Posted on 01/04/2014 10:17:26 AM PST by rickmichaels
An international car rental company says it wants to work with a Dartmouth, N.S., woman who's on the hook for $47,000 to replace a stolen Mustang convertible.
"We are continuing to review the case," Enterprise spokesman Ned Maniscalco wrote CBC in an email.
"It is our intention to work with the customer and her insurance company to achieve a fair and reasonable outcome."
Kristen Cockerill rented the Mustang GT convertible from Enterprise Rent-a-Car in October. At the end of the two-day term, Cockerill returned the car to the Enterprise rental lot on Portland Street in Dartmouth.
She dropped the car off on a Sunday. Most Enterprise locations in the Halifax region are closed on Sundays and people who need to return vehicles that day are instructed to leave the key in a secure drop box.
When Enterprise employees arrived at work the next day, they found the keys, but no Mustang.
Police determined it was stolen.
In response to Cockerill's situation, Maniscalco wrote CBC, saying: "Keep in mind that a sign prominently displayed on the key drop-box reminds customers that the vehicle remains their responsibility until it can be checked in by an employee."
“I was pretty panicked, wondering where this car went, and actually went in to the shop that evening after work just to speak to [the manager] in person and kind of find out what's happening here,” Cockerill said.
After police contacted her in October, Cockerill didn't hear anything more until Enterprise sent her a bill last Monday for the replacement cost of the car.
"Sometimes customers mistakenly believe if they didn’t personally cause or witness any damage that they are not responsible," Maniscalco wrote.
"This is one of the most common misconceptions," he said "In fact, customers are financially responsible for any damage or theft that occurs during a rental transaction, regardless of fault or negligence — just as if they owned the rental vehicle themselves."
Cockerill's insurer said the car wasn't in her control, so it shouldn't be her problem.
Wrong answer, Enterprise! They’re getting killed on their Facebook page over this.
“a sign prominently displayed on the key drop-box reminds customers that the vehicle remains their responsibility until it can be checked in by an employee.”
YEP...
And her Insurance will only likely pay up to the value of the car she owns, NOT the Mustang, unless she has a rider that specifically covers rental cars.
Most people don’t actually read the rental contracts, and have no idea what their liabilities really are.
Doesn’t Enterprise have their own insurance to cover theft from their own lot?Or are they trying to double dip?
Out-the-door price of $42,500 includes taxes, plate and transfer fees (doc fee of $500 waived also).
“Cockerill’s insurer said the car wasn’t in her control, so it shouldn’t be her problem.”
WRONG...
She is responsible for the car until the location opens, as stated in the rental agreement.
No mention of cameras covering the lot. Did she even return the car, or just the keys?
Not likely.
Enterprise Self-Insures, which means they keep a liability bond on file with each state they operate in. Not sure how it works in Canada.
I’ve had a couple of bad experiences with Enterprise and won’t go near them again.
“Did she even return the car, or just the keys?”
You would be amazed how many times that happens, and the car is later found in the ravine where the renter wrecked it.
What if you purchase Enterprise’s insurance they always try to sell you?
The sign on the key drop-off box gives them a little cover but not much. If they're not going to be there at certain times and expect the customers to drop off the cars, then it's their responsibility to provide adequate security and the consequences should fall on them if they don't, not on her.
The company has a system whereby the renter can drop off the car. It is their system made available to their customers by them. They can shove the bill you know where.
I have too, and I try to steer clear, but situations come up like on one recent trip they were half the cost even of Budget. Still had to put up with the counter guy being a dick, though.
Or you could blame it on your dumb return policy. No security cameras??
Good point, I never thought of that. Must not have whatever the Ford equivalent of On-Star is or LoJack or they’d just call the cops and go get it.
meanwhile, the rental company should have insurance against theft on their own property.
it's up to them to secure their own lot.
That's why your insurance company tells you it's not necessary to buy the insurance offered by the rental company....it's already insured.
When I drop off a rental car, even at an attended facility, I make a point of making a short video of the car, inside and out, all angles, to have a record that the car was good when I dropped it off. If attended, I also record the attendant acknowledging receipt of the car.
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