car rental place trying it on…

[5lab]

I just got an email through from a smallish car hire place based in Italy, saying..

car rentals said:

Dear customer,

we took delivery of the car xxxx that you rented but our colleague noticed a fuel level of 2/8. In according to our system the tank was full at pickup. The total amount for this is EUR 97,50 (EUR 30,00 refueling service + EUR 67,50 fuel).

Do you have a photo or document demonstrating a different fuel level at checkout?

Looking forward to your reply in 24/48h we wish you a good day.

I scratched my head at this, as I couldn't remmeber the last time I used them. Finally worked it out, it was april 2018 (4.5 years ago!) I have zero paperwork from this rental, but I remember that I had damaged a wheel trim (which I paid for then claimed back) - so they went over the car well (I didn't drop and dash).

Now I'm pretty anal about returning cars with the right amount of fuel, as I don't like paying penal costs - so I'm certain I didn't return the car with the wrong amount of fuel. I have vauge recollections of picking up a car with the wrong amount of fuel and getting them to change it on the pick up sheet, but I rent a load of cars (5-10 per year), so I've zero idea whether it was this car or not. To add insult to injury, the car in question was a panda, with a 37l fuel capacity. Even if I had the wrong amount of fuel in, I'd owe them 28l of fuel at 2018 italian prices, which were what, 1.20 a litre? so 33 euros of fuel, not 67.

So I figure my options are
1) ignore it
2) send them a random image of a 1/4 tank guage from a panda
3) ask them to prove it
4) something else?

I'm fairly sure the card I used for the rental isn't valid any more, so I guess chances of them being able to force me to pay this are low?

[bompey]

If this was a car you hired 4 1/2 years and they’re only raising it now you are bonkers to fret about it. At most have them confirm it was 4 1/2 years ago and then tell them you recall everything was order and that they should go do something else.

[wibble cb]

5lab said:

I just got an email through from a smallish car hire place based in Italy, saying..

car rentals said:

Dear customer,

we took delivery of the car xxxx that you rented but our colleague noticed a fuel level of 2/8. In according to our system the tank was full at pickup. The total amount for this is EUR 97,50 (EUR 30,00 refueling service + EUR 67,50 fuel).

Do you have a photo or document demonstrating a different fuel level at checkout?

Looking forward to your reply in 24/48h we wish you a good day.

I scratched my head at this, as I couldn't remmeber the last time I used them. Finally worked it out, it was april 2018 (4.5 years ago!) I have zero paperwork from this rental, but I remember that I had damaged a wheel trim (which I paid for then claimed back) - so they went over the car well (I didn't drop and dash).

Now I'm pretty anal about returning cars with the right amount of fuel, as I don't like paying penal costs - so I'm certain I didn't return the car with the wrong amount of fuel. I have vauge recollections of picking up a car with the wrong amount of fuel and getting them to change it on the pick up sheet, but I rent a load of cars (5-10 per year), so I've zero idea whether it was this car or not. To add insult to injury, the car in question was a panda, with a 37l fuel capacity. Even if I had the wrong amount of fuel in, I'd owe them 28l of fuel at 2018 italian prices, which were what, 1.20 a litre? so 33 euros of fuel, not 67.

So I figure my options are
1) ignore it
2) send them a random image of a 1/4 tank guage from a panda
3) ask them to prove it
4) something else?

I'm fairly sure the card I used for the rental isn't valid any more, so I guess chances of them being able to force me to pay this are low?

Why would they only chase you now, I suspect it’s a case of mistaken identity.

[Gweeds]

Could be a scam if the rental has been hacked and now they're fishing all past customers.

[5lab]

ta for the inputs

after writing my post I dug through my outbox to my excess insurance and found the original "checkin" invoice, showing the car was full at both pickup and dropoff. So I've dropped the rental car company an email inviting them to jog on. p'raps they pulled the wrong customer number out of their db or something, but either way I can show I'm covered.

[R56Cooper]

Gweeds said:

Could be a scam if the rental has been hacked and now they're fishing all past customers.

Yep, this would be my first thought. Hit delete and ignore.

[loskie]

maybe notify your credit card co so they don't take payment. If that's still possible after such a long time