Some Advice

bennyx_o

I just received a letter from Hertz regarding an accident (so to speak) in July.

Some background. I was stopped at traffic lights and took my foot off the brake for a second and the car rolled forward into the car in front. The damage to the car was minimal, I'm talking a small, barely visible scratch (~3cm long and 1.5cm tall) on the rear bumper and no damage to my car. Of course, silly me never took pictures. We exchanged details (I gave my name, address, insurance details etc) and on we went.

So anyway, the letter is basically telling me to write to them within ten days accepting liability for the accident to cover their costs, or to forward the letter on to my insurance company or they will "issue the appropriate legal proceedings". What would the costs likely be? Any advice on what to do? Obviously I don't want to go through my insurance being only 19 and just after earning my 1st years no claims.

Also, some legal technicalities (possibly? whats a motors thread without technicalities!)
1. My surname is spelt wrong
2. The letter is headed "Dear Ms Moran" which is nowhere near my name.


Cheers.

John R

Were you driving a Hertz rental or did you bump in to one?

mike65

1. My surname is spelt wrong
2. The letter is headed "Dear Ms Moran" which is nowhere near my name.

If its not you ignore it! (not legal advice)

Mike.

kluivert

Get a spray paint can and sneek up and spray the car where the scratch is.

Again sounds like a place with too much red tape, Ask them for a quote first and then write them a cheque for the repairs, they are meant to provide you with at least three quotes, you pick which ever one you want, normally the cheapest one.

Keith C

bennyx_o wrote:

I just received a letter from Hertz regarding an accident (so to speak) in July.

Some background. I was stopped at traffic lights and took my foot off the brake for a second and the car rolled forward into the car in front. The damage to the car was minimal, I'm talking a small, barely visible scratch (~3cm long and 1.5cm tall) on the rear bumper and no damage to my car. Of course, silly me never took pictures. We exchanged details (I gave my name, address, insurance details etc) and on we went.

So anyway, the letter is basically telling me to write to them within ten days accepting liability for the accident to cover their costs, or to forward the letter on to my insurance company or they will "issue the appropriate legal proceedings". What would the costs likely be? Any advice on what to do? Obviously I don't want to go through my insurance being only 19 and just after earning my 1st years no claims.

Also, some legal technicalities (possibly? whats a motors thread without technicalities!)
1. My surname is spelt wrong
2. The letter is headed "Dear Ms Moran" which is nowhere near my name.


Cheers.

Get a quote for the damage, then take whatever amount a 10% increase is (for losing your NCB) say €200 (if your paying €2k, it will be €200) & add that to the x/s on your policy (say €350)

Combined price is €550, if the quote for damage is more then this, claim thru your insurance, if the damage is less, then pay for it yourself.

MercMad

If the letter is not addressed to you, then you simply shouldn't have opened it, and instead you should write "Return to sender" on it !

bennyx_o

Should've made some points clearer. I bumped into the Hertz car, and, the letter was addressed to me, but the greeting of the letter has a totally different name. My insurance renewal is later this month, would it be easier to claim before or after the renewal. I've already accepted their quote. (almost half price)

bennyx_o

I've been thinking about this and, considering the bump happened in july and they're only contacting me now, the damage could've got a lot worse in the five or so months since, do I have any legal stand here? Then again, they could've not rented the car out at all. If this is the case, can they try to get me to pay for loss of income? Lastly, how much is this likely to cost me? They're not going to get me to pay for a whole new bumper when one of these scratch places can touch it up for a few hundred Euro.

Cheers.

Rabies

Was the first contact made from Hertz to you since the accident?

Did you not call the depot the car from after the accident and make arrangements for repairs and equire about the possible costs?

bennyx_o

The letter I received is the first contact fro Hertz to me. I'm not sure what depot the car is based in.