NYT: Rental Car Companies Get Aggressive on Damage

[DeepModem Mom]

Rental Car Companies Get Aggressive on Damage
By CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT

Published: April 5, 2005


....In the past, car rental companies were willing to overlook minor damage to their vehicles, particularly when evidence of the renter's responsibility was flimsy. Not any more. The industry, slow to recover from the travel slump that began after 9/11, now appears bent on pursuing even the smallest cases.

"Car rental companies are getting much more aggressive about their claims," said Jeff Miller, a travel lawyer with the firm of Lipshultz & Miller in Columbia, Md. Chasing down customers who scratch or dent cars, he said, "is a growth business."

Independent business travelers...who lack the liability insurance protection that corporations negotiate for employees, are most vulnerable to the new bill-collecting mentality. They have nowhere to turn except to their credit card companies or car insurers, which have become increasingly reluctant to cover all damages. As a result, they are often left holding the bill.

If they contest it, they may face further fees....


http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/business/05rentals.html

[SoCalDem]

1. Digital cameras...or polaroids

photo every ding and damaged part..make the renting agent document and sign it...

I used to do this when we had to lease a house..I took the renting agent through the house with me as I took photos of every stain on the rug, every dent in the wall etc.. made them date and sign the pictures too. We always got back every cent of our deposit..

Thta's how the leasing agents make a ton of money.. They know that after a year or so, they can "nail" you on stuff that was already there, but you cannot prove..

should work with cars too.. I guess a polaroid would work best since computer hookup might be harder with a digital..