Car hire dispute
Discussion
We recently had a trip to Slovenia, which was absoultely beautiful by the way. However, we rented a car from Sixt who we have used many times in the past, mainly in Germany though. They have always been great, however, this time, not so.
We picked the car up at the end of a day and were under self imposed pressure to get on with our journey. To that end we were not quite as thorough with our checks as we should have been and omitted to take photos. We were shown existing scratches which they were overly keen to point out.
We left had our holiday and returned the car. We only covered 93 miles in total as it was a walking holiday. The car was always parked in a very safe place with no risk of damage.
Long story short, Sixt gave us our final invoice, no issues. Then a while later claimed they had found new damage. I am well aware that this is common practice, and a quick internet search tells you all you need to know. I am 100% certain we did not cause the damage and refused to pay. The damage, a small scratch under the rear bumper, just behind the wheel, although not clear on their pictures. If I had cause the damage I would pay no question.
I did not take their extra insurance to cover things like this as we always us a third party Excess Cover, which is far cheaper. There is no problem with cover.
The case is currently in dispute with Sixt and the ECRCS and the uk branch of European Consumer Rights. However, my question is, if I eventually have to pay the claim with my excess do I need to declare the alleged damage as a claim or accident on my own insurance at home when renewal comes. In particular when asked, 'Any claims or accidents in the last 5 years'.
I realise that would not apply for the excess claim as that is a stand alone policy and have had this confirmed. I am asking just about the claim Sixt have made. What have any of you done in a similar situation?
Thank you in advance for any advice.
We picked the car up at the end of a day and were under self imposed pressure to get on with our journey. To that end we were not quite as thorough with our checks as we should have been and omitted to take photos. We were shown existing scratches which they were overly keen to point out.
We left had our holiday and returned the car. We only covered 93 miles in total as it was a walking holiday. The car was always parked in a very safe place with no risk of damage.
Long story short, Sixt gave us our final invoice, no issues. Then a while later claimed they had found new damage. I am well aware that this is common practice, and a quick internet search tells you all you need to know. I am 100% certain we did not cause the damage and refused to pay. The damage, a small scratch under the rear bumper, just behind the wheel, although not clear on their pictures. If I had cause the damage I would pay no question.
I did not take their extra insurance to cover things like this as we always us a third party Excess Cover, which is far cheaper. There is no problem with cover.
The case is currently in dispute with Sixt and the ECRCS and the uk branch of European Consumer Rights. However, my question is, if I eventually have to pay the claim with my excess do I need to declare the alleged damage as a claim or accident on my own insurance at home when renewal comes. In particular when asked, 'Any claims or accidents in the last 5 years'.
I realise that would not apply for the excess claim as that is a stand alone policy and have had this confirmed. I am asking just about the claim Sixt have made. What have any of you done in a similar situation?
Thank you in advance for any advice.
No - in a word.
What sixyT claim is up to them - you didn't take insurance with them, you are not claiming on the insurance you didn't take out with them. They are claiming a fee/charge from you. Even if you did take our their own cover, THEY would be the ones making the claim against THEIR insurers, not you.
You are then using your car hire excess policy to pay their fee (not a claim).
You are not making a car insurance claim. You are making a car hire insurance excess claim.
What sixyT claim is up to them - you didn't take insurance with them, you are not claiming on the insurance you didn't take out with them. They are claiming a fee/charge from you. Even if you did take our their own cover, THEY would be the ones making the claim against THEIR insurers, not you.
You are then using your car hire excess policy to pay their fee (not a claim).
You are not making a car insurance claim. You are making a car hire insurance excess claim.
Thanks for the reply. I think what is nagging me is how my own insurance company views the actual alleged inciting incedent (that never took place!). Do they see that as some kind of accident.
When I asked the excess company they said perhaps should tell my insurance at renewal, but I am not so sure.
By the way I do see what you are saying and it does make sense.
When I asked the excess company they said perhaps should tell my insurance at renewal, but I am not so sure.
By the way I do see what you are saying and it does make sense.
Maki65 said:
Thanks for the reply. I think what is nagging me is how my own insurance company views the actual alleged inciting incedent (that never took place!). Do they see that as some kind of accident.
When I asked the excess company they said perhaps should tell my insurance at renewal, but I am not so sure.
By the way I do see what you are saying and it does make sense.
Me - I'd not say a word to my regular insurer. I'd be very suprised if the excess cover co is part of the MID database.When I asked the excess company they said perhaps should tell my insurance at renewal, but I am not so sure.
By the way I do see what you are saying and it does make sense.
I'm going riding across Vietnam in Feb, off road, on motorbikes. I'm being provided insurance (for the bike, not me, that's seperate cover that my existing medical insurance covers) by the tour company. If I damage the bike and they then use that insurance to repair the bike, am I going to tell my car insurers back home? Am I hell. What's it got to do with them? :-)
GasEngineer said:
Griffith4ever said:
If I damage the bike and they then use that insurance to repair the bike, am I going to tell my car insurers back home? Am I hell. What's it got to do with them? :-)
They ask you to tell them if you have had any accident or incidents even if no claim was made...Glosphil said:
If I had a hire car damages in a car park in a foreign country I would not tell the insurer of my personal car in the UK. How would that incident affect the risk of insuring my own car in the UK? I'm never going to car carpark, town, even that country again.
We need that insurance bloke to pop up.He will say the insurance companies need to know all the information relevant to assessing you as a risk.
Incidents, accidents etc even if no claim was made - are relevant to them i suspect, especially if if gives them a reason to increase their profit (sorry, cover their risk).
And woe betide you if you make a claim and the insurance company "find out " you did not disclose relevant information - a thread a few months back had a guy facing his insurance being cancelled because an issue he decided not to claim for wasn't declared to his insurance company at policy time.
The rub is of course how will they find out?
I am generally quite risk averse, and I think sometimes insurance companies take me for a mug for being so...
GasEngineer said:
They ask you to tell them if you have had any accident or incidents even if no claim was made...
This kind of sums it up for me. I like the last poster am quite risk averse. Maybe I need to ask Sixt if they put it on the insurance database. The amount of people who get caught for what they are trying on with me must be massive. And do they all report that to their insurance, I am not so sure.Maki65 said:
This kind of sums it up for me. I like the last poster am quite risk averse. Maybe I need to ask Sixt if they put it on the insurance database. The amount of people who get caught for what they are trying on with me must be massive. And do they all report that to their insurance, I am not so sure.
If it's going to play on your mind then tell your insurance company. If they say it doesn't matter then get the name of the person you speak to and note the date and time. Even if they do charge something then you can stop thinking about it.If you're a named driver on other polices then they need to be told too.
GasEngineer said:
Griffith4ever said:
If I damage the bike and they then use that insurance to repair the bike, am I going to tell my car insurers back home? Am I hell. What's it got to do with them? :-)
They ask you to tell them if you have had any accident or incidents even if no claim was made...Sheepshanks said:
If it's going to play on your mind then tell your insurance company. If they say it doesn't matter then get the name of the person you speak to and note the date and time. Even if they do charge something then you can stop thinking about it.
If you're a named driver on other polices then they need to be told too.
This is pretty much where my mind is at. The thing that gets my back up is I could pay more on my annual premium for something I did not do! I am trying every avenue to get Sixt to drop the claim. If that fails I will inform my insurance at renewal.If you're a named driver on other polices then they need to be told too.
Ask them for pictures of the damage, then ask them for pictures from the previous hire showing no damage.
{
[b[Always[/b] take time to take pictures and a walk round video, take two pictures from different angles of each wheel (to show possible tyre bulges).
Lady B recently hired a car, pickup was late at night and it was raining and windy. Person who handed key over advised her to check it was as described before she set off. She replied that it was dark, windy and raining so would check first thing in the morning and report then. They replied that wasn't ok, and repeated once it left it was taken as seen. Lady B then asked then to take the car into their garage workshop, dry it off so she could inspect it. The reply came that the morning was fine
{
[b[Always[/b] take time to take pictures and a walk round video, take two pictures from different angles of each wheel (to show possible tyre bulges).
Lady B recently hired a car, pickup was late at night and it was raining and windy. Person who handed key over advised her to check it was as described before she set off. She replied that it was dark, windy and raining so would check first thing in the morning and report then. They replied that wasn't ok, and repeated once it left it was taken as seen. Lady B then asked then to take the car into their garage workshop, dry it off so she could inspect it. The reply came that the morning was fine
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