SOS--somebody scratched my rental car

You have to contact your Chase Benefit Administrator within 60 days and request the reimbursement. You can also file the claim online. Basically they will reimburse you for any amount the rental company will charge your card for the damage when you return the car (less any possible deductible amount). The rental company will place a charge on your card in the meantime. Make sure you charge the same Chase card you used for the rental. Take photos of the damage.

I doubt the police will show up, they never do in Italy either for something like that (it's actually worse than in California).

However you should file a police report in Italy (probably in person at a police/carabinieri station). Not sure if Chase will require it for a claim overseas, but it is required by many insurance companies.

In the next comment I entered a sample police claim template (followed by the English translation of the same).

As I said I'm not sure Chase requires this for a foreign travel event. I've experienced only US claims.

Modello di denuncia per atti vandalici
ALLA STAZIONE DEI CARABINIERI DI _________
Atto di denuncia/querela Il sottoscritto……………………………………………… nato a …………………………… In provincia di…….. il………………… residente a ………………………… provincia di……… in via……………………………………………….. nr…… interno ………………telefono……………… altro domicilio ……………………. stato civile……………………Cittadinanza ………………………

PER OGNI EFFETTO E CORSO DI LEGGE SPONTANEAMENTE PRESENTA DENUNCIA
Il fatto è stato constatato il giorno…………………………. Alle ore……………… in …………………………… in via……………………………. L’ultima volta che ha notato la presenza di quanto gli è stato danneggiato, è stato in data…………………………… alle ore……………………., e si trovava in località…………………. CIRCOSTANZE E MODALITA’ DEI FATTI DENUNCIATI - DANNEGGIAMENTO DI ……………….

SINTETICA RICOSTRUZIONE DELL’ACCADUTO

……………………………………………

EVENTUALI PERSONE SOPETTATE (S/N)……… SE SI FARE UNA DESCRIZIONE SOMATICA E DEGLI INDUMENTI CHE VESTIVA …………………………… - E’ COPERTO DA ASSICURAZIONE? (S/N)……..

Tanto premesso, con la presente sporgo formale denuncia/querela contro ________ per i reati che l’autorità voglia ravvisare nei fatti sopra esposti. Nel chiedere espressamente la punibilità dei responsabili, ci si riserva sin d’ora di costituirsi parte civile nel procedimento penale che vorrà essere intrapreso. Si manifesta espressa opposizione all’eventuale richiesta di archiviazione della notizia di reato, chiedendo che ne venga dato avviso.

Si allegano: (eventuali fotografie, etc…) Luogo, data
Nome e firma del denunciante

Model of complaint for vandalism
AT THE CARABINIERI STATION IN _________
Deed of denunciation / complaint The undersigned ........................................ born in .................................. in the province of ......... on ............ ……… resident in ………………………… province of ……… in via ……………………………………………… .. nr …… internal ………… …… telephone ……………… other address ……………………. marital status …………………… Citizenship ………………………

FOR EVERY EFFECT AND COURSE OF LAW SPONTANEOUSLY SUBMITS COMPLAINT
The fact was ascertained on the day …………………………. At ……………… in …………………………… in via ……………………………. The last time he noticed the presence of what was damaged, it was on ........................... at ........................, and he was in the locality ....... ……………. CIRCUMSTANCES AND METHOD OF REPORTED FACTS - DAMAGE OF ..................

SYNTHETIC RECONSTRUCTION OF THE HAPPENED

……………………………………………

POSSIBLE SUSPECTED PEOPLE (Y / N) ....... IF YOU MAKE A SOMATIC DESCRIPTION AND THE CLOTHING THAT WEARS ........................... - IS IT COVERED BY INSURANCE? (Y / N) …… ..

Given the above, I hereby issue a formal complaint / complaint against ________ for the crimes that the authority wishes to recognize in the facts set out above. In expressly requesting the punishment of the perpetrators, we reserve the right from now on to form a civil party in the criminal proceedings that will be undertaken. Express opposition is expressed to any request for filing of the crime report, requesting that notice be given.

Attached are: (any photographs, etc ...) Place, date.
The complainant name & signature

I just filed a Collision Damage Insurance claim with my Chase credit card last month and it worked with no problems. There are a lot of steps to fill out on the website but just be persistent. You can't do anything until you return the car and get the final paperwork, including whether or not they charge you for any damage. If they don't charge you, then you don't need to worry about it. If they do charge you, make sure you pay with your Chase card. You will need to send both the statement where you paid for the rental and the statement where the damages were charged to be reimbursed. Once my claim was settled, it only took 2 days to get the money back. You do not need to file a police report since you didn't actually witness the damage take place. You will make a damage report with the rental company when you return the car and that is what you need for the insurance.

This is the website you will use to file a claim. I'd go ahead and start as if you were ready to file a claim (even though you aren't) so you can get to the page that has the checklist of all the documents you'll need. That way you'll know what to ask for from the rental agency when you return the car. You don't want to have to try to get them to email you documents after you've returned home.

https://www.eclaimsline.com/

I will echo what Bill said. I had a similar situation a few years ago. No need to involve the police or file a police report.
Just take pics when you drop the car, then file the claim with Chase's claim processor when you get home. For my claim, there were a few emails back and forth where I sent pics of the damage and copies of the bills. It took a month or so after I filed the claim, but then they sent me a check to fully cover the charges. Don't worry, just enjoy the rest of your trip!

Did your rental car company ask about where you would be driving, or did you disclose you would be driving in Italy? I ask because some rental agencies are a bit wonky about taking a car into Italy, and technically you were required to have some additional liability insurance by Italy, just for driving in Italy. Other rental agencies though have no restrictions. Might be worth perusing the fine print of your rental agreement in your spare time, as well as that of Chase. It may also be worth calling Chase and determine what paperwork you might need to file a claim, before you turn in the car.

I also am not suggesting anything underhanded, but I would let them find the damage (or not) and determine if it is an issue. Answer any questions, but only volunteer that the car was parked at the time of damage, and you noticed it later. I would volunteer as little information as possible.