Courtesy car - fuel use issue

[JimClark49]

Hi All,

I had my car in for an insurance repair to bodywork and was given a courtesy car with just under half tank of diesel. Today I returned the car and filled it up to exactly half tank as I was verbally instructed to by the garage before being given the car.

When at the garage today, they quickly checked car car and said all OK (the guyd turned on ignition to check fuel). I collected my own car and went to work.

I got a call from garage later saying the car was given to me with 3/4 full of fuel. This is simply not true and I think the garage is trying to con me out of money. I have refused to pay anything extra as I have filled the car up according to their (verbal) instructions

Their was no paperwork given to me stating how much fuel comes with the car, but they said they will find a photo showing 3/4 full. I have my own photo of fuel gauge showing just less than half full.

Any advice on what I should do?

[Fastdruid]

Do they have any grass outside you could hammer sausages into?

[JimClark49]

Fastdruid said:

Do they have any grass outside you could hammer sausages into?

I am sorry I dont understand what you mean with the above sentence?

[anonymous-user]

I think it's a supposedly funny comment on taking revenge on someone for a perceived loss they might have caused you.

If it's an insurance repair, can't you leave it to them and just stick to your guns?

[PorkInsider]

If the photo you have of the fuel gauge showing half full also has the odometer showing, I'd hope that it would be enough for them.

[JimClark49]

REALIST123 said:

I think it's a supposedly funny comment on taking revenge on someone for a perceived loss they might have caused you.

If it's an insurance repair, can't you leave it to them and just stick to your guns?

Well I am sticking to my guns - because I know that I have returned the car with slighlty more fuel than was given to me and according to what I was instructed by them.

Its just another unnecessary hassle I could do without though.

[Cooperman]

Refuse to discuss it and suggest they proceed in the small claims court if they feel that strongly. It can't be more than about £10 to £15.

[eatcustard]

If you have a photo why worry?

[btcc123]

Just tell your insurance company what the car hire place have said to you and the facts you have and if anything it was returned with more fuel in the tank than when you received the car.

If you have photos and want to have some fun ask the insurance company to ask the car hire company to refund the £5 or £10 they owe you.

[ferrariF50lover]

All for the sake of a tenner. This clearly isn't a con, it's a simple mistake. Put down the internet and head on down there. Talk to a human being and put your position. Ask to see the person who checked you into the car. Have a chat about the rental and then show him your photo to jog his memory.

Why am I having to explain this to a fully grown adult?

[B'stard Child]

ferrariF50lover said:

Why am I having to explain this to a fully grown adult?

Because

1. No-one actually makes a decision themselves these days without getting advice from the internets
2. It's much easier to bh on the internet about a situation rather than resolve it
3. As a result of both the above - the content on here is getting more Daily Wail everyday

(probably the Daily Wail links don't help)

[JimClark49]

Thanks for the replies.

The bottom line is that a photo of any kind does not really prove anything. He could have a photo of the car 3/4 full and say that's the photo on the day he gave car to me. I could have a photo that shows just less than half full, but he can say I have driven it 100 miles first and then photographed it.

The main thing I guess is that we can look at the photo's digital date stamp and this should prove who's photo is correct.

Yes the guy might have innocently forgot, but just before he handed me the courtesy car, he made handwritten notes about bodywork condition and also noted the current fuel. My mistake was not asking for a copy of that paperwork. In fact I was given no paperwork...so I actually have no record that I even took the courtesy car from them...this suggests they have a casual approach to giving out their courtesy car as I was not asked to sign anywhere.

[eatcustard]

JimClark49 said:

Thanks for the replies.

The bottom line is that a photo of any kind does not really prove anything. He could have a photo of the car 3/4 full and say that's the photo on the day he gave car to me. I could have a photo that shows just less than half full, but he can say I have driven it 100 miles first and then photographed it.

The main thing I guess is that we can look at the photo's digital date stamp and this should prove who's photo is correct.

Yes the guy might have innocently forgot, but just before he handed me the courtesy car, he made handwritten notes about bodywork condition and also noted the current fuel. My mistake was not asking for a copy of that paperwork. In fact I was given no paperwork...so I actually have no record that I even took the courtesy car from them...this suggests they have a casual approach to giving out their courtesy car as I was not asked to sign anywhere.

So he has no signature you had the car, enter a boxing stance then tell him to £$%@ off.