Edit: New Readers to this topic can join it with the latest issue as of June 2022 by jumping to post 200.
A floor in CarNextDoor business model - First time user - took insurance - The car was obviously damaged when parked and not in my possession or use / Now, I’m hit with a $500 bill for damage / I did not take good enough pictures - BEWARE
First time user - did not take the time to read the contract/agreement. I just clicked through as you do.
I rented a Hyundai Van from Chatswood - Car Next Door is pushing correctness and that their cars/vans are managed and the owners take responsibility for their cars…
My first experience was with my brother inlaw 2 weeks before my rental. He got a red Mercedes van it had 4 x bald tyres and was beaten up. But it did the job, it was cheap and convenient at the time. My Van was better but - the vehicle did not have a 1/4 tank of petrol. The vehicle was dirty, the engine was noisy. It was a diesel and had an exhaust issue at the engine (possibly a gasket) it was not overheating so I used it.
My brother in law told me that after he suggested Car Next Door to me, he received an email stating he damaged the car. He sent them an email and has not heard anything back. He now regrets suggesting the service to me. ( i do too)
Re my rental - I rang to tell the owner and let him know about the petrol and the state of the car. He seemed appreciative. He said, “oh I haven’t seen that car for a while” (he had a few cars he does this with in different suburbs) He said he would check it out.
10days after the rental I receive an email from this company CarNextDoor saying I damaged the car/Van. I rang M - the owner and he said it was Car next door that picked it up, not him.
He said to take it up with them. Car Next Door tells me it was M - the owner who brought it to their attention???
I used the car for the day and returned it with more petrol than it had and in the condition, I found it in.
One of their stories goes -supposedly the owner took photos and there was new damage that occurred and was apparent in the photos from the next user. And, because my final photos did not shot that particular part of the car, I am now liable. The car was covered in scrapes and dings to start with.
I want to know: Did the owner or Car Next Door choose me due to the fact that I took out the $15.00 extra insurance?? $500 excess instead of $2000?? Now I am fighting them as my photos do not show that area and the new damage I did not do.
This absolutely sucks as I am a 55-year-old honest person. If I did it, I’d pay for it.
I am taking this to the Department of Fair Trade NSW. Yes, I did not take the time to read the fine print about taking the pictures, I just clicked and clicked my way through as you do…I just wanted to hire a van to help out a friend in need that was moving house.
Even spoken to the “damage review people” who just kept saying it comes down to the pictures.
I will never use this mob again and will use thrifty or some other car rental place / basically they are saying I’m lying. Or as they say, the pictures don’t reflect the car damage / which implies I took the pictures that way on purpose.
I never would have thought an Australian owned company would do this type of “bad business” looking for loopholes.
And, have an American call centre?? who knows, its all about their dollars $$$$
Shame on you - Car Next Door.