Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car.

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Thu 22 Nov 2012 10:28
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - lordwoody

My daughter was lent a car by Drive Assist whilst her car was being repaired after her car was hit behind at a junction.

It's just been picked up by Drive Assist as her car has now been repaired and, after an inch by inch inspection the guy collecting the car claimed there was damage to an alloy and the cost would be £75. It didn't look like a new scratch to me and I took a clear close up photo, and wrote on his PDA that we disputed the damage ( my daughter was at uni and thus not present). Somehow I wasn't in the least surprised, I suspect this is a nice little scam charging for old damge, but wondered if anyone else has successfully fought such a charge.

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Thu 22 Nov 2012 11:25
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - 72 dudes

I suspect this is a nice little scam charging for old damge,

You could be right.

Just a thought, wasn't a sheet given to you detailing existing damage before the loan period? Did you or your daughter inspect the car and sign the sheet?

I suspect that if not, and you continue to dispute the damage, the company will relent as they will have no proof that the damage was caused by your daughter.

If a pre loan damage sheet was signed, then they may be able to charge the £75 (assuming the alloy wheel damage wasn't noted of course)

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Thu 22 Nov 2012 12:15
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - lordwoody

I have spoken to her and she said when the car was delivered they asked her to look over for damage, which she did, but didn't inspect every inch with a fine tooth comb ( which the guy collecting the car did). She didn't get shown a chart with any damage marked on it.

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Thu 22 Nov 2012 15:18
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - daveyjp
She wasn't lent it either, she actually hired it. Doesn't surprise me with Drive Assist. We refused to acknowledge they exist when they tried to muscle in to a claim we had. They were out to max their income, not to Assist us in any way.
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Thu 22 Nov 2012 16:24
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - 72 dudes

I have spoken to her and she said when the car was delivered they asked her to look over for damage, which she did, but didn't inspect every inch with a fine tooth comb ( which the guy collecting the car did). She didn't get shown a chart with any damage marked on it.

In light of this and from what daveyjb says, I'd be inclined to fight them and refuse to pay, saying that they must prove it was caused by your daughter.

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Thu 22 Nov 2012 17:28
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - lordwoody

I think the problem is they have my daughters debit card details, she had to leave £250 as excess.

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Thu 22 Nov 2012 19:42
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - Brit_in_Germany

Assuming that the £75 will be debited, send them a "letter before action" asking them to detail all damage which has been claimed for that vehicle and all repairs which have been carried out. The small claims court then is the route to go down to get your money back.

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Thu 22 Nov 2012 23:25
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - dacouch

Drive Assist featured on BBC Watchdog many years back for claiming for existing damage.

Your daughter probably gave them an electronic signature on a PDA which they have then transferred to other documents. the enforcabiilty of these is very questionable.

Google "Drive Assist electronic signature"

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Thu 22 Nov 2012 23:44
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - Tally

I had a person run into the back of me whilst stationary, rang insurance who passed all dealings to Driver Assisit. luckly for me all went ok. However i must admit the guy who came to pick up my car put big circles against every scrath/dent however small by the time he drove it away i couldnt see the original paint work -: LOL , I was anxious for the time i had a courtesy ( Hire car) as i knew they would screw me for a scratch. I expected more form my insurance company but they just passed it off to 3rd party. I was also p***ed off that all parties all seem to be only bothered about me and my family making claims againt 3rd party not jusf fixing my car. This was last Nov still getting Accident claim calls from scumbags.

So YES be wary of any body involved with care repair/hireinsurance

Regards

Tally

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Fri 23 Nov 2012 00:14
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - 72 dudes

I think the problem is they have my daughters debit card details, she had to leave £250 as excess.

OK so write to DA, tell them not to debit her card unless they can prove the damage wasn't there to start with.

Usually there is also some protection from your credit card company - if you copy them in, they will be liable for the debt.

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Fri 23 Nov 2012 07:33
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - lordwoody

It's a debit card, not a credit card, and I think the protection on a credit card is for amounts over £100, although I could be wrong.

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Sat 24 Nov 2012 12:51
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - barney100

What a situation, makes me mad that companies will operate these scams....which you believe they did. It is just as bad as having someone nick your wallet with £75 in it. Lesson for us all though, when getting a hire car give it e really thorough inspection and get the person who hands it to you to write down a list of damage and sign it.

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Sat 24 Nov 2012 15:24
Ford Fiesta - Drive Assist claiming damage to loan car. - nortones2

Couple of years ago we hired a car from Cork airport. Very carefully checked before driving off - couple of dents not recorded on the manifest. Went back to desk to report it - they were rather off-hand. They'd overlooked the very Irish surname and possibly thought they could pull one over. Irish blarney has no effect on those innured to it:) Photographed every panel on return. No bonus there chaps! Good luck by the way OP.

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