Sixt car hire charging for damage that I didn't do

[digbydisaster]

Hi guys,

 

any advice here would be most welcome. Many thanks in advance.

 

I hired a car from Sixt for two days. They are now trying to make me pay £182 for a scratch on the mirror which was there when we hired the car. When we hired the car we were told there was a chip in the windscreen and I walked around half the vehicle, my partner walked around the other side, and when he asked if I had mentioned the damage, I wrongly assumed that he meant the windscreen and so we hired the car under the impression that all damage on the car had been noted down correctly.

 

Only when we returned the car did we determine that this was not the case but we were told by the Sixt staff that the damage was absolutely minimal, in fact only the paint was chipped on the mirror, an area 2cm long and only 3mm wide, and this would cost a maximum of £30. I signed a document to say that the damage was not my fault as this is the case, and I am prepared to defend this vigorously in court if this is necessary as the damage is not my doing and I should not have to pay for this.

 

I wrote asking if they could check the CCTV footage of us hiring the damaged car in order to confirm that this is the true situation. I am also aware that it is normal under these circumstances to provide various quotes for any work, not simply to quote what I am sure you will agree is a ridiculous amount of money for a tiny scratch on a mirror housing. I have checked with trade professionals and for damage to a mirror as outlined, it would not cost any more than the £30 which was quoted by Sixt staff at the time of discussion the damage.I have asked Sixt about this and they have not replied. I emailed and spelt out the entire situation but they ignored my email and have now sent me a final reminder threatening court action.

 

I am a good responsible customer who did my best to take good care of the vehicle I rented and I returned the car in the same state that I hired it. Any advice on what to do now would be good, I have emailed the person who sent the letter again and also emailed the general customer services. Do you think I will be liable to pay all of this huge and ridiculous amount? I am currently on JSA and this is a fortune for me!

[geoff1248]

Firstly did your hire agreement have an excess or did you pay extra to have this excess reduced?

Many car mirrors have a plastic shell which can be bought from a main dealer and fitted very easily. Contact the cars main dealer and price up the cost of the part needed. The shell may be in a number of parts so you may only need a certain part. Don't forget the cost of spraying if they supply the part in primer only.

I would be very tempted to let them take it further, and let them know you are willing to so do. They may well not consider it worthwhile. However, don't forget that you did actually sign a document saying that the only damage was to the windscreen.

[digbydisaster]

Hey, thanks for the reply, some good points raised. However, they have just replied to me and said that they are now happy to accept £30 plus £12 administration. Should I pay this and be thankful for the much cheaper lesson learnt, or refuse to as obviously they know that they were in the wrong or they would not have reduced the amount so dramatically! i doubt they would bother trying to take it further for £42. What do you all think? Many thanks.

[geoff1248]

I repeat my question, did you pay any extra on the hire charge to have the excess reduced? Depending upon your answer depends the next step.

[digbydisaster]

Ah sorry, no we didn't opt for the extra payment, and unfortunately I don't have a copy of the rental agreement. When I looked on the Sixt website, this is stated:

 

Your rental price will include VAT, damage protection and insurance costs and unlimited mileage (kms). Our rental agent will ask if any additional insurance is required.

 

So not sure what the damage protection that is included covers?

 

Cheers for the help

[Guest Gary Coughlan Customer Service Manager Sixt rent a car U.K]

Hi Digbydisaster,I am the Customer Service Manager for Sixt rent a car U.K and I would like to help take care of this for you. Would you mind sending your reservation number or details in a direct message, I will speak to the damage handler responsible and will to my best to get this resolved for you. Gary - Sixt Customer Service Team

Edited March 28, 2012 by Gary Coughlan Customer Service Manager Sixt rent a car U.K

[ims21]

Hi Gary

 

I have sent you a PM

 

Digby cannot send you a PM at this time.

 

ims

[Guest Gary Coughlan Customer Service Manager Sixt rent a car U.K]

Thank you

[MARTIN3030]

Welcome to the site Gary,we look forward to our member here,and any in the future,reporting on positive resolutions.

[mrjam1974]

my friend and i hired a van at the sixt depot in edinburgh we both went round the van with an employee of the company to note all the damages before we took it out but the said employee went past a certain scratch on the driver side rear arch and said it was already there and didn't take a photo we took it with a pinch of salt when we brought the van back they checked the vehicle again and claimed the damage was not there before.now they are not giving the deposit back and i also don't think the said employee was not doing his job properly.any advice needed ps i am very angry

[waynesymons]

Dear Gary I have seen your help on this subject I have just returned a car to MCR airport week intact and I now have numerous charges on my bill, I have rang my bank and I was planning to call SIXT monday and then raise a DISPUTE with my bank to take this further

can you help

I have a bill showing

1) 3/8 rule top at £61 this would imply a full tank for an Audi A1 of £162 - really?

2) Did not agree to a premium location fee whatever this is 4.99???

3) Damage compensation of £175.99 for what they tell me was "1 tyre, rear - driver side - hole" - this is a ridiculous charge

The car was left in the SIXT lot after a drive from Burnley to Manchester 30+ miles there was no damage and I hardly used the car all weekend

I would appreciate some help as a customer here before I speak to my bank and also cease to recommend SIXT - can you restore my faith