DOLLAR THRIFTY STUTTGART AIRPORT TERSTAPPEN GMBH CO ANOTHER SCAM REPORTED ABOUT DOLLAR THRIFTY IN GERMANY, Internet
Like others before me, I fell victim to the new classic car rental scam at the German Airport.
I booked the car online for 10 days. The bill was to be $600 US. Upon arrival, I was informed that I needed to use my visa to provide a 1200 Euro deposit ($1500 US). It was late, none of the other car rental businesses had vehicles available.
Being the trusting guy I am (or was), I went ahead and put the deposit on my credit card, took the car, and enjoyed my vacation.
The employee marked on a piece of paper where damage was on the car (Paint chip on the rear bumper and one of the tire rims). When I returned the car, I was informed that there was damage to the paint ont he back bumper and a scratch on one of the tire rims. They gave me the paper informing me of the damage. I signed it and went home on my flight.
The next Visa bill I received had the damages from the two scratches costing me 1200 Euro! I have contested this with my visa (US Bank-they have been great to work with by the way). They were presented with the papers that I signed agreeing to pay damages I had done to the auto. Dollar Thrifty/Terstappen failed to send them a copy of the initial report with the damages that had been done before I rented the car. Today I got a call from Dollar Thrifty/Terstappen, informing me that they will only be charging me around $250 US for the damages.
Sorry, but that is still too much for the damage I didn't do.
Do NOT rent from these people.
They lure you in by a rental price which is lower than everyone else, because they know they can stick it to you when you have returned across the ocean and you won't be able to do anything about it!