I rented a car from Enterprise in Munich
I WISH I HAD NOT.This is my story. A cautionary tale.On 2023-10-15 I rented, from the Enterprise office near the Hauptbahnhoff in Munich, a BMW X3 (2022) for one day to take a trip to Regensburg.The rental cost was 125 Euros.I returned the car, without incident, on the same day I rented it.I have now been charged over 2000 Euros.
Oct 14
Drove to Regensburg and then back, with no incidents of any kind.Returning on the same day (around 21:00), carefully parked the car in the return deck near Hauptbahnhof and put the keys in the key drop location.
Oct 15
Receive an email: "Bitte beachten Sie den beigefügten Schadensbericht zu Ihrem Mietfahrzeug." which means please note the attached damage report for your rental vehicle.They claim two scratches, one on the bumper, one on the driver's side door.It isn't even possible for the driver's door to have been scratched; I parked next to a wall when I dropped the car off.
Oct 15 (cont'd)
A new invoice is sent to me, which now includes refueling cost (reasonable) and a 250 Euro damage / liability deductible charge.Total: 451.44 Euros
It is here that my friends in Germany inform me that renting cars is not like in the US. I discover I should have taken before and after pictures and videos of the rental because this nonsense (apparently fake damage charges) is common. Even with Enterprise who we normally would trust in the US.It seems like the issue is over. I got charged an extra 250 Euros. I learned something new. I can live with this. 250 Euros, to me, is not worth spending time to fight over.Just avoid Enterprise in the future and consider it a lesson learned.Right?Wrong...
Nov 15
"A foreign transaction was made on your card"With no notice, or explanation, no email, a 1700 Euro charge is made on my credit card.Note that I have still not received any actual proof of damage except Enterprise's claims. No photos, no receipts for repair, etc.Luckily I have a big brother called American Express who can handle unsubstantiated charges, so I finally decide to file a claim.
Nov 17
American Express needs more information to go forward with the claim. Basically proof that anything actually happened. Let's go.Forwarding this to Enterprise, let's see what they do with it.
What Next
To American Express: Thank you for backing me on this; let's see it through.To Enterprise: Shame on you. Make this right.New updates below...
Dec 21
Enterprise sent me my original rental agreement (I already had this) with a note:"Dear Ladies and Gentlemans,attached you can find the requested Document.Für Rückfragen stehe ich Ihnen gerne zur Verfügung."(For any queries, I am at your disposal.)Unfortunately enterprise ignored my request for photos and / or repair estimates. So I'm following up with a specific request for this.Uploaded proof of my insurance coverage (GEICO) on Oct 15 to the Amex claim as they requested.