Auto Insurance Claims: Rental car damage, damage estimate, estimate demand

Question
I have never been on this site before but it looks helpful. My husband and I rented a car from Abilene,Texas and drove it to Dallas Fort Worth Airport to catch a flight. We went straight to the airport and an Avis rep told us where to park it (with the other rentals). We left the car and the keys and got on our flight. This was in November by the way. Two weeks ago we received a letter stating that we owed money for damages ($600). They did not provide any proof of the damamges and the claim was sent to collections because they said it was originally returned in the mail. I called them and discovered that the address used was taken off of our drivers license which of course is not the correct address (people move so often, that is not an accurate way to gain information). After speaking to a claims rep, she told us that our dispute was denied and we still owed the money. Is there anything that I can do, it just seems so unfair. I was thinking they couldn't say it was us if there was no documentation done at the time of arrival at the airport.My husband and I have excellent credit as well and I don't want that messed up either.

Answer
Hi Nicole,

You don't need your credit damaged as you know. Contact a supervisor of the collections. If that person can't help, get their supervisor.

You may need to contact AVIS first for the damage estimate if the collection company does not have it. Again, don't screw around with the transients and deal with a supervisor.

You might find that you may need to get a lawyer involved. Hopefully not.

If you did not damage the car, why should you have to pay?

The problem with collections involved is they do have the power to damage your credit, but the rental company should not be allowed to extort you for something they may not be able to prove your involvement.

Don't let this issue sit. Call Avis for the damage estimate. Demand color pictures of the damage with the itemized bill. If you know you did not do this and Avis won't back off, then it may be lawyer time.




Require a detailed appraisal for the damage. I would then ask them to prove that you did the damage or was it done on the next rental or lot attendant?

I am renting a car right now and return it tomorrow and you just reminded me what I usually do (been over a year since I rented a car)and I will photograph the sides, front rear and interior to cover my butt.

Next time you return a car if you have a cell phone, do this to protect yourself.

Good luck,

Rob