I had a car accident on Dec. 8 that totalled my car. My insurance referred me to Enterprise for their covered rental. The day was cold and snowing, near blizzard conditions.
I was picked up from work by one of their employees and driven to the rental facility. I was told there were only 2 cars available, a Dodge Charger or a mini-van. I chose the Charger because my insurance did not cover the complete cost of the van.
At the time of the rental, AJ told me that there would be a $50 deposit which would be refunded when I returned the car. I put that on my debit card. I told them several times it was a debit and would be coming out of my bank account. While standing outside looking at the car, AJ handed me the rental contract, said they had 2 insurance options, Basic or Full and I needed to choose one. I was not given the option to turn down their insurance.
I was not told that I had the right to decline the extra $15 per day insurance, and was not told this was part of my deposit. I was also not told of a return due date. I ended up having the car for 2 weeks while awaiting my insurance company.
I discovered 2 additional $50 charges from Enterprise taken from my bank account. When I called and spoke to AJ, he told me the charges were for "overages" for having the car past the 'due date' and for $15 per day insurance had run out my deposit and they needed another one, which they just helped themselves to without contacting me first.
I returned the car on December 21 and was told there was yet another $120 due! Once again, their claim this was for the $15 per day insurance. Also it was only at this time that they pointed out the fine print (which is impossible to read on the customer copy because of the colored paper they use) that states they can and will charge to a debit card if more money is needed for the rental. They also only at that time pointed out the small area where I could have declined the insurance coverage.
AJ kept me out in the cold and snow while signing the contract. He pointed out a few areas saying "sign here" and "initial here" never explaining what it was for, and I was too cold to ask. I was shivering so bad, I couldn't hold the contract straight to be able to read what I was signing. AJ refused to allow me to go back inside, so I signed and initialed so I could get into the warm car and finally get home.
I feel that Enterprise took advantage of my situation and the bad weather to cheat me into signing for coverages I did not need, and I feel they committed a theft by accessing my bank account without my approval to do so.
I would like the $150 they've already gotten returned as if it weren't for their cheating ways and confusing contract that they wouldn't explain, I would not have had those expenses.
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