Complaint Review: Enterprise Auto Rental

On May 22,2003 I was involved in an auto accident, after calling my insurance company Hartford they made arrangements for a tow and rental car replacement, I am a disabled person and desperately need my car, I waited in the pouring down rain on the side of the road for in excess of 2 hours for a car, after the tow truck, police, left I called Enterprise and asked when was the car coming and was told that I had to have $350.00 in cash. I asked for what? They said they had to have a deposit for the car I asked what was my insurance company for, they did not respond, but insisted that I needed some cash, they bartered all the way down to $100.00, at this point I became suspicious, who ask for that kind of cash on the highway?.

I then called the Hartford informed them of the problem ,Michelle my claims adjuster said she had never heard of any such thing. I was forced to call my son away from work to pick me and my groceries up. After arriving at home I called again and was told that I had to have some cash or I couldnt get a car, with limited income I just did not have the money I then borrowed it from my son on his payday which was the following friday (5-24), I went into the facility and was tld that they had to have cash because they were letting me have a $12,000.00 vehicle and they had to have a deposit, which I thought was ridiculous. Whilde discussing the rental agreement I was offered additional insurance for $12.00 per day, not knowing whether my Insurance company covered me, I then asked Andre if I could contact Hartford and then make a decision in regards to purchasing the insurance, he told me that because it was a weekend that I had 72 hours in which to decide on adding the insurance, I agreed, gave him the $100.00, took the keys and left.

On Monday I went to Pathmark Upper Darby for a few sale items, parked in the handicapped area went into the store for less than 25 minutes and the rental vehicle was sideswipped (paint damage), I notified the stores security and we called the police a report was filed I then called Enterprise, they requested that I bring the vehicle in and I did, upon arrival I was met by an obnoxious a*****e named Jim he said he was the manager, he looked at the car and demanded $200.00 in cash for a deductible, I asked him was he crazy, he then replied,"whats the matter with you people, dont you understand nothing",you not getting another car if you dont pay the $200.00, after questioning him on policy he refused me another car or a reasonable explanation as to why I had to have cash.

Again its raining and I had several bags of grocery items to get home, he then suggested that I get into the car so he could see if there was any damage to the vehicle and he would drop me off. I got into the car all the way home I heard comments in re, "YOU PEOPLE", I became annoyed and asked him if this was a racial inference, he responded by saying now its a Black and White thing, I dont give a s**t what you think and I should throw you out of this car, at this point I asserted myself and let him know that I was not intimidated by him and if he put his hands on me I would own him and enterprise, finally we arrived in front of my sons home I took two of my bags out of the front of the car and began to call my son to help me with the bags,he Jim stepped on the gas and raced down the street with both doors opened, and my other bags in the back seat. He almost struck me with the door. There were several people who witnessed this incident they all came out to ask me what happened, because of the erratic and reckless behavior of this bald headed white guy.

Upset, shaken but undaunted I went into the house and called Hartford spoke with Beth Jones and Ms Sambrano they were in total disbelief they had never heard of anything like this. Jim had the nerve to call my home later that day and tell me that I wasnt getting my downpayment back, his exact words were "you aint getting s**t back". This appears to be a common practice at this facility they redline and ask only minorities for cash from west and southwest philadelphia.

I asked several people had they ever encountered anything like this and was told that they didnt have these problems. I am upset and outraged that they treated me so disrespectfully, would lie, are deceitful, and duplicitous, unprofessional SOB's

Carol
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.

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