and you never know how the hire company will react. As a rule I always take out a damage waiver just because stuff happens. In Canada we had someone kick the sunroof in, and in Edinburgh I burst a tyre and the (already broken) aerial fell off. Also had a car in Crete with knocking UJs, but that's another story.

A different occasion in Canada our car had extensive damage to a sill that I didn't notice on collection. Returning the car, they didn't even check it, and when pointed out they shrugged and said it didn't matter.

 

[JohnC6]

Our last Italian holiday was to Bagni di Luca. It was like stepping back in time to the 1920's (apart from the traffic!). We collected our keys to the apartment from an agent's office next to Punta Diablo (Devil's Bridge) and drove up into the mountains to find the cottage open! Not burgled, but to keep it cool for our arrival! The views and surroundings were breathtaking (Bella Vistas), the people were lovely and a wonderful holiday was experienced.

That looks lovely.The sort of quiet place we like to go to. In 2018 we went to Lake Garda (Malcesine) and in July we're staying at Lake Maggiore which will include a short boat trip to Locarno,Switzerland.

 

[JohnC6]

That looks like an amazing place. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, and apologies to @JohnC6 for going off topic, but I think further hire cars may happen!

No need to apologise. It lightened up the thread .

I watched some Youtube last night.." Honest Guide"..he's Czech and highlights scams ...worth a Youtube Google... and he went to different border crossings into the Czech Rep. re a scam just inside the Republic on the border and thought, how wonderful to be able to drive from Austria(Vienna is almost on the border) and Germany into the Czech Rep. Time over again ? I'd live in Europe.

 

[Pound Coin]

The last time I hired a car it was dark. The hirer had an LED torch light, and swept it round all the car.

Generally, if the hirer doesn't inspect with me I make a point of taking photos of the car and making sure the hirer knows this.

 

[Nod]

Luckily, when we pick up hire cars, it takes around an hour of chatting with the owner and other staff who we've got to know over the 10 or so years we've been hiring from them. Before that, we had a similar relationship with a different company at a different resort. (We changed companies because we changed arrival airports but have stayed with the current one even though we now arrive 100 miles away from their base - they pick us up from the distant airport [well, they deliver the car there and we give the delivery driver a lift back along the North coast!])

 

[gerry s]

Our last Italian holiday was to Bagni di Luca. It was like stepping back in time to the 1920's (apart from the traffic!). We collected our keys to the apartment from an agent's office next to Punta Diablo (Devil's Bridge) and drove up into the mountains to find the cottage open! Not burgled, but to keep it cool for our arrival! The views and surroundings were breathtaking (Bella Vistas), the people were lovely and a wonderful holiday was experienced.

We have been thinking about somewhere in Lucca for this year.. Your holiday sounds very much like our sort of place, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Bebop]

On our honeymoon a number of things went wrong one of which I've just remembered, was that our hire car was stolen. We were without a car for a day and a half. I always suspected that they hired it out to someone else. I don't recall getting any compensation.... green around the gills...

No need to apologise. It lightened up the thread .

I watched some Youtube last night.." Honest Guide"..he's Czech and highlights scams ...worth a Youtube Google... and he went to different border crossings into the Czech Rep. re a scam just inside the Republic on the border and thought, how wonderful to be able to drive from Austria(Vienna is almost on the border) and Germany into the Czech Rep. Time over again ? I'd live in Europe.

Thank you. We were driving from Munich to Kitzbühel in Austria when we were stung. If you do drive across the borders, sometimes there are things to be aware of, like having to have winter tyres in some regions or buying a token/sticker for the motorways. It is really wonderful. I'll have a look for that YouTube video.

 

[JohnC6]

The saga continues for us.

On Monday my wife made a call to the Bristol hire centre because, as I mentioned, the vehicle is quite dirty, inside and out despite DM, one of the staff, ticking a box to say he'd cleaned it on the morning of the day we collected it at about 1.00pm. . It looks like it's been driven either on a farm or more likely, on a farm dirt track..dirty dried brown watery mud with bits of straw stuck on it. The manager wasn't in until the afternoon and the chap answering said he'd get him to call us then or yesterday. Up until 3.00pm today we've not had a call. This morning, I found a Lucozade bottle, a quarter filled and a brown bag which had had food in it , both were under the front passenger seat. So..we've given them a chance to get back to us and they haven't so six photos went in an Email with a full account to the complaints dept and we've told them we won't leave the car at the repair workshop when we collect ours..probably next Tuessday, they can come to the house because we want to be present when they collect it.. I'm not cleaning it ,either (it's a big job)and not least because my shoulders still hurt quite a bit after my fall last month. It's a slow job to heal.

It states on their web page that any compliant will be allocated to a director ( I'm, not sure about that.) and the customer will be kept informed.

 

[JohnC6]

On our honeymoon a number of things went wrong one of which I've just remembered, was that our hire car was stolen. We were without a car for a day and a half. I always suspected that they hired it out to someone else. I don't recall getting any compensation.... green around the gills...


Thank you. We were driving from Munich to Kitzbühel in Austria when we were stung. If you do drive across the borders, sometimes there are things to be aware of, like having to have winter tyres in some regions or buying a token/sticker for the motorways. It is really wonderful. I'll have a look for that YouTube video.

Here's the Youtube re the Czech border crossing with Austria. I do wonder why the Czech government site their official machines out of sight as drivers arrive at the border-crossing along with inadequate signage,too. The chap in the video.. Janek..has spoken to them but to no avail. He found two machines that didn't even work. What's s going on ?

Over on the right side are more of his videos, many about ATM machines. What I like is you get to see a lot of Prague which we'd like to visit.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsWcc-9KMEc

 

[Bebop]

That's definitely worth a watch for anyone driving in Europe @JohnC6. That is the sticker I was thinking of - no idea how much we paid in Austria!

 

[welshwizard645]

We got stung being fined for damage that we didn't do to a hire car in Munich airport. We had picked it up in a dark car park at night and hadn't spotted a minor mark on one alloy wheel and tyre - it didn't even look like a fresh mark. If I remember rightly they were going to charge us hundreds of £s, but eventually I think it cost us about £100. We had driven it to our destination and parked it up all week and know we didn't bump it. We now take photos and a video of any car that we hire and absolutely scrutinise it... although we've never needed them since.

@Pixbarmy That made me smile. We found the Italians to be more relaxed than the Germans when hiring cars Actually holidaying in Italy altogether seems to be a lovely relaxing experience.

German airports tend to have that reputation, usually they have a quota to fill. I rented a fairly 'used' Skoda Fabia in Hamburg a few years ago, clean sheet but dents all over the place. Reported it to the Avis agent, got the paperwork and photographed it, and yet Avis tried to charge me £900 afterwards for the same damage. They failed... Part of the problem was I returned to HAM at 0500 when there is noone around, so I couldn't shadow one of the return agents.

More recently, I had a Skoda Karoq (horrid 1.0 engine) which appeared to have been cought in a hailstorm... no issues at all,


Has anyone observed that Repair Shop Courtesy Cars tend to be badly driven?

 

[Nod]

Has anyone observed that Repair Shop Courtesy Cars tend to be badly driven?

Well, their drivers have usually had an accident before they get one! I treat them with plenty of respect.

 

[welshwizard645]

Today I have a Citroen C4 because my Saab 9-5 decided to ejaculate brake fluid all the way down the A24 on Saturday evening

I can't believe how far Citroen has fallen, too much awful plastic and that woeful 1.2 Puretech engine. I learned to drive in a 2CV6, my Dad's last car was a C3 2nd Gen and I liked both, I recall test driving a ZX in the 1990s which I liked until an Astra showed it a clean pair of heels...But to say that Stellantis products are mediocre would be too much praise....

It really is awful, I've used awful language to describe the old Corsa B 1.0 12 valve, but I'd have the Corsa anyday...