Always Document Hire Car Damage to Avoid Scams - A Warning from Our Recent Experience

Take out the extra £50 insurance otherwise they will 100% try the damage scam trick. Even reputable companies. Even in the UK. I filmed the car before. Made the bloke note everything. Took 45 minutes in Naples. Bloke had the hump by the end.
 
@savedbyhim01 we had our number plate stolen in Croatia, it felt like it was done as a scam as there was a £350 charge. Easy money for the hire company. Luckily, took out extra insurance in UK and it was covered. Had to faff about getting a police report while there though which took time from the holiday. Extra is worth peace of mind.
 
We had similar in Australia, thankfully had taken lots of pictures before we left (which he watched me do) then on returning the same guy tried to pin damage on us, until I reminded him I had all the photos 🙄🤦🏻‍♀️
 
Read the company's reviews before hiring the car, we went to Lanzarote this year and hired a car from a highly reputable company (it wasn't any more expensive than others), had no issues whatsoever, but there are couple of others who give people constant headache and literally scam everyone the same way accusing people of damaging cars and trying to get them to pay ridiculous amounts. Trustpilot is brilliant to get a good idea of a company!
 
@matiz we do - my partner researches everything to the last degree. Unfortunately because EasyJet cancelled our flight 2 days before we were due to fly it screwed everything up and this wasn’t the company we had originally booked with. It was all that was available at such short notice ( we managed to fly out the next day so a day earlier than planned ) 🤷🏻‍♀️
 
@praising_god_4ever yeah it wasn't aimed at you as different circumstances happen, just speaking generally people always should do at least a minimum of research before proceeding with giving someone their money and card details etc. Glad you've managed to avoid the additional cost but I've seen people who haven't so just a tip.
 
I had that. The agent gave me a form and said just write down anything you notice that's more than a cm long. So off we trot with 2 hot cranky kids. Saw the car and I went straight back to the woman and told her she would have to come out and write diwn all the damage herself as there was too much to note down and not enough space. She didn't even get up or flinch, she just said. "Give me the form back. Here's a different car."
We got to the replacement car and lo and behold a brand new car.
 
We were caught out in LA never charged but they made it difficult for us. My husband always takes photos and stuff of any damage and gets things signed off before we take it away. It’s such a stress
 
We always video and take pics of the car.. and point out any marks to hire people and get them to write on contract before we even sign anything
 
@lilliandandy yeah this is the norm. Unfortunately it was a right trek from the desk to the car and usually someone is hanging about around the cars in the car park. Typically this time it was deserted - apart from when we returned it and they were out like a shot !
 
I've never had a hire car in Italy where the diagram wasn't completed covered in crosses - always assumed that kind of pre-existing damage was standard.
 
I do this with effectively everything. Airbnb - photos when going in and out. Just stops any wiggle room for those with less scruples and morals.
 
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