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Post by toxictom on Apr 21, 2014 18:16:48 GMT -5
Just returned from Hawaii a couple weeks ago. While there a young couple in our party rented 50cc Chinese scooters for a couple days. The young lady ran into something and damaged the plastic nosepiece and the piece beneath the floorboard. Both were just cracked and not in pieces. I didn't immediately spot the damage until she showed it to me. Not too bad I thought.
When they turned the scooter in, the outfit said don't worry about the damages, happens all the time, but you will have to pay for the damage. I ran into them on Easter and asked about the scooter. They received a bill for $1800.
I don't know if they are going to contest it or just suck it up and pay. I'd bet dollars to donuts that scooter is still being rented out without any work having being done to it.
I feel really bad for this kid, $1800 is a lot of money to kiss goodbye when your 21 years old. Easily twice what the scooter cost.
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Post by PCBGY6 on Apr 21, 2014 18:47:06 GMT -5
I would contest the charges. The rental place is just trying to take advantage of your friend. Bondo and paint doesn't cost that much (like they even fixxed it all). They will try to get what they can out if him because they know he will not come back just to dispute the charges. Tell him to fight the charges anyway he can.
The local scooter shops try that crap here but not to that exstint. Put a tiny scratch on it that keep the $100 deposit and never fix anything. The next day they will have it rented to someone else and blame them for the scratch if they can. I was told by a guy that use to work for one of the big rental places here that that's how they make most of their money. Employees would get bonuses off the deposit money that was kept.
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Post by ramblinman on Apr 22, 2014 2:31:25 GMT -5
umm, don't those idiot rental places have insurance to cover damages? i've never heard of anyone owing 1800 for damaging a rental car so... thought part of the rental fee pays for the coverage. good luck getting a penny if it was me... $1,800 really?  |
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Post by SylvreKat on Apr 22, 2014 6:21:55 GMT -5
Hm. I'm thinking I've changed my mind about renting a scooter if I ever travel somewhere....
>'Kat
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Post by PCBGY6 on Apr 22, 2014 7:10:23 GMT -5
Hm. I'm thinking I've changed my mind about renting a scooter if I ever travel somewhere.... >'Kat If you do rent take your time and do a video walk around with the employee there. this keeps them from trying to accuse you of doing something that was already damaged. |
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Post by tarkus on Apr 22, 2014 7:13:19 GMT -5
Hm. I'm thinking I've changed my mind about renting a scooter if I ever travel somewhere.... >'Kat If you do rent take your time and do a video walk around with the employee there. this keeps them from trying to accuse you of doing something that was already damaged. More important take the time to read what you are signing. Rental contracts can be unserious to say the least. |
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Post by Jarlaxle on Apr 22, 2014 8:33:58 GMT -5
Check with the cc company. Many cover damage to rental vehicles.
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Post by carasdad on Apr 22, 2014 8:53:21 GMT -5
That is is insane! Twice what the Scooter cost? When I was the Mechanic at a rental and repair shop..they would charge $50-$75 depending on the damage. I would Glass the broken pieces back together using fiber glass auto body cloth and resin. The reason they charged them that much was because at the end of each year..the Scoots were sold as used..and any damage depreciated their value. Scratches and dings were ignored..only cracked or broken body panels were charged for. 'Cause when ya rent a vehicle..you gotta expect a few scratches etc.. wow.. $1800..  |
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Post by JerryScript on Apr 22, 2014 12:01:19 GMT -5
If they refuse to lower the amount, tell them you will be happy to pay once your fraud complaint with the state's attorney general has been heard. Then if they continue, have a lawyer write a simple letter stating that you invite them to sue you, and look forward to seeing them in court where they will face a counter suit. Never be rude or impolite, be friendly in all language.
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Post by ramblinman on Apr 23, 2014 8:08:30 GMT -5
Check with the cc company. Many cover damage to rental vehicles. this!... hey toxictom, if you talk to your friends tell them what jarlaxle posted. i'm going on a trip next month and been looking into renting a car instead of taking the scooter so been reading a little on insurance. if they used their credit card to rent the scooter their is a good chance they have some coverage through them. |
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Post by rockynv on Apr 23, 2014 12:00:10 GMT -5
Rentals either have you cover damages with your automobile policy, with a credit card or an extra cost rental insurance they sell you. If you did not make other provisions for coverage they will many times just add it to your credit card. If you put down a debit card instead then they may already have collected on the damages and the bill is just and invoice or statement indicating the cash they already drafted from your account.
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Post by 2wheelfun on Apr 23, 2014 12:23:51 GMT -5
What brand scooter is this, just saying Chinese doesn't mean a $700 scooter is the culprit. Taiwanese and some of their brands are made in china and they're not cheap........maybe the scooters were totaled due to damages exceeding 60% of value like a car would be.
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Post by PCBGY6 on Apr 23, 2014 12:27:13 GMT -5
Rentals either have you cover damages with your automobile policy, with a credit card or an extra cost rental insurance they sell you. If you did not make other provisions for coverage they will many times just add it to your credit card. If you put down a debit card instead then they may already have collected on the damages and the bill is just and invoice or statement indicating the cash they already drafted from your account. That is why i tell friends to do everything in cash when they come to the beach. We have a few places here that will take everything in cash. Iwould never use a scooter rental place that requires a credit/debit card. |
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Post by rockynv on Apr 24, 2014 11:41:07 GMT -5
Rentals either have you cover damages with your automobile policy, with a credit card or an extra cost rental insurance they sell you. If you did not make other provisions for coverage they will many times just add it to your credit card. If you put down a debit card instead then they may already have collected on the damages and the bill is just and invoice or statement indicating the cash they already drafted from your account. That is why i tell friends to do everything in cash when they come to the beach. We have a few places here that will take everything in cash. Iwould never use a scooter rental place that requires a credit/debit card. I rarely rent but if I do its cash and I do buy their insurance rider rather than expose my policy. My wife complained that it was too much money until the shoddy maintenance by the rental agency reared its head and the brakes failed. I am glad it was not against my no-fault policy for covering the body damage on the rental. I buy into their insurance and if something goes wrong I can just walk away and its their problem. |
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Post by toxictom on Apr 24, 2014 13:39:41 GMT -5
Quite frankly, I don't really know what they intend to do as I don't see them too often. I did tell them I'd fight it if it were me. I also advised them to leave a nasty review on Yelp or one of the travel sites. The company can ask for whatever they want and they probably get away with it more often than not unless the renter (victim) contests it.
I've had car rental agencies try to ding me for damages I didn't cause, but they backed down pretty quick when I started throwing a fit saying I'd contact the BBB and others.
I would definitely be in touch with my credit card company and see if they'd help fight it or cover it. Then again if the rental outfit knows the credit card company will pay the claims I can see them charging way above what the actual damages are.
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