Last August we went to my niece’s wedding in Umbria and rented a car from Sixt at the airport in Rome. We were in Italy for just one week And had no accident whatsoever. Upon returning the car to the airport sixt counter they were backed up and did not take the time to inspect the car.
It was several weeks before my son got an email from sixt saying the car had damage and they were asking for $700 plus dollars for the repairs.
My son responded that we had no accident and maybe someone who hit the car in the garage after we dropped it or they rented it after us without checking it and the next people had an accident since Several weeks went by before they contacted my son. He requested photos of the damage etc. Some months went by and they asked for the money without sending photos. More time went by and
I am not sure but at some point they threatened legal action.
Today, almost a year later they called him while at work and insisted that he pays.
So what recourse do we have if any?
Posted by
PA
2899 posts
Hello, I see you are new here. There is a lot of information here as to how to return a rental car and protect yourself from this type of scam.
Since they did not check the car in and go over the car with you, and issue a release showing no damage, you need to have taken time-and-date stamped photos completely around the car when you dropped it off. These showing no damage would dispute anything they could claim. Without these, you have a major he-said-she-said on this, and your best hope is that a dispute with your credit card company will back you. Certainly they cannot collect from you without photos on their own - date stamped shortly after the return, and taken where you left it. Personally I believe this to be a standard shake-down attempt by some car-rental operations by being to busy to inspect the car on return and then seeing what can then be claimed later. Significantly later.
Posted by
Sunriver
1321 posts
Too bad your son doesn't have photos of the car in the stall when it was dropped it off...I don't see how you win this without evidence in your favor.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23650 posts
Unfortunately I learned a long time ago to photograph the car, especially the windshield, when dropping it off without a check in. With cell phones this is very easy to do. (In fact, I photograph when I pick up the car.) This is a he said, she said case and it will be very difficult to provide the negative (he did not cause the damage) without pictures or some type of evidence in his favor. It probably will be difficult to legally pursue him in a US court but they may go after this credit rating by posting non-payment to the credit agencies. It will be a mess either way. Good luck.
Posted by
FL USA
1561 posts
Take the initiative and do the following:
1) Make a copy of your post and make sure it shows being posted on the Rick Steve's travel forum.
2) Send the copy along with a concise note requesting their help in providing resolution. REQUEST A WRITTEN RESPONSE!
3) Send via mail and also provide your email address.
4) Send a letter to each person
I have gained resolution by starting with the person at the top of the organization and allowing time for the message to filter down. The top folks have folks who are paid to respond and typically established processes to do so.
Good Luck!
Detlev Pätsch - Chief Operating Officer
Erich Sixt - Chairman of the Board
Sixt SE
Zugspitzstrasse 1
Pullach, Bayern (Bavaria) 82049
Phone : +49.89.74444.5104
Fax : +49.89.74444.8510
Web : http://www.sixt.de
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10717 posts
Go to Chris Elliot consumer advocate website. He gets a lot of requests for help with this rental car shakedown racket. There is a lot of good advice there
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3300 posts
Sorry this happened. Auto agencies in the US also are notorious for claiming damage even though it might have occurred on their premises or done by a subsequent customer. This is why I’ve started to always have $0 deductible on any rental in Europe. The extra cost is well worth the peace of mind.
Posted by
San Diego, CA, USA
321 posts
If you used a credit card to pay for the rental, they probably provided some collision insurance. Send the credit card company the request for payment and see what happens. Visa and Mastercard have helped me out several times...
Posted by
Calgary, AB, Canada
575 posts
I thought that it was mandatory that you took out the CDW with the rental company in Italy. If so, it seems very unlikely that the deductible would be that amount of money. If not then was the plan to use credit card insurance, or his own personal?
We did have an accident with a Sixt vehicle while if France, and had a very positive experience. We filed the claim with our credit card and after some time, ( and a bit of nagging the card company )it was covered Sixt was expected to submit an estimate or something for the repairs, which they did.
Sixt should be able to provide you with the bill for the repairs, or the utilization log of who else rented it. Good luck to your son
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12014 posts
If you used a credit card to pay for the rental, they probably provided some collision insurance
It is rare that credit card coverage would apply in Italy. Most credit cards EXCLUDE Italy as a covered area.
The 'deductible' on the included LDW can be as much as 3000 euro. This varies by rental company