False windshield damages charge on VISA

ComplaintsCar RentalNational Citer S.A.

Complaint

0
Dan Leonik
Country: France
I had arranged a car rental with National Citer at the Roissy Airport in Paris through a third party Transhire Worldwide April 6 - April 13, 2009 (1 week). The rental was prepaid by cvoucher, but they still took my VISA credit card imprint which is not unusal in my experience.
Renting a car internationally is always a paranoid experience, and so one is extra careful. I returned the car to the proper parking garage level, undamaged and full of fuel. There was no one to check the car in as in the USA, and this seems typical in Europe.
I turned the car keys in at the desk where I got them and proceeded to take the train to Paris for my last few days of vacation. After I returned home, I saw that Citer S.A. had charged me $942 on my VISA. I immediately called Chase VISA and asked them to take that charge off since I didn't know what it was. This they did.
After inquiring to Transhire, they finally responded and said that there was 'windshield damage' and to contact Citer about it. Citer S.A. filed false windshield damages onto my Chase VISA credit card. I suppose they want either me or VISA to pay them for something that did not happen under my rental time period.

Comments

  • 0
    Mitch Man
    A similar thing happened to me.  I rented a car from National/Citer at Charles De Gaul airport on April 3, 2009 and dropped it off on April 6th.  

    I barely drove the car.  I was in France for my wife's brother's funeral.  We drove from Paris to Laon and back.  There was no damage to the car when I returned it.  The problem was, they have no staff to check in the car.  So, all I could do was drop off the keys at the counter and hope for the best.  Ten days later I get a bill for $150 charged to American Express for a spare tire.  

    So, I contact the rental car company.  First, I'm told that I'm being charged for a spare tire.  Somebody stole the spare tire? When? Where? Then Citer forwards me a receipt for changing a tire (not a replacement spare) from "Jaw's Racing Designs" in Paris for 111.68 Euros.  "Jaw's Racing Designs" are you serious?   When I ask them what this has to do with me? All I'm told is, "this is a valid charge."

    Now, I'm trying to contest the charge through American Express.  It's a nightmare.  It's been going on for two months.  To date, they can't tell me which tire was damaged or how it was damaged.  Just that I owe them $150 for a tire they changed five days after I dropped off the car.
  • 0
    paul mcshane
    I hired a car from nationl/citier at Biarritz.  The sales assistant could not speak any english and unknown to me I had agreed to a 1000eur excess.  At our accommodation unknown to us the car was damaged.  However the damage was minimal with no pain damage. I was convinced a cyclist had hit the car while it was stationery. I have received an invoice for 600 euro. I am currently constesting the validity of this extensive amount.
  • 0
    Dan Leonik
    Well, after months of emails and filing complaints National/Citer finally admitted that I wasn't responsible. No apology, no explanation. This should convince everyone that they are an evil company to be avoided at all costs. I noticed that their Third Party U.K. instrument, Transhire Worldwide, collapsed due to lack of funds this year:
    http://www.cheaperholidays.com/travel/transhi ... ses/2010/03/29/
  • 0
    Al
    The tire charge is quite normal...biggest rip off in europe. I travel extensivly with work and always try to pick retrun flights around when the rental offices are opne and can inspect and close the rental deal.

    Best way around it if you cant get a final inspection is to always take the full insurance...a rip off in its self but it gives you peace of mind and you know exactly the final charge.

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