Alamo Rental Car is ripping me off for $1400 Dallas Texas

 I rented a car from Alamo and arrived at 10:30 PM to their counter at the Minneapolis Airport.  My wife, son and I were completely exhausted after a harrowing 3 flight ordeal from Miami via Houston and Chicago.  We signed for the car and found it in the lot. 

It was so late and dark in the garage that my walkaround was more for show than anything else, as I could not pick out any problems in the dark.  I did mention a problem on the driver's side in the back with the paint that was noted on the form.  We drove off to our 10 day vacation. 

Upon return, the attendant looked over the car carefully, and saw the minor damage which had been previously noted.  He also pointed out a dent way under the right rear corner where somehow the right rear bumper was pushed in at the corner.  I had never noticed this before and explained that I knew nothing about it.  There had been no accident.  The guy at the counter assured me that it was no big deal and gave me some paperwork about it.  It almost made us late for our return flight.

Now, 4 weeks later, I have received a request for $1,356.29 for 'repairs' that they are trying to pin on me, with most of the charges for things that had nothing to do with the dent under the bumper.  It seems they plump up the bill as much as possible.  The charges even included 'loss of use' - $90.67, an 'administrative fee' of $100 and  charge for 'Diminishment of value' of $105.96.

It would seem that they plump up the charges to later negotiate with insurance companies.  In my case, American Express has refused the claim on the excuse that the car was booked with my wife's credit card, but it was I who signed for and drove the car.  We have been married for 37 years and have never had problems like this, and we have done a lot of traveling together over the years.

My brother rented a car from them in Hawaii last year and had a similar problem.  After he complained they dropped the whole thing.  What a scam.  This is not over.