Sixt insurance claim
Jul 29th, 2016, 06:26 AM
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Sixt insurance claim
We rented a car from Sixt in Austria last month. There was a minor scratch at time of return and we accepted the liability for it, but a week later Sixt sent me a claim agreement of around 3000 Euro which is much higher for a small scratch like that. We tried to confirm it with Sixt but they summed it up as administrative loss, day loss cost etc.
Since we did not opt for extra insurance plan, they had blocked some extra amount from our credit card. However by now they have only charged the rental fee and no other fee is deducted but demand of 3000 Euro is not acceptable. Please help me to sort this matter if anyone has any such experience and let me know the consequences if I fail to pay the claim amount.
Since we did not opt for extra insurance plan, they had blocked some extra amount from our credit card. However by now they have only charged the rental fee and no other fee is deducted but demand of 3000 Euro is not acceptable. Please help me to sort this matter if anyone has any such experience and let me know the consequences if I fail to pay the claim amount.
Jul 29th, 2016, 06:39 AM
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Minor ?
When you accepted liability did you take pics of the damage and signed a paper describing it ?
I have never heard of immobilization costs but check your contract.
Then formulate an elaborate answer rejecting costs you find unacceptable
If no move from them start threatening.
As for consequence for not paying check your contract and your conscience.
When you accepted liability did you take pics of the damage and signed a paper describing it ?
I have never heard of immobilization costs but check your contract.
Then formulate an elaborate answer rejecting costs you find unacceptable
If no move from them start threatening.
As for consequence for not paying check your contract and your conscience.
Jul 29th, 2016, 06:59 AM
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That's why people buy insurance. You decided you didn't need insurance, so you decided to take the financial risk on yourself, so this is it.
3000 euro does seem high but loss of use, etc., is in fact often a clause in the rental agreement and a charge when the car is damaged. I don't know what fixing a scratch costs there, but such things at body shops cost a lot more where I live than one would expect. And I wonder if this was not just a small scratch or they wouldn't have even bothered to fix it, most rental cars have small scratches on them that I get (which you have to make sure to note when renting). SO if this were really not just a scratch that could be buffed out, that could end up costing $500+ where I live, I know because I've priced stuff on my car. Loss of use could be about 50 euro a day, I suppose, but could be more depending on the type of vehicle. And Administrative fees are also probably around 100 euro (I would think).
Since you are in contact with Sixt, I think you cuold ask for a copy of the estimate on the repair from the garage (or the bill) or at least a fully itemized explanation of the 3000 euro cost.
My only suggestion is that if you did use a credit card, which you obviously did, they usually include car rental insurance on them as secondary and if you declined from Sixt, shouldn't you have it from your card? I'd call them to ask what to do. If you bought insurance from Sixt but decided to take on the risk of the deductible yourself, then your CC probably won't help. Sixt's deductibles can be high, but I don't think even theirs is 3000 or more, is it? I'm not clear on that part. Because if you did decline all insurance, then I would contact your card.
3000 euro does seem high but loss of use, etc., is in fact often a clause in the rental agreement and a charge when the car is damaged. I don't know what fixing a scratch costs there, but such things at body shops cost a lot more where I live than one would expect. And I wonder if this was not just a small scratch or they wouldn't have even bothered to fix it, most rental cars have small scratches on them that I get (which you have to make sure to note when renting). SO if this were really not just a scratch that could be buffed out, that could end up costing $500+ where I live, I know because I've priced stuff on my car. Loss of use could be about 50 euro a day, I suppose, but could be more depending on the type of vehicle. And Administrative fees are also probably around 100 euro (I would think).
Since you are in contact with Sixt, I think you cuold ask for a copy of the estimate on the repair from the garage (or the bill) or at least a fully itemized explanation of the 3000 euro cost.
My only suggestion is that if you did use a credit card, which you obviously did, they usually include car rental insurance on them as secondary and if you declined from Sixt, shouldn't you have it from your card? I'd call them to ask what to do. If you bought insurance from Sixt but decided to take on the risk of the deductible yourself, then your CC probably won't help. Sixt's deductibles can be high, but I don't think even theirs is 3000 or more, is it? I'm not clear on that part. Because if you did decline all insurance, then I would contact your card.
Jul 29th, 2016, 07:54 AM
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Car insurance on the credit card may not be relevant if OP is not from North America.
You should certainly request an itemised bill from Sixt, and you could put in a dispute to your credit card company but I think you may just have to accept their bill, and know next time to accept the insurance offered unless you are certain your credit card offers such insurance.
You should certainly request an itemised bill from Sixt, and you could put in a dispute to your credit card company but I think you may just have to accept their bill, and know next time to accept the insurance offered unless you are certain your credit card offers such insurance.
Jul 29th, 2016, 08:03 AM
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Renters should never have to be responsible for "minor scratches." A minor scratch is NOT the legal definition of DAMAGE. I've been renting cars for business and pleasure for over thirty years (never used Sixt, though), and I've never experienced this issue. I've rented plenty of cars with scratches, and I've been told countless times "they don't qualify."
Car rental fleets among the majors are gone before each year is out. Each car has a mileage cap. They aren't owned for more than a year. There isn't time to fix minor scratches, but I could easily see someone using this as a way to scam customers.
Personally, I would fight it. I'd rather pay the money to a lawyer than let the scammer get away with a scam. The bottom line is: If you intend to rent a car in Europe these days, you need to do your homework and figure out all the steps necessary to protect yourself. European businesses are hungry for money, and unsuspecting tourists are easy game.
Car rental fleets among the majors are gone before each year is out. Each car has a mileage cap. They aren't owned for more than a year. There isn't time to fix minor scratches, but I could easily see someone using this as a way to scam customers.
Personally, I would fight it. I'd rather pay the money to a lawyer than let the scammer get away with a scam. The bottom line is: If you intend to rent a car in Europe these days, you need to do your homework and figure out all the steps necessary to protect yourself. European businesses are hungry for money, and unsuspecting tourists are easy game.
Jul 29th, 2016, 08:34 AM
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I learned the hard way never to accept responsibility for any rental car damage! It seems dishonest, but it is the only way to make sure you aren't taken advantage of!
Last year in Croatia, I rented a car using Oryx, a local company in Croatia, and I had damage to the car that was clearly my fault. But I thought I was covered because I had paid extra for American Express's "Premium Rental Car Coverage." I even called Amex Assurance before returning the car, and they told me just file a claim at my convenience, no problem!
I signed the statement of responsibility with Oryx when returning the car, because I am an honest person, and I wasn't denying it - I'm covered, right? What I didn't realize was that once I did that, Oryx lost any incentive to cooperate with my insurance company (Amex assurance), and Amex assurance had no incentive to do much work to get their help. Why should they? That means Amex assurance has to pay a claim. (More claims paid means lower profit, right?)
So I filed the claim immediately, fulfilled all of my obligations. Amex assurance seems to have made perfunctory efforts to contact Oryx, but they were ignored. Tough luck. Bummer for you, customer! Amex themselves were no help, either - they just gave me the run-around, how I should call Amex assurance again, blah blah blah.
Had I not signed the statement of responsibility with Oryx, they would have charged my credit card for the full damage - and then I would have disputed the charge with Amex. THEN Oryx would have had the incentive to prove the damage: send photos, work order receipts for the repairs, etc. And then I could have used all of that for the insurance claim.
To be fair to Oryx: after initially charging my card for 5,000 Kuna, they refunded me about 20% of it a few months later, presumably after the real repair was completed. To the OP: Sixt may do the same thing and refund you most of cost after the damage is repaired. They probably charged the maximum amount they could ahead of time to cover themselves, routine for all cases of damage I'd guess.
Last year in Croatia, I rented a car using Oryx, a local company in Croatia, and I had damage to the car that was clearly my fault. But I thought I was covered because I had paid extra for American Express's "Premium Rental Car Coverage." I even called Amex Assurance before returning the car, and they told me just file a claim at my convenience, no problem!
I signed the statement of responsibility with Oryx when returning the car, because I am an honest person, and I wasn't denying it - I'm covered, right? What I didn't realize was that once I did that, Oryx lost any incentive to cooperate with my insurance company (Amex assurance), and Amex assurance had no incentive to do much work to get their help. Why should they? That means Amex assurance has to pay a claim. (More claims paid means lower profit, right?)
So I filed the claim immediately, fulfilled all of my obligations. Amex assurance seems to have made perfunctory efforts to contact Oryx, but they were ignored. Tough luck. Bummer for you, customer! Amex themselves were no help, either - they just gave me the run-around, how I should call Amex assurance again, blah blah blah.
Had I not signed the statement of responsibility with Oryx, they would have charged my credit card for the full damage - and then I would have disputed the charge with Amex. THEN Oryx would have had the incentive to prove the damage: send photos, work order receipts for the repairs, etc. And then I could have used all of that for the insurance claim.
To be fair to Oryx: after initially charging my card for 5,000 Kuna, they refunded me about 20% of it a few months later, presumably after the real repair was completed. To the OP: Sixt may do the same thing and refund you most of cost after the damage is repaired. They probably charged the maximum amount they could ahead of time to cover themselves, routine for all cases of damage I'd guess.
Jul 29th, 2016, 08:44 AM
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a friend told me
'You were drunk last night !'
I said no
He kept on
Then he asked me 'how do you describe being drunk ?'
I said 'when I fall in the floor and don't move no more '
I guess some of the problem may come from Sixt and OP having to agree on the definition of 'minor'.
'You were drunk last night !'
I said no
He kept on
Then he asked me 'how do you describe being drunk ?'
I said 'when I fall in the floor and don't move no more '
I guess some of the problem may come from Sixt and OP having to agree on the definition of 'minor'.
