Car rental - Charged for accident that did not occur

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Based on resolver’s experience to date, the key to this issue is to thoroughly check over the car before you take it away on collection. Do this with a member of staff and make sure they note any current scratches or dents and sign it. Take a copy with you and even take photos for extra assurance. On returning the car, get a member of staff to check the vehicle again and make sure that you both agree that there no damage has been done during your hire period. Have them sign this and again, take a copy with you. If you are charged for damage (and they often do this without informing you, so check your credit card statement regularly!), you should immediately contact the company, and produce any evidence you have gathered to support your objection. If you don’t have any luck with the rental company, you can also try claiming from your credit card company under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and they should take it on for you. If you are unhappy with the company’s response, resolver recommends that you also contact one of the bodies that deal with car rental disputes. If you booked your car direct with a hire company, the European Car Rental Conciliation Service (ECRCS) provides a free service to deal with Europe-wide disputes. There is also the European Consumer Centres Network which will investigate any breaches of European contract law free of charge. For UK rentals, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) provides free assistance with complaints about companies which adhere to its own code of conduct. resolver recommends that you submit your concern in writing to any of these organisations (see their websites for contact details) and resolver can assist you in submitting, recording and reminding you when and who to escalate to. It can be extremely frustrating when you didn’t have an accident but are charged for one. resolver can help you resolve this issue quickly, free of charge and without the hassle. We can also help you with the next step of writing your complaint. Click on the link below to create your email. You should know

Car rental companies have to give clear terms and conditions, transparent pricing info, and a full explanation of their liability and waiver cover. In fact, all charges should be made clear to you upfront.

You should always take a full inventory and get the car hire company to sign off on everything – even if the company tells you it isn’t necessary.

If you decide to take out extra cover, it’s best to make sure that the cover is in the same name as the lead driver. This could avoid a number of potential pitfalls in the future.

Car hire companies should invoice you for any charges incurred. In some cases, they may debit money directly from your account – they should make efforts to notify you beforehand.

If you do have to dispute a charge, you should always try to do it within 14 days.

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