I was assigned a 'courtesy' car (thru Enterprise) by my local auto dealership while my vehicle was being repaired. The courtesy car was being paid for by the Auto Dealership, and the assigned vehicle was parked and picked up on the Auto Dealership's parking lot. The 'prelimimaries' went as follows:
Enterprise Rep: Do you want our Insurance coverage
Me: No, the Auto Dealership is paying for this. Normally, when
I rent, I refuse it because my credit card will pick it
up. Enterprise Rep: Is now questioning me about my insurance and deductible ($500.00) and making notes on the "contract".
Enterprise Rep and I inspect the vehicle on the Auto Distributorship's property. The front of the vehicle is closed to a metal fence... Enterprise Rep emphasizes "As you can see, the front bumper is in good shape"! I comment about the bird crap on the bumper. I question "Should I return the vehicle at the Enterprise Lot that is up the street or here at the Auto Dealerhip. Enterprise Rep emphasizes my return of the vehicle to the Auto Dealership.
After approx. 4 - 5 hours, my car is ready for pickup and I return the Enterprise vehicle to the Auto Dealership parking lot, cautiously parking this to make sure there is enough room surrounding it, and giving it a 'detailed' inspection. The Enterprise Rep was conveniently or incompetently or conspiratorially unavailable for a mutual inspection. The dealership took the key, I paid my bill and drove off. Two hours later I received a call from the Enterprise Rep informing me that I had damage on the vehicle... Guess where... The front bumper... And by the bird crap that I identified earlier.
There was no damage when I inspected it and the Enterprise Rep was not available... No, only when they moved the vehicle from the Dealership to the Enterprise Lot... And they called me five minutes before closing, so that I could not confront their 'con' person to person.
The estimated damage was just less than my $500.00 deductible... interesting? Enterprise filed an insurance claim. The bottom line here is that I have them trapped in their fabrication and phony witnesses. I have enough proof to warrant a complaint to the State Attorney General of which I am in the process. The claim was closed by Enterprise due to pressure by me, the Better Business Bureau and the Auto Dealership... But, a fraudulent insurance claim was made in the obvious con of fleecing the customer for big time additional funds.
Every Enterprise 'young lady' Rep, Manager, and Loss Control Rep that talked to me iterated the words "May we remind you of your contractual obligation"... That's all the 'fine print' verbage on the other side of the invoice... They won't/can't explain it, but it gives them license to drive the rental vehicle under your insurance coverage... Or for that matter, even damage the vehicle.
Moral of Story: Don't trust what the Enterprise people tell you... Make sure that an Enterprise Rep is there for inspection upon return... And return it directly to an Enterprise Lot, not to a 'staging' area like a Dealership. They played me like a violin, but now I'm leading the orchestra and it won't be pretty for them. For the sake of credibility... I'm a high level Management Consultant to much larger firms than Enterprise.
Joe
Holland, Pennsylvania
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