 Poster: A snowHead
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This is really only relevant if you returning the car before the desks open early in the morning (seems to be 6am ish) and is probably something that experienced rental car users would do anyway.......
Anyway story goes like this
Arranged everything at the hire rental desk in terminal, one piece of damage noted on the roof of car.
go to carpark 51 on bus, inspect car, loads of damage not on form, so get hire company employee to note all the extra damage on the form.
As i was very late (easyjet was late) off i go skiing
Return car at 5.30am 5 days later, the key drop just has a slot for keys, with no documents to include as well. (had copied the damage form)
So leave copy behind desk in terminal in envelope. (desk was closed at time, doesn't seem to be a post box)
When i got home sent an enquiry about the rental on the website, but no reply at all............
6 days later get invoice for £650 damage i had done! (most of the extra damage was not noted however which calls into question the post rental inspection process.
Lots of phone calls later finally I get a letter stating has been wavied, hope you will use us again. which i won't as their customer service is appalling.
My advice would be if you are returning car before the desks open, and you find extra damage, GO BACK TO THE RENTAL DESK IN THE TERMINAL, no matter how late you are, I know its a pain, but it avoids all the extra stress.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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carroz, it's commonly known as the "English tax"... have had a similar claim attempted against me having had the car inspected on its return... 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Guys, even though it's more or less underground, go round the car with the video on your mobile (or photos). Always take up any scratches not not noted immediately. Same applies if you're in a car crash, if you remember, take immediate photos.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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My mate is a branch manager for a UK national rental company. The staff get paid a bonus for spotting damage that can be charged for.
His advice is to pay the CDW and treat it as part of the rental cost.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| bar shaker wrote: |
My mate is a branch manager for a UK national rental company. The staff get paid a bonus for spotting damage that can be charged for.
His advice is to pay the CDW and treat it as part of the rental cost. |
A round about way to increase rental company income, finally out in the open!!!
Rental company wants you to pay more for the same hire. So they invent all sort of "demages" until peeps got so tired of it they just paid the extra "CDW"!
That being the spirit of the "advice".
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I wouldn't dream of hiring a car without CDW
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Pretty much all European car rental feels like a scam waiting to happen from dark parking lots where there is no chance of inspecting damage pre commencement to overly narrow parking bays which breed scratches (step forward old GVA car hire) to the "late pick up fees" when the desk is still attended. Its often impossible to get someone to inspect your car even if they are there.
Curiously the same companies have a much more relaxed approach in the US. Fully inclusive means fully inclusive and check-in and inspection is hassle free with a bloke with a pda doing a brief walkaround of your car then printing a receipt while you unload. Simples.
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We get a cover for the year it costs the same for the year as it does for a week with Hertz. A no brainer for us as we hire about 5-6 times a year!
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brian
brian
Guest
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Roy Hockley, me too. Mine is from www.insurance4carhire.co.uk
Mind you, I've hired many, many times without excess waiver and never had a problem including once when I did actually bump the car  and they signed off without noticing.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Somebody I know once rented a car and noticed a small scratch on the door pane after leaving the airport. Phoned the company, was told "no problem, we'll make a note of it".
That same someone later proceeded to take a tight turn around a very narrow street corner. The one brick sticking out from the corner of a house resulted in a serious scratch on that door pane.
The rental company never charged him...so if one is lucky, things even out.
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| brian wrote: |
| including once when I did actually bump the car and they signed off without noticing. |
was that the snowbank incident on the way back from La Grave? i couldn't believe that didn't damage the car!
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brian
brian
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Arno, no, I'd forgotten about that one. (I wasn't driving then anyway). This was in Leukerbad, very tight car park, gave it a dent and scratch on the front wing. A local garage in Grimentz knocked the dent out a bit but it was still pretty noticeable.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Nickski, absolutely agree. I take 5 views on picking up the car (I include the roof) and close-ups of any obvious damage. I repeat this at drop-off. A set of digital photos costs nothing.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Just take 2 sets of photo at pick up time, from slightly different angle.
If there's any arguement of demage, show them the 2 sets, one taken at pick up and one taken at return. 
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FAQ
)
. They even helpfully e mailed a photo of the little compartment in the boot - naturally complete with jack. They ended up reducing the excess to £250, which was supposedly the cost of a new tyre for a big Mazda 
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