Thrifty bills customer $2,212 for preexisting damage on a rental
A.
Thrifty shouldn't have charged you a dime — and not just because you had already noted the damage. I'll get to the other reason in a minute.
This is another instance of a company blaming its customer for something that wasn't their fault. When you rent a car, it is essential to carefully document any preexisting damage to avoid being held responsible for it later.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
It sounds like you did everything by the book. You paid for Thrifty's damage waiver, and you noted the damage on the paperwork when you checked out the car. But Thrifty's third-party claims company, PurCo, is claiming that Thrifty lost the paperwork. How convenient!
Advertisement
Could you have done anything differently? Yes. If you ever get another car that's damaged, politely ask for another one. I've seen too many cases where an employee assures a customer that 'it's fine' only for them to receive a bill for repairs later.
You could have also taken 'before' and 'after' pictures. I didn't see any as part of your claim, and they might have helped establish that the damage was there before you rented the car.
Advertisement
Why wasn't PurCo listening to you? Your bill included a $400 'administrative fee,' which is what PurCo charges to handle a claim. I wasn't there when your case came in, but if I had to guess, I'd say PurCo didn't want to lose the business.
But your case was a slam dunk. Not only did you have written proof of the preexisting damage, you also had a second defense. The dates of your rental didn't align with the dates on the claim.
You could have tried to resolve this on your own by contacting Thrifty's customer service executives. I list their names and contact information on my consumer advocacy website, Elliott.org. I also have the names and numbers of the executives at the claims company, PurCo Fleet Services.
I contacted Thrifty on your behalf. A representative reviewed your file and agreed that you should not have been charged for the damage. The representative contacted PurCo and requested that it close your claim.
Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy (elliottadvocacy.org), a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him at elliottadvocacy.org/help/.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Thrifty bills customer $2,212 for preexisting damage on a rental
A. Thrifty shouldn't have charged you a dime — and not just because you had already noted the damage. I'll get to the other reason in a minute. This is another instance of a company blaming its customer for something that wasn't their fault. When you rent a car, it is essential to carefully document any preexisting damage to avoid being held responsible for it later. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up It sounds like you did everything by the book. You paid for Thrifty's damage waiver, and you noted the damage on the paperwork when you checked out the car. But Thrifty's third-party claims company, PurCo, is claiming that Thrifty lost the paperwork. How convenient! Advertisement Could you have done anything differently? Yes. If you ever get another car that's damaged, politely ask for another one. I've seen too many cases where an employee assures a customer that 'it's fine' only for them to receive a bill for repairs later. You could have also taken 'before' and 'after' pictures. I didn't see any as part of your claim, and they might have helped establish that the damage was there before you rented the car. Advertisement Why wasn't PurCo listening to you? Your bill included a $400 'administrative fee,' which is what PurCo charges to handle a claim. I wasn't there when your case came in, but if I had to guess, I'd say PurCo didn't want to lose the business. But your case was a slam dunk. Not only did you have written proof of the preexisting damage, you also had a second defense. The dates of your rental didn't align with the dates on the claim. You could have tried to resolve this on your own by contacting Thrifty's customer service executives. I list their names and contact information on my consumer advocacy website, I also have the names and numbers of the executives at the claims company, PurCo Fleet Services. I contacted Thrifty on your behalf. A representative reviewed your file and agreed that you should not have been charged for the damage. The representative contacted PurCo and requested that it close your claim. Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy ( a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@ or get help by contacting him at
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Kourtney Kardashian, Walgreens, eyeing bankrupt Rite Aid's assets: report
Pharmacy chain Walgreens and reality star turned entrepreneur Kourtney Kardashian are among those picking over the remaining assets in Rite Aid's bankruptcy, according to two people familiar with the matter. In addition to Walgreens, brand management companies Authentic Brands Group, WHP Global and Marquee Brands have been evaluating Rite Aid's intellectual property and potentially its loyalty program, according to the people who asked not to be named because the process is private. All three brand management companies have bought the IP of other retailers out of bankruptcy. 3 Jourtney Kardashian, co-founder of Lemme and owner of wellness and lifestyle website Poosh, has expressed interest in Rite Aid's ice cream brand Thrifty, sources said. REUTERS Authentic Brands, which owns Reebok and is a Saks Fifth Avenue investor, bought the IP of fast-fashion chain Forever 21 and luxury seller Barneys out of bankruptcy. WHP Global resurrected Toys 'R' Us following its 2017 bankruptcy, while Marquee acquired fashion retailer BCBG Max Azria Group out of bankruptcy. Kardashian, co-founder of gummy vitamin maker Lemme and owner of wellness and lifestyle website Poosh, has expressed interest in Rite Aid's ice cream brand Thrifty, the people said. Rite Aid, which operates about 1,200 stores and has around 8 million customers, filed for bankruptcy in May for the second time in two years. US Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan already approved store closures and a sale of customer prescription files to 13 buyers including CVS Health and Walgreens. Brand management firms like Authentic, Marquee and WHP typically buy a brand's IP and then license it to operating partners which have the manufacturing, design and sales responsibilities. The pharmacy chain's Thrifty ice cream brand is sold by the scoop at counters in certain Rite Aid locations or by the carton at Rite Aid and other retailers nationwide. 3 Rite Aid, which operates about 1,200 stores and has around 8 million customers, filed for bankruptcy in May for the second time in two years. REUTERS Thrifty launched in 1940 at a small factory in West Hollywood and counts several celebrities as customers, including Kardashian, who could buy the brand by herself or with a partner, the people said. Some consumer-focused private equity firms are also eyeing Thrifty, the sources said. Rite Aid, Walgreens, Authentic Brands, and WHP declined to comment. Marquee Brands and representatives for Kardashian did not respond to requests for comment. 3 The bankruptcy judge already approved store closures and a sale of customer prescription files to 13 buyers including CVS Health and Walgreens. AFP via Getty Images The current bid deadline for the remaining assets is June 18 at 5 p.m. ET. Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid has struggled under a high debt load, inflationary pressures and increased competition.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Walgreens, Authentic Brands, Kourtney Kardashian among those evaluating Rite Aid assets, sources say
By Abigail Summerville NEW YORK (Reuters) -Pharmacy chain Walgreens and reality star turned entrepreneur Kourtney Kardashian are among those picking over the remaining assets in Rite Aid's bankruptcy, according to two people familiar with the matter. In addition to Walgreens, brand management companies Authentic Brands Group, WHP Global and Marquee Brands have been evaluating Rite Aid's intellectual property and potentially its loyalty program, according to the people who asked not to be named because the process is private. All three brand management companies have bought the IP of other retailers out of bankruptcy. Authentic Brands, which owns Reebok and is a Saks Fifth Avenue investor, bought the IP of fast-fashion chain Forever 21 and luxury seller Barneys out of bankruptcy. WHP Global resurrected Toys "R" Us following its 2017 bankruptcy, while Marquee acquired fashion retailer BCBG Max Azria Group out of bankruptcy. Kardashian, co-founder of gummy vitamin maker Lemme and owner of wellness and lifestyle website Poosh, has expressed interest in Rite Aid's ice cream brand Thrifty, the people said. Rite Aid, which operates about 1,200 stores and has around 8 million customers, filed for bankruptcy in May for the second time in two years. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan already approved store closures and a sale of customer prescription files to 13 buyers including CVS Health and Walgreens. Brand management firms like Authentic, Marquee and WHP typically buy a brand's IP and then license it to operating partners which have the manufacturing, design and sales responsibilities. The pharmacy chain's Thrifty ice cream brand is sold by the scoop at counters in certain Rite Aid locations or by the carton at Rite Aid and other retailers nationwide. Thrifty launched in 1940 at a small factory in West Hollywood and counts several celebrities as customers, including Kardashian, who could buy the brand by herself or with a partner, the people said. Some consumer-focused private equity firms are also eyeing Thrifty, the sources said. Rite Aid, Walgreens, Authentic Brands, and WHP declined to comment. Marquee Brands and representatives for Kardashian did not respond to requests for comment. The current bid deadline for the remaining assets is June 18 at 5 p.m. ET (2100 GMT). Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid has struggled under a high debt load, inflationary pressures and increased competition.
