Re: Clean return, Rental Cars 101 with photos

Wayne Hoskin Wrote:
> Twas here in Australia, but I am sure the same
> still apply's, a friend picked up a hire car, did
> the cursory walk around and noticed a couple of
> big scratches in the passenger side, went and told
> the attendant but wasn't happy with their off
> handed responce and 'yes, we will note that sir',
> so friend took photos, luckily in this digital age
> dates are recorded, yep, after they returned the
> car they got a bill for scratch damage! The hire
> company were quite good with the outcome and
> offered a discount on any future rentals. Could
> have been nasty if they hadn't captured the
> evidence.
>
> Wayne from Oz

I've never taken photos, since most of the rental car pick-up locations I've seen were very dark garages, although I may mount up a flash and start the practice. I always do fill out the pre-rental inspection form and make darn sure someone in the lot signs off on it. It saved my butt one day in Columbus. The car had some pretty bad scrapes on the rear bumper, which I noted on the inspection form. When I returned, the lot man walked around it and then approached me as I was still sitting in the driver's seat. His first words were: "Somebody hit ya?" He was primed and ready to hit me for the damages.....until I showed him a signed copy of the pre-rental inspection and he quickly backed off. Some rental companies keep decent, detailed records of the accumulated scuffs and scrapes on each car. I think some deliberately DON'T do that, and I wonder if any of them have gotten away with hanging multiple drivers and/or their insurance companies for the same damage. I wouldn't put it past them.

/Kevin Madore