*** Western Clave 2004 Fallout ****

Almost four months after the Western Clave I recvd a call letting me know
that I owed $1900 for damages to the rental car (actually truck) I had while
I was attending the Western Clave this past year. There was no damage to
the truck, I am sure of that, but having a tough problem disputing the
claim. Seems as though Alamo wants to "pursue the claim" despite my dispute,
and if I don't pay they will report it to the credit agencies.

I'm really at a loss of what to do, my insurance company will cover it minus
the $250 deductible, but I really don't want to pay a cent since I did not
damage the car. I don't understand how they could file a claim against
my credit if I am disputing their claim, and that they would have to take me
to court before that.

Where is the requirement for proof here? Do they have to prove I did it, or
do I have to prove I didn't?

I'm thinking that I could pay the claim for now, and initiate a civil case
against them, but it would be a hardship for me to prove I didn't do
anything, as I don't have any confirmation from Alamo when I dropped the car
that it was damage free. Their process, at least in Jackson Hole, is to do
that evaluation after it is dropped off and the customer is sent on their
way. They say they discovered the damage at this point, when they took the
car back for this evaluation and routine prep for the next customer. All of
their documentation is handwritten, so I don't know if they have manipulated
the documentation, of if the damage occurred in the short time between when
I dropped it off, and it was serviced (those are the only two possibilities
I have thought of). I would hope it is the latter, that it's a honest
mistake by the company, but I beginning to think otherwise as I get no where
with them. It may just be easier to pin some damage on someone from out of
town, since it would be very difficult from them to challenge the claim
remotely.

There is some other stuff that just doesn't add up either, like that they
waited almost 4 months to inform me of the damage (why wouldn't they do it
immediately?), and just as significant, that the car wasn't fixed until
September, 2 months after my rental.

Any advice would be welcome, but if nothing else, always make sure you have
some kind of coverage on your rental care (which I did but would be totally
screwed if not). Also, as a favor, next time you rent from Alamo, take
special care of that company's cars.

The only possible good to come out of this may be that if I do need to show
up for court to win this dispute, I would much rather spend my money on the
trip out there, then to give it to the low life scumbags at Alamo in Jackson
Hole. This would mean I could get some more fishing time in the area. Who
knows, maybe the case could time out for the Western Clave in 2005.

Mike

On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 12:09:26 -0500, "Mike Makela" ten.tsacmoc@alekamm wrote:

Almost four months after the Western Clave I recvd a call letting me know
that I owed $1900 for damages to the rental car (actually truck) I had while
I was attending the Western Clave this past year. There was no damage to
the truck, I am sure of that, but having a tough problem disputing the
claim. Seems as though Alamo wants to "pursue the claim" despite my dispute,
and if I don't pay they will report it to the credit agencies.

That blows. What kind of damage are they claiming? It would be interesting to
see if the person who rented it after you reported any damage when they picked
the car up.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com/ - photo galleries
http://www.chocphoto.com/roff

"Charlie Choc" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 12:09:26 -0500, "Mike Makela" ten.tsacmoc@alekamm wrote:

Almost four months after the Western Clave I recvd a call letting me know
that I owed $1900 for damages to the rental car (actually truck) I had while
I was attending the Western Clave this past year. There was no damage to
the truck, I am sure of that, but having a tough problem disputing the
claim. Seems as though Alamo wants to "pursue the claim" despite my dispute,
and if I don't pay they will report it to the credit agencies.

That blows. What kind of damage are they claiming? It would be interesting to
see if the person who rented it after you reported any damage when they picked
the car up.
--
Charlie...


I believe I would find out if they rented the car out after you turned it in, before
they fixed the supposed damage?

If so, I'd say that they don't have a leg to stand on. Also, try to find out if they
tried to get another renter to pay for the same damages before you?

Mark

"Guyz-N-Flyz" wrote in message
...

"Charlie Choc" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 12:09:26 -0500, "Mike Makela" ten.tsacmoc@alekamm
wrote:

Almost four months after the Western Clave I recvd a call letting me know
that I owed $1900 for damages to the rental car (actually truck) I had
while
I was attending the Western Clave this past year. There was no damage to
the truck, I am sure of that, but having a tough problem disputing the
claim. Seems as though Alamo wants to "pursue the claim" despite my
dispute,
and if I don't pay they will report it to the credit agencies.

That blows. What kind of damage are they claiming? It would be
interesting to
see if the person who rented it after you reported any damage when they
picked
the car up.
--
Charlie...


I believe I would find out if they rented the car out after you turned it
in, before they fixed the supposed damage?

If so, I'd say that they don't have a leg to stand on. Also, try to find
out if they tried to get another renter to pay for the same damages before
you?

Mark

Working on getting this info from them, but another strange thing was they
included in the total claim amount was a charge for loss of rental of 10
days. The cars was fixed two months later, so not sure where they came up
with that.

"Charlie Choc" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 12:09:26 -0500, "Mike Makela" ten.tsacmoc@alekamm
wrote:

Almost four months after the Western Clave I recvd a call letting me know
that I owed $1900 for damages to the rental car (actually truck) I had
while
I was attending the Western Clave this past year. There was no damage to
the truck, I am sure of that, but having a tough problem disputing the
claim. Seems as though Alamo wants to "pursue the claim" despite my
dispute,
and if I don't pay they will report it to the credit agencies.

That blows. What kind of damage are they claiming? It would be interesting
to
see if the person who rented it after you reported any damage when they
picked
the car up.
--
Charlie...

Not sure if Alamo would give up this info, as I have been working with some
agency representing Alamo, and they wouldn't give up any information.

"Charlie Choc" wrote in message


That blows. What kind of damage are they claiming?

Oh yeah, the damages indicated was "Dented and Scraped from Passenger side
front door to pass side rear fender"

There's no way they would have missed $1900 worth of damage when I turned it
in. They did check the mileage and gas gauge while I was there and the
agent actually came around that side of the car.

Mike

On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 00:20:08 -0500, "Mike Makela" ten.tsacmoc@alekamm wrote:


"Charlie Choc" wrote in message


That blows. What kind of damage are they claiming?

Oh yeah, the damages indicated was "Dented and Scraped from Passenger side
front door to pass side rear fender"

There's no way they would have missed $1900 worth of damage when I turned it
in. They did check the mileage and gas gauge while I was there and the
agent actually came around that side of the car.

Seems like the fact you returned it to a person rather than just dropping off
the keys would work in your favor.

I got rear-ended by some Canadians in the Keys once and, even though they got
a ticket and the cop gave me a copy, I still had to pay for the damage. That
all happened when I turn the car in, though. To fight it I would have had to
go to court in Miami, so I just paid up.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com/ - photo galleries
http://www.chocphoto.com/roff

On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 00:20:08 -0500, "Mike Makela" ten.tsacmoc@alekamm wrote:


"Charlie Choc" wrote in message


That blows. What kind of damage are they claiming?

Oh yeah, the damages indicated was "Dented and Scraped from Passenger side
front door to pass side rear fender"

There's no way they would have missed $1900 worth of damage when I turned it
in. They did check the mileage and gas gauge while I was there and the
agent actually came around that side of the car.

Seems like the fact you returned it to a person rather than just dropping off
the keys would work in your favor.

I got rear-ended by some Canadians in the Keys once and, even though they got
a ticket and the cop gave me a copy, I still had to pay for the damage. That
all happened when I turn the car in, though. To fight it I would have had to
go to court in Miami, so I just paid up.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com/ - photo galleries
http://www.chocphoto.com/roff

Mike Makela wrote:

I'm really at a loss of what to do, my insurance company will cover it minus
the $250 deductible, but I really don't want to pay a cent since I did not
damage the car. I don't understand how they could file a claim against
my credit if I am disputing their claim, and that they would have to take me
to court before that.

Let your insurance company handle it, but tell them that you suspect the
claim is bogus.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"rw" wrote in message
...
Mike Makela wrote:

I'm really at a loss of what to do, my insurance company will cover it minus the
$250 deductible, but I really don't want to pay a cent since I did not damage the
car. I don't understand how they could file a claim against my credit if I am
disputing their claim, and that they would have to take me to court before that.

Let your insurance company handle it, but tell them that you suspect the claim is
bogus.

I expect that is exactly what the rental company wants him to do, since the insurance
company will likely pay it off, disputed or not, and Mike's insurance will likely go
up as a result. I'd **** and moan for a good while first. Why give the *******s the
satisfaction,, if the car wasn't damage?

Mark --who doesn't have a money tree, presently.--