My rule from reading Consumerist.

Never sign something that says it is your fault when you didn't do it.

That being said, did they send you the bill or just charge the credit card they had on file?

I never would have signed it. You just gave away your only bargaining chip.

Your only choice now is to get this taken to court, imo. Otherwise they will definitely place collections against you and trash your credit report. You signed one document stating there was no damage, and then another stating there was damage caused while you had it. I'm not sure if you can do anything, except start calling local news channels and posting this on as many related blogs as you can in an effort to create negative publicity.

So what's the alternative to signing the initial form? Would they have let him rent the car in the first place?

@tomdtom: No, he has to sign that first form. I would have never signed the second form, which I'm assuming acknowledged responsibility for the damages. What are they going to do, arrest you?

Yeah that sucks, I'd have told him I refuse to sign for this damage that was pre-existing and not specifically pointed out to me and left.

Yo.

I work as a vendor to the car rental industry. Nothing that gives me any inside knowledge to this issue.

I do know that this issue is much like arguing about a pre-existing condition of an apartment you're moving out of but failed to note. It's really up to you to make sure that doesn't happen.

My point, though, is renting a car scares the crap out of me for this reason. It's so easy to be liable - as I'm sure you've painfully noticed. One dent, a minor accident, etc.

I also know from my distant 'insider knowledge' that the rental insurance isn't akin to the Extended Warranty scam. Instead, they figure out the statistical loss/damage cost and price accordingly.

That being said, I ALWAYS buy their insurance. I recently near-totaled a Budget car and simply dropped it off and went on my merry way. No contacting my insurance agency or credit card. No calls, no fuss. Money well spent.

Sometimes, it's best to pay for piece of mind. Had you forked over the $12 or so for LDW, you'd be nice and relaxed now.

I think the more important question is how the hell a 23-year old is getting an all-expenses paid trip by a company that hasn't even hired him yet

really? you'd have left? and walked to the airport with your bags?

sorry i dont have anything more constructive to offer, but surely $500 is not the going rate to repair a tiny ding. isnt there some sort of fair rate provision, like there is for fees apartments can charge you for damages?

@redhelix: Happens all the time. I've been paid to go to several cities around the country for job interviews over the past few years, and I'm 27. When companies are going to be paying $50-80K/year, paying about $800 to make 100% that its the right person is a cheap insurance policy.

well, your pretty well screwed. You signed that second document. If anything you should have used a George Bush style signing statement. Some wording like
"this damage was not pointed out to me when I rented the vehicle therfore I am signing this document under protest." At least give the lawyer or credit card company something to work with when you don't pay.

I always write "minor dings and scratches" on the condition report, even if there aren't any. I haven't been called on it yet.

@redhelix:

All my job interviews in/after college were like this... this is pretty standard.

(almost) happened to me over the summer via Enterprise, rented a SUV with a huge (8" x 2") scrap in the front bumper cover, after he waves me through "Its clean" and was obviously trying to get out of there before 6PM, guy was like, "oh yeah that was there already". Well no s*** Sherlock, and you would have raped me if I turned it in like that.

You can get a ding like he's describing repaired for under $100 with paintless repair places. They're soaking him plain and simple.

When I rent cars, I follow the agent around, looking closely at EVERY SINGLE possible ding or dent, scrape or scratch, inside and out. I take pictures with my cell phone of anything, and make sure the agent notes any damage on the form before I take the car off the lot. The last time I had a car the agent didn't want to note some black scrapes near the trunk -- those are just luggage marks, she said, we don't count those. Well, then just include them on the form anyway, thank you very much (she did).

It's your responsibility to verify the car is not damaged, or that any pre-existing damage is noted properly. Yeah, it takes longer, but think of how much time you'd have saved if you spent 10 extra minutes before you took the car, never mind the money.

Anyway, painful lesson learned.

Next thought: Let's pretend this damage WAS caused while the poster had the car (and we assume it wasn't his fault). Whose responsibility is it now -- Shawn's, or the employer's?

If he already HAD the job, the employer would most certainly pay for damages incurred on a company rental. I would think concept ought to apply here, too.

But SHOULD he put this onto the employer-to-be is another question entirely.

@cmdr.sass: I like that idea, because there are almost certainly ones that you wouldn't notice (like what happened w/ Shawn).

I gotta remember that.

When renting a car ALWAYS take photos of the car before and after.
Most everybody has a camera on their phone.

Try to include the rental agency personnel in the photos if possible.

This saved me in a HUGE dispute with Budget- in which damages and cleaning fees were falsely claimed by an employee. I was able to present photos of the vehicle on pick up and drop off.

About 6 months AFTER this was settled, the same Budget agency tried to put through the charges again. I disputed and it went away. I then had my CC account number changed.

MK

@cmdr.sass: Wow, I'll have to do that from now on.

@Shane112358:

If he wouldn't have signed the second document, they probably wouldn't have allowed him to rent the car.

Why is he being billed when he didn't pay for the car?

I once rented a Chevy HHR (orange)... it wasn't my idea... looked like a really gay car. Anyway, it was a piece of $#!+. When I was unloading something out of the back, the hatch dropped on my head. I got all pissed, slammed it shut and punched the hatch. Yes, I actually punched a car. The funny part was, it left a real nice dent!

I was able to roll it out (mostly) by popping an access hole and sticking a handle from a broom in and pushing it out. It still looked like crap... When this happens to you, you need to get the car wet and throw a bunch of mud on it. Get the whole car nice and dirty.

It's even better in the winter when it's all slushy and snowy outside.

One time (before I got preferred status at most of the rental car outlets) I rented a car at a small airport. The car they gave me was covered in snow. The person at the counter had been a real jerk to me earlier (not a good people person) so I made him clean off the ENTIRE car before I would sign the paperwork saying there was no damage.

@tomdtom: Wrong signing time. He signed to get the car and then signed a SECOND time..thus accepting guilt and backing himself into a corner.

@tomdtom: Umm, I already said, this document he signed was when he dropped the car off. He was finished and headed home. All he needed to do is not sign the document and go get on his plane. The first document was the one he needed to sign to get the rental in the first place.

Another reason not to rent from Enterprise. Never had Hertz even take more than a cursory "are all four wheels attached" look at the car before giving me my receipt and sending me on my way. The one time there was damage (I rear-ended someone at 5mph, totally my fault - hood was pretty well crumpled and the bumper bashed), the guy took a look at the car, said "don't do that again," and gave me a new car. Credit card company's insurance got billed, I never paid a penny.

You might want to check out this website: [www.failingenterprise.com]

I'd start by being calm and rational in further dealings with Enterprise. There's no crime against humanity here. Enterprise certainly could show some consideration, but the paper trail with Shawn's signatures says he's responsible and obligated to foot the bill.

So he needs a favor from Enterprise and it helps to ask nicely. Flipping out on the foot soldier only makes him think, "I hate people and I really hope you enjoy your $500 bill."

I was in a similar situation a few years ago and I contacted my auto insurer even though I didn't have any rental coverage on my policy. State Farm contacted the rental company and worked with them to get the bill down to less than half its original amount. The amounts are so high because the agreement allows them to collect for repairs AND 'time in the shop' - so if a repair (which they won't have done) takes 4 days, then you just rented the car for four more days.

When someone signs that it isn't damaged, then signs that it was damaged while they had it, they're on the hook for the damage. I realized that when I went through this. Admit you owe them something, and negotiate them down to something that's at least more reasonable.

What baffles me is this: if Enterprise is so meticulous about damages that they chase you down for the cash, then why are any of their cars going out with damage? Are they taking the money and not fixing the cars?

Check with your potential employer, mine has a deal with the rental agencies, the insurance is rolled into the cost of the rental.

Final thought, Enterprise is a bit predatory. I rented some car a few years back, they give me the paperwork that shows no damage. When I get to the car the windshield has a huge crack/star. I go back inside and add it to the paperwork. When I take it back the agent makes a beeline to the car, comes back in with the bad news " the windshield has damage". I pointed out the note on the paperwork and she looks quite dis appointed. My guess is that they were trying to "take" for the damages.

On the surface, I'd say you are screwed!

How interesting is it that the charges came to right below $500, which I'd assume to be most peoples deductibles.

I always take photos when I rent from Enterprise. If nothing else, it makes them nervous. I like to get the rental agent in the photo to establish preexisting conditions.

I rented a van last year from Enterprise on South Beach (Miami). It was a small location with an off-site garage, so after you wait in the line to get your rental, you have to wait another 20-30 minutes for a driver to come around and drop off your car. It took about an hour overall, by which point I was happy to just get out of there, so when the driver came with the van, I just signed the papers and went on my way.

About a block away, I notice the gas tank is only 3/4 full, even though they marked it as full on the paperwork. I didn't go back (parking was a nightmare there), but it definitely wasn't an isolated incidence. While I was waiting in line at the counter, someone who had rented a car about 30 minutes before me stormed into the office, complaining their tank was only 1/4 full even though Enterprise had marked it "Full" on the paperwork. I had forgotten all about that by the time my car arrived.

After I got to the place I was staying with the van, I decide to check how the rear seats fold down, etc., and it was the most disgusting thing I've ever seen in a car. There were cheetos between the seats and on the floor, sunflower seed shells on the door panels, sticky residue all over the cup holders, pretzels, opened bags of snacks on the floor. I ended up having to stop at a gas station to vacuum the car and clean every surface with disinfectant wipes. I didn't bother complaining because the rate I got was so much less than all of the other rental places in the area were charging, but I'm never accepting a car again without looking through it no matter how much of a hurry I'm in.

did you not get the extra insurance? i do when i rent from enterprise. a while back, i accidently backed into a truck. i really dented the car. i returned the car and didn't pay a single cent more. they totally forgave me for the whole thing.

enterprise, for the most part is good. i really can't see where it would be enterprises' fault. did they drive car after you dropped it off but before the inspection?

Same thing happened to me with Advantage Rent-a-Car. Rented a PT Cruiser, they claimed damage done to the roof and hood of the car. They didn't notify me when I turned it in, I just got a bill from a Subrogation Management Team (a pseudo-collections agency) for around $3500. Of course, the nitwits at SMT couldn't do anything, and the branch manager told me there were meteor sized dents in the roof after I turned it in. Ridiculous. Luckily both my credit card and my car insurance cover rentals (I declined the Advantage Damage Policy). So I had nothing to lose.

Long story short, after about 6 months of back and forth with customer service, loss recovery specialists, etc, I started writing letters. I wrote to the CFO and basically hammered his office with telephone calls. When he didn't respond, I wrote to the CEO and called his CFO unprofessional. Finally I received personal attention (and phone calls) from the CEO after I threatened to go to my local news media.

In the end, there were discrepancies in the paperwork Advantage sent me, and those saved me. If I were you, I would carefully scour all the paperwork they sent. Check dates, times, signatures, mileage anything that might help your case. And forget the lower level people. Go straight to the execs or PR people. Go to Google Finance, find Enterprise's listing, and pound their corporate office with calls. Don't forget to remind them of the article in the New York Times a few years ago singling out Enterprise for participating in exactly this type of behavior as a cost-recovery strategy. In the end, if they do sue you (they won't...they'll just sell the debt to a collections agency), the onus of proof is on them.

Good luck. My case was extraordinarily frustrating, but satisfying once I finally got it dismissed. It's tempting, but don't give in. This is a corporate cost-recovery strategy designed to make up for depreciating value of cars in their vehicle fleet.

Similar to what CMDR.SASS suggested, I start at the front of the car and point out even the most minor of scratches. By the time they get to the front door, they just draw big circles on each of the doors and the quarter panels & front & rear (unless the car just rolled off the delivery truck, it will always have SOME minor damage.

@sulu9999: That is the saddest website ever. Talk about someone unable to let go and get on with their life.

I can't say that renting a car has ever been a pleasant experience, but I've rented from Enterprise in the past several times and have never had a problem. Off the top of my head, I've rented from them in Boston, San Francisco, Albany, Raleigh, Los Angeles, and DC. Never had any problems. Your mileage may vary, of course.

As in any transaction involving expensive objects, if you go in blind and don't pay attention and don't ask questions and sign on the line in a hurry to get going, you'll get burned eventually.

My wife rented a car from Enterprise last year and I almost divorced her for being so stupid.

I always rent from Hertz (3-4 times a year). They have never nailed me for minor dings and scratches. With #1 Gold plan, it's easy pick-up and easy drop off. I love a no hassle rental, even if the base rate is more than some of these cheap-ass places that can offer low rates because of crap like this.

I wonder if they even fixed it or just nailed the next sucker for the same "damage."

@humbleish: I've always wondered (but never had the courage/anger to follow through) , OK, the tanks not full ? I'll be right back. Tap water will rise the float just as well as gas will...

I'd have a talk with the (potential) employer. The company (if it is anything like my corporate behemoth) likely has an exclusive or preferred arrangement wth the rental car company.

In my case, our company uses Enterprise. If we had this problem, one phone call would clear it up in a hurry.

At a previous employer we were given upgrades that turned out not to be complimentary - they wound up charging us for it. So we had abou 6 rentals between three people over several months that ran up to $1000+ in upgrade fees. We told our expense departent that we were told the upgrades were complimentary and they said nothing about additional charges. One angry phone call from corporate had all the extra fees immediately dropped.

At the very least, it will also show how the potential employer would treat its people. Going to bat for a job applicant would be a plus, would it not?

Enteprise is one of the biggest sleaze ball companies ever. They pull crap like this all the time.

Personally I hate them because I was hit by a driver behind the wheel of one of their cars many years ago. Even though the driver had bought extra insurance that covered him up to a million dollars, Enterprise refused to pay for me and my wife's medical bills, and they also refused to pay to fix our car (even though we were clearly rear ended and no one ever denied their driver was at fault). In the end they offered us $500 total, meanwhile my wife and I ended up footing the bill for about 15 grand in medical bills.

I'll never rent from enterprise, and strongly suggest you all do the same.

l

I have several friends that work for companies like Budget, Alamo, etc. They all agree that Enterprise is the worst place to rent a car, both from their experience and from the horror stories their customers tell them. Everyone agrees Hertz is the best, even if it is fractionally more expensive. Oh, and Enterprise pays their workers ~$10 per hour (4 year degree required to work in sales) with 5 OR LESS vacation days to start. Just don't go to Enterprise.

I rented from Enterprise once about 10 years ago. I was working out of town for 6 months and had a long term rental. One night I backed into another car. My rental had the rear bumper cover badly scratched, paint chipped, do dings or dents though. I went over to Pep Boys, got some spray paint to match, cleaned the bumper and painted it. Still looked terrible, but not as bad. Well I kept the car for another 2 months and never washed it once. By the time I took it back to Enterprise the exterior was filthy. They walked around it, said everything was fine and I was on my way. Never heard a thing. But I probably could have paid for the car with what the rental cost.

Never, ever had a problem with Enterprise.

And to Absolute: If you don't like the money or benefits, don't take the job! If you do take it, don't bitch about the benefits you AGREED to accept. No one hires you at gunpoint.

Definitely contact the employer. Since they are corporate bed buddies with each other, there was likely insurance already put on the car.
At my place of work, we get corporate credit cards and all that jazz, so when we rent cars, we have to put it on the corporate card. We also have to make reservations through a special system. Since my company and a couple of rental car companies have some sort of secret blood pact with each other, the insurance is always taken care of, even though they still try to upsell, thinking that we weren't informed of it several times.
So, I wouldn't sweat it. Contact your future boss, explain things rationally as you did above, and you're likely good to go.