AIBU to really really REALLY hate being ripped off

[princessofmars]

Possibly on the wrong thread but AIBU is for angry ranting right?
DH and I are very regular users of SIXT car rental. Back in January really cold weather the windscreen of a little Astra I rented randomly cracked. SIXT told me to drive to the nearest airport (with a cracked windscreen) to exchange it. I did so and I emailed all the details of what happened. Behold they are now trying to get over 500 pounds off me. I keep arguing about it and they keep saying the same thing 'it was your fault - pay up', repeating it again and again Grrrrrrrrr. Even it it had been my fault surely 500 is a massive rip off ? AIBU to feel really angry, upset and FRUSTRATED at the injustice of this, and to keep arguing with them ? Would a reasonable person just pay up?

[Sparklingbrook]

How is it your fault exactly?

[MammaTJ]

That would be a rip off even if you had been to blame.

[FelicityWasCold]

Yanbu.

What did the contract/insurance say? Did it give details of costs?

[princessofmars]

That's what I keep asking them and they just keep saying 'It's your fault, it wasn't cracked when you drove it away' it's incredibly frustrating. IMO its not my fault that their crappy windscreen randomly cracked

[TiaMariaandSpringCleaning]

Even if it was your fault, presumably you had insurance on the car - which would have included windscreen repair/replacement? In which case you should only be paying excess? I'd write to them denying any liability and setting out what happened. make them set out WHY you are supposedly at fault and then justify the rip off £500 bill

[TheSeventhHorcrux]

Dammit, Princess. What have we told you about taking a sledge hammer to hire cars?!

[princessofmars]

Felicity My liability was limited to 500 pounds- what a coincidence that the windscreen just happened to cost 500.
Mamma - Agree I am being ripped off and it's making me so mad

I just don't know what to do about this

[princessofmars]

Asked them to justify it they just keep saying the same thing over and over and over 'It's your fault - Pay' No justification whatsoever

[andubelievedthat]

Well, in my opinion a reasonable person would call one of the known windscreen fitting companies ,give them car details ,ask re price to call out and replace , then call hire company back and inform them of same ,pointing out that your pretty sure they would pay less as they have their own ins. to cover this anyhow, Also, (depending on how big the damage was() i would inform them that they most likely gave you advice which was verging on illegal re driving vehicle with damaged screen and you are having a word with a solicitor >they ARE scamming you(or at least trying to) it will come down to "see who blinks first " >alt, tell them to return vehicle to you and you will have it replaced ? me ? i would not entertain their claim for a minute.

[princessofmars]

Horcrux Wish I had done at least I would've got some sense of satisfaction for my $500

[princessofmars]

Mmmmm the point about them advising me to drive with the windscreen cracked..............interesting idea

[BinksToEnlightenment]

Well it sounds like you've been charged for new damage which has occurred during your rental. If they don't charge it to you, who will they charge it to?

Have you been sent the invoice for the new windowscreen? Have you been sent the signed rental agreement?

Did you turn down excess waiver or windowscreen insurance?

Have you spoken to a manager about how you may go to the BVRLA?

[fascicle]

OP, ignore the blog article below (it might annoy you), but have a look at the comments/letters that follow it - other customers who believe they have been overcharged for issues. The response to the first one says that with cases of damage, they automatically charge the excess as per their t & cs.

www.sixtblog.co.uk/customer-service/sixt-goes-the-extra-mile/

Might be worth contacting the customer services manager who's doing the responding, as some people seem to have made some headway.

[princessofmars]

Thanks peeps. I didn't get the invice or the rental agreement. Can't get anyone to speak to me they just keep sending really annoying standard emails like they are really not listening at all just quoting from a script. I posted on the blog not holding out much hope. It just really sickens me that Sixt are scamming me out of $500 (not got a pound sign on laptop)