Enterprise Rent-a-Car Rental Car Repair Damage Rip-off Citrus Heights California

I rented a vehicle from this business in mid December and upon returning the car, the Enterprise employee had found damage to the vehicle's right rear door. It was apparently caused by a shopping cart striking the vehicle. The damage was limted to a half dollar size dent and two scratches to the paint about two feet below the small dent. Since the renter is responsible for the damage, I acknowledged as such. I first want to say that the employees at the rental facility were in no way responsible for this rip-off, it's their company's damage recovery unit that this missive is directed to.

Three weeks later, I get a demand for payment for -- get this -- $750 along with pictures they sent of the car undergoing repairs. They also sent the repair estimate that addressed doing things with the front door, which was undamaged in any way. They explained that they had to 'blend in the paint', again, we are talking about two scratches and a small dent, the type of repair than can be done by a 'dent doctor' for around $100. Instead, the auto body shop Enterprise selected went the whole hog by dismantling molding on the front door (which the body shop damaged in the process), and removing the side view mirror, so that they could apparently repaint the entire rear door and then some.

I contested Enterprise's claim because they also sent me pictures depicting another vehicle undergoing repairs along with the one I rented, so naturally I questioned whether they were billing me for the right car. I therefore filed a claim with my insurance company and let them figure out which car was which. They were able to sort through the mess. But it still came down to repairs for a small dent and two paint scratches.

So basically, they got their own estimate and got the job done, then demanded payment from me without giving me an opportunity to mitigate the loss. Their chosen body shop, no phone call to advise me of the estimate, nothing. Just a demand in the mail for payment. This is a shoddy and dishonest business practice. As a result I see no need to rent a car from Enterprise ever again. The sad thing is, I am sure they don't care.