UKC

Alicante Car Hire 

Whilst on a recent trip to the Costa Blanca this 'appeared' on the hire car when it was time to hand it back over. It definitely didn't happen when I was driving the car so it either happened when the car was parked at a crag or supermarket...or when the car was being checked over at the car hire place. 

There was a 3 minute period at the car hire firm (Wheego) when the car was unattended by me and my climbing partner.  

My questions are:

1) Is it likely that damage such as this could have occurred by a (presumably) gentle bump in a parking lot? All the parking lots were very empty with lots of space around the car.

2) has anyone else had a similar experience? 

It's hard to tell from the photo but this cut was in the bumper of the car which was made of hard plastic. Any help greatly appreciated. 

We had a similar thing occur when we stayed in Calpe in February.  It looked as if a hole had been made in the bumper with a knife. Not sure where it happened, but I suspect it was when it was parked in a local car park overnight. I'm tempted to assume it was done as an expression of the antitourist feelings, currently arising due to the housing situation,  as the car had a hire car sticker in the rear window.

I had to claim for the damage charges from my annual car hire insurance,  which was a bit of a faff,  but was resolved satisfactorily.

Rub a bit of mud on it and whistle nonchalantly as you hand back the keys. I have actually done this after our driver had spun it off the road.

This is like the chicken and the egg. What came first, Car Hire companies trying to rip of customers, or customers trying to rip off Car Hire companies.

I have this vision, maybe 30 years ago, in a small house in Alicante, a young couple, called Crachitto, with a baby boy called Timmyo, trying to build a business.
Mrs Cratchito walks in and finds Roberto, sobbing.
Why Roberto, whatever is the matter?
Mrs Cratchito, a customer called Ebeneezer, brought a car back, seemed a nice man, one I could trust, the car was a bit dirty, but I trusted him. But when I cleaned the car, he had hidden damage, and because of the cost we cannot afford to shop this week, there will be no Goose for us this Christmas……..
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Looks like it could easily have been caused by catching something rocky whilst reversing. Is the hole where the reversing sensor used to be and has been wiped off at the same time?

You seem to be hinting that the hire company might have damaged their own car to rip you off?

I very much doubt it!

If it's any consolation virtually every trip we go on we have the "did we do that?" conversation on noticing a bit of damage we hadn't spotted before on the car. 

Something hit the car - or the car hit it.

There is no reason to think that the car hire company would or should have been involved.

Nice story and I take your point. But in reality car hire companies just take the small scratches on the chin.

Virtually every car we have ever hired has some minor damage and occasionally something harsher.

As long as its clearly pointed out on the handover sheet there really isn't a problem to either side. I don't think they go round repairing the dings, at great cost, after every hire return.

What’s the warning exactly, that hire cars can get damaged, whilst in your possession?