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Thrifty Complaint - Don't Rent From Thrifty! - Car Rental
Car Rental - Complaint
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Avoid doing business with this company. Thrifty treats customers unfairly, doesn't listen to their complaints, and tries to rip them off.
I rented a car from the West 83rd St. Manhattan Thrifty office in Dec. 2007 for three days. One day, as I opened the driver side door, the metal panel on the door scrunched up against the metal on the driver's side front fender.
Since there was no accident, under New York state law I am not liable for any damage. Moreover, my insurance company denied my claim because no accident was involved.
Nonetheless, Thrifty has been pursuing me aggressively for payment of $511. Despite having sent them three letters explaining my position, I am being hassled by their third-party debt collectors.
I am eagerly waiting for Thrifty to sue me so we can have this out in court. Since the company won't listen at all to my view on this, or heed the relevant law, a court case looks like the only option.
Initially, Thrifty also billed me $462 for "loss of use," for the time the car spent in the shop being repaired. They sought that money even though "loss of use" charges are explicitly barred by New York law.
After I pointed this out, they dropped that claim.
But this whole dispute says a lot about the mentality of this company's management: It will do anything to pry open customers' wallets, even demanding payment for totally bogus and unlawful charges.
Whether Thrifty wins or loses this fight, it has lost a lot of money by alienating me as a customer. I spend thousands of dollars a year on car rentals, all of which is now going elsewhere. You should spend your money elsewhere too.
I rented a car from the West 83rd St. Manhattan Thrifty office in Dec. 2007 for three days. One day, as I opened the driver side door, the metal panel on the door scrunched up against the metal on the driver's side front fender.
Since there was no accident, under New York state law I am not liable for any damage. Moreover, my insurance company denied my claim because no accident was involved.
Nonetheless, Thrifty has been pursuing me aggressively for payment of $511. Despite having sent them three letters explaining my position, I am being hassled by their third-party debt collectors.
I am eagerly waiting for Thrifty to sue me so we can have this out in court. Since the company won't listen at all to my view on this, or heed the relevant law, a court case looks like the only option.
Initially, Thrifty also billed me $462 for "loss of use," for the time the car spent in the shop being repaired. They sought that money even though "loss of use" charges are explicitly barred by New York law.
After I pointed this out, they dropped that claim.
But this whole dispute says a lot about the mentality of this company's management: It will do anything to pry open customers' wallets, even demanding payment for totally bogus and unlawful charges.
Whether Thrifty wins or loses this fight, it has lost a lot of money by alienating me as a customer. I spend thousands of dollars a year on car rentals, all of which is now going elsewhere. You should spend your money elsewhere too.
Comments:
Posted by Hugh_Jorgen on 2008-06-18:
From my experience, doors and fenders don't come into contact with each other without some help. There has to be more to this story. You might not have had an accident in the traditional sense, but something must have happened while the car was in your possession.
Posted by Mrs. V on 2008-06-18:
Ummm... I could be in the wrong here, but, the car was damaged while in your care.
The contract that you signed stated that you would bring the car back in the same condition that you rented it in.
Just because your insurance denied your claim doesn't mean that Thrifty should shoulder the bill for 'you' damaging their car.
The contract that you signed stated that you would bring the car back in the same condition that you rented it in.
Just because your insurance denied your claim doesn't mean that Thrifty should shoulder the bill for 'you' damaging their car.
Posted by NewYork_NYer on 2009-01-29:
For Mr. Organ -- I was present when the car door met up with the front fender. There was no collision of any kind. Had I lied to the insurance company, and said I had no idea how the damage occurred, they would have figured it was an accident and paid up, and I would not be in this fix.
Mrs. V's observation is more interesting. But under New York law in efffect at the time of this incident, a renter "shall not be liable for mechanical damage unrelated to an accident, nor for any normal wear and tear or other mechanical damage that could reasonably be expected from normal use of the vehicle except in instances where abuse or neglect by the driver is shown."
I'm not sure what's abusive or negligent about opening the car door.
But I am learning that the law is irrelevant -- Thrifty assigned this to a bill collection agency, which simply expects me to pay. They show no interest in any adjudication or arbitration of this dispute, and have told me they are simply going to report this to the credit agencies as an unpaid debt.
As I understand it, it's then up to me to sue Thrifty or the bill collectors in small claims court.
But right now, any interpretation of how the law applies to my situation is moot -- nobody except me wants to be bothered.
Mrs. V's observation is more interesting. But under New York law in efffect at the time of this incident, a renter "shall not be liable for mechanical damage unrelated to an accident, nor for any normal wear and tear or other mechanical damage that could reasonably be expected from normal use of the vehicle except in instances where abuse or neglect by the driver is shown."
I'm not sure what's abusive or negligent about opening the car door.
But I am learning that the law is irrelevant -- Thrifty assigned this to a bill collection agency, which simply expects me to pay. They show no interest in any adjudication or arbitration of this dispute, and have told me they are simply going to report this to the credit agencies as an unpaid debt.
As I understand it, it's then up to me to sue Thrifty or the bill collectors in small claims court.
But right now, any interpretation of how the law applies to my situation is moot -- nobody except me wants to be bothered.
Posted by BokiBean on 2009-01-29:
You've done your homework.
Maybe a cease and desist letter to the collectors is in order, if they threaten to sue, tell them to take their best shot.
I take it that the bill is not on your credit report yet and all this could be bluff to get you to just pay up to get it off your back. Just make sure the statute of limitations doesn't run while they are playing this silly game.
Maybe a cease and desist letter to the collectors is in order, if they threaten to sue, tell them to take their best shot.
I take it that the bill is not on your credit report yet and all this could be bluff to get you to just pay up to get it off your back. Just make sure the statute of limitations doesn't run while they are playing this silly game.
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