car rental scam
 

Greetings All:

Many years ago we went to Costa Rica and rented a vehicle for the day.

On return, I was charged for a scratch that I did not see when I took the vehicle. At the time I thought nothing of it but that perhaps someone had scratched it while we were elsewhere.

Recently I read on the Fodor chat site that another person was billed for a scratch!

Has anyone else had this experience and if so, please let us know who the vehicle was rented from.

I would find it interesting if a number of scratch charges are from one or a few dealers.

If this is a scam, I would like to avoid such companies when we go to Costa Rica this winter.

Many thanks.

Woodie

When you take the car out, they should go over it and mark down any scratch or dent that's already on the car. (Roads in Costa Rica being what they are, there is bound to be something already there.) You go through with them at the time and look too, in case they don't spot something. Then when you turn the car back in, they should go through it again and look for any additional damage. They will sign off on it if everything is okay. You get copies of both the check-out and check-in sheets. If they both match, there should be no charge.

I should add this: I know people who are in hurry to drop off their rental vehicles (maybe they're running a little bit late to catch their flight), or maybe they have someone from their hotel do the drop off for them. I think that's asking for trouble. Not saying that's what happened in this case, but allow plenty of time to do it yourself and to go through the inspection with someone from the rental place.

It's not a scam - if you scratched the car then you should be responsible for the cost of repairs. It's the same policy when you rent a car in the US. When you rent the car they go over it with you and mark any existing damage.

You've probably got a digital camera with you. Easy enough to take a picture of any "pre-existing" damage before you drive off in the car - just in case there's any problem/disagreemtn.

Woodie,
I have rented in Costa Rica the past 2 summers and have not had a problem with either Hertz or Tricolor. This last trip we did something new when we picked up the vehicle though. We videotaped the existing damages, zooming in for good detail. We had no trouble in returning the Terios. This is something we will probably do whereever we rent in the future.
Sorry for your troubles.

Adamfam

The first time I rented from Tricolor the car was delivered to my hotel in Alajuela (at no extra charge). The 4x4 we rented was almost brand new without a scratch on it. As I checked the car with the guy from Tricolor he put a few scratches on the prior damage report "just in case" since a new car was bound to get scratched

The second time with Tricolor we arrived late at out hotel and they came to pick up the car and didn't charge any late fees. The car was pretty dirty so any scratches would have been hard to see. He said that he trusted us that there was no damage and gave us back the credit card imprint they took when we first rented the car.

Tricolor ROCKS!

Thanks for the replies:

Yes, Jeff_costa_Rica, I certainly agree that checking in advance is the right thing to do.

As I remember, the scratch was very small, about 2 cm long and quite faint. I could hardly see it when it was pointed out, let alone in advance.

Glover, I now have a digital camera but I doubt that "my" scratch would show on that picture. Pehaps it would. In any case, I now do take pictures all around of the cars I rent, here at home as well as elsewhere.

Adamfam: Thanks for the tip on Hertz and Tricolor. Good to get positive recommendations as it is to get heads up on others.

To everyone, many thanks for your input.

Any comments on "Wild Rider"?

Woodie

I always take digital pictures of the rental car. Do it right in front of the rental agent. No matter how good the quality of your photos (they don't know how good the quality is), it negates any ideas of a scam upon return. Seems its just simpler to try the scam on someone who didn't bother with the camera. This works. Did you notice that the cost of repairing the scratch had to be paid in <i>cash</i>? The true mark of a scam.

TC:

Good point on taking the picture.

Woodie