Help - Legal Matter

[Flinty]

Chaps

can anybody provide any assistance.....

I hired a van last month and had to leave my credit card details as normal to cover the excess. Unfortunately I scratched the rear side panel :thump: and damaged part of the bumper. I however dropped the van of whilst the office was closed.

the following morning the hire company left a message on my mobile asking me to call, i tried a couple of time and on the 3rd occassion managed to get a reply. they told me that no one was in the office and i left a message to say that i called. I never received any calls back from the hire Company so assumed that was the end of that.

However, i have received my credit card bill today and £250 has been taken for repairs and mentions a 7 seater ( i have not seen the statement myself).
Now i have not authorised this, have not seen a bill not do i know if the repair has indeed been completed. I see little point in asking for a bill as there is a friendly repair company next door so it would be easy for them to gain one.

Surely this cannot be right, are they entitled to take this money without conatcting me or is it some sort of theft??????

What really ****es me off even more was that it was given to me with no diesel in at all and i had to put £40 worth in......i would have only been 4 miles over my allowance had it contained fuel in the 1st place

 

[Napster]

I'm afraid the law would look on their side - this is probably all covered in the T&Cs, including costs for damages etc.

Many van hire companies don't give you enough diesel either.

 

[Flinty]

surely you must be notified though...:(

it might not have come to £250

 

[Cricko2]

Unfortunately I agree with Nap's ..It is probably in the small print of your hire Agreement.

Sorry mate.

 

[Kent Shrimper]

Almost certainley in there T's and C's they will state an excess of X for damages which your liable for. Thats why i will never give vans/cars etc back without someone checking and signing.

 

[Einstein]

Unfortunately I agree with Nap's ..It is probably in the small print of your hire Agreement.

Most probably correct in terms of the small print with the Hire Agreement.

However, do give your credit card company a call and get them to look into it under 'Disputed Items'. If you live near the garage, you should maybe pass by and see if the van is ever there and whether the repairs were ever carried out. Firstly, raise to your credit card company that when they charged you it says "7 seater" and not the van you hired. Maybe the repair fee is higher? The credit card company will back you if they have amended their terms and conditions. I'm surprised they still didn't advise you that they will be charging your card though, even if it was just a courtesy call and there was nothing you could do about it.

 

[Flinty]

thanks chaps.....:cry:

 

[Kent Shrimper]

yeah wasnt really the help you were looking for. Sorry.

 

[Firestorm]

When I hired a van a few months ago I filled it up at Tesco's on the way home, I then dropped the van off in Southend when the invoice came through they had added a tenner for fuel !.

I know that the charge for fuel is extortionate if left to the hire company but I now know that next time I will not stop filling at the first pump cutoff !

As for the damage charge, what has happened is the very reason they take your CC details in advance............

 

[The Big Shrimp]

Tell your credit card company that this money was taken without your permission & without any notification,. You may have some luck, as although the T & C may mention the deductions, they CANNOT take money from you card/account without doing so.

Kick off at your C/C company & they will do the leg work. The hire company have to give you notice of how much is being taken. What, other than your limit, is to stop them from taking a few grand.

Kick off & don't take any sh!t. I know, as I've had dealings with this before!

Good luck

 

[Flinty]

thanks big un...:o

 

[The Big Shrimp]

No probs R S.

Remember, your card is your property & should be respected as such. Nobody has rights to it, regardless of T & C's. You still have to be avised & given the opportunity to tell them to F R O!