Enterprise Rental Car, Delano, CA Allowed an unlicensed driver to drive under my contract; now I own the car. Ripoff Delano California
Due to my 17 year old daughter totaling our only vehicle late January of this year, my auto insurance carrier covered a thirty day rental waiting to replace said vehicle. As we still hadn't received any settlement at the 30 day mark, we downgraded to a small compact Pontiac.
I have been off work since Dec 05 due to a disability. Fortunately, my daughter wasn't hurt too badly and the Highway Patrol ruled 100% in her favor. However, my husband, who received a "wet and reckless" ticket 3 years ago and didn't want to pay the insurance for himself (SR22), I had excluded him as a driver on my insurance.
Enterprise, upon the initial contract and subsequent contract, knowing he didn't have a license, but also being aware that he had the credit card in the family, they verbally told me I was the only authorized driver. That was fine. When it came to getting the CC, however, as he wasn't supposed to be on the contract, they placed said CC between the carbon sheets and lightly rubbed over the top of it so as to be able to read the CC numbers, however, they couldn't put it through for verification as his name would be in their data base.
Twice during the 40+ days we had a rental car from Enterprise of Delano, three men in two vehicles waited for the car to come into our driveway, as my husband had made arrangements (unbeknownst to me) to pay them cash and hadn't done so. Mind you we live 8 miles out of town and our driveway is a mile long.
Both times they came all the way out to our house, my husband was driving the car by himself. He would wait until I was napping or busy on the phone, etc., and take off. Both instances, as long as my husband gave them money, the 3 men in 2 vehicles, left.
On March 19th, while I was visiting a friend in San Diego, my husband, while driving again, suffered a heart attack and was Medi-vacced to the local Trauma Center, where he lay in a coma for 6 days; stayed in Observation for another 8 and will be recovering for upwards of 12 months.
March 20th, I called the Enterprise (Delano) office to inform them of my husbands accident and let them know we believed the car to be totaled. When they asked me where the car was located, and I didn't know yet, they told me they were listing it w/ the local police as a stolen vehicle. I called the Highway Patrol and eventually located the vehicle for Enterprise.
One week after my husband came home, around April 3rd, our 7th wedding anniversary, I received a formal letter from Enterprise in Fresno stating I was now the proud owner of a totaled Pontiac and owed Enterprise $17,000+ dollars.
During our rental period with this office, I repeatedly told them to Please take the vehicle back as I would rather get a ride from a friend than worry about my husband driving the car. They were unconcerned, well, until the car ended up about a foot and a half shorter than it had been.
Fortunately, my husband is doing remarkably well and my daughter is graduating June 1st from High School. But honestly, if I wasn't even in the County; they knew and allowed him to drive their vehicle without a drivers license; they knew he was excluded from my insurance policy (which I refused their insurance); I honestly don't feel responsible to this company for what they condoned due to monetary greed. (my opinion)
When I told them I wasn't going to pay this bill, they sent copies of the photos of the totaled vehicle from every angle like I needed a reminder of having my husband extracted and flown by helicopter from that scene.
What should I do? I honestly can't afford to pay for this car that we can't use and don't have access to even for parts, etc. I firmly believe they allowed him to drive because he was the only male bartender in town and they frequented the establishment, probably receiving gratuitous drinks from my husband. Any suggestions?
Pamela
Wasco, California
U.S.A.
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11 Updates & Rebuttals
Pamela
Wasco,California,
U.S.A.
Enterprise Personnel coming to my home
#12Author of original report
Fri, September 22, 2006
I appreciate the comments posted in regards to this matter.
I would like to clarify the reason personnel from the Delano office came to my home to collect monies from my husband.
Because they knew he was unlicensed, and yet the credit card was in his name only, they placed the credit card between the carbons and rubbed over it with the side of a pencil so they would have the numbers, etc., on the contract. However, he told them the credit card didn't have enough space to handle the transaction, so they took cash in the office.
We had a rental for nearly 7 weeks altogether after my daughters accident. During these 7 weeks, my husband drove the car into the Enterprise lot twice to drop off money. Twice, he had talked to them on the phone and told them he'd be in to pay after work (5), but he didn't go in, thus the visits to our home.
My requests for them to take the car back were met with deaf ears as long as he kept paying them.
I even told them I had him excluded from my auto insurance and that if anything happened my insurance wouldn't cover this contract.
Short of calling the police, as suggested, I handled this situation in every way except for actually handing them the keys myself. They were aware of all of his history, etc., and didn't care or didn't think anything would happen.
My husband is still recovering from this accident. He is doing well, but due to his head injuries, he is also a changed man. We thank God he is still with us and also that he has changed. Unfortunately, it took a tragedy for us (our children and I and my husband) to live, and become a truly loving and caring family.
Thank you.
Jane
Chicago,Illinois,
U.S.A.
I have an idea to help you
#12Consumer Comment
Fri, September 22, 2006
In your initial post, you asked what can I do?
D I V O R C E
I am not trying to be funny here but seriously, think about not only you, but your daughter and your home.
This time it was the car
next time it could be someone's life.
As the aforementioned poster so eloquently stated, this is not a man that is worthy of your trust...the three men in suits story sounds a bit fishy but more importantly, if these men were willing to drive a mile into your driveway, what exactly do you think would have happened if the previous poster was correct and these men were not from the car rental place.
**************
well maybe they cut your phone line and beat him (and you) to a pulp,,,,,,,,,,who knows but dont you find it odd that there was no phone call, no charges to your credit card etc but more importantly they did not talk to YOU!
I get it that your husband is 'recovering' and hopefully in more ways than one....but dont let THAT be a reason, there is never a 'good time' to talk about divorce but better you do it now before he is up and ABLE to pull little stunts like this again!
Ginger
LaBelle,Florida,
U.S.A.
About the three men in two cars....
#12Consumer Comment
Tue, June 06, 2006
Are you sure they were from Enterprise to collect payment on the car? I don't know of any car rental agency that deals in cash. Also, if they needed payment, they would have ran the credit card rather than come out eight miles out of town and down a one mile long driveway.
I have a feeling that those three men are more like loan sharks that your hubbie owed and he just told you they were from Enterprise. I have dealt with enterprise on many of occasions. They met me at a little airport that we flew our plane into, did the paperwork, and we splitted ways. I didn't see them again until we turned the car in. We even decided to keep the car an extra day and it was added to the credit card. I didn't have to meet them to do it.
I have a hard time believing that they wouldn't "let" you turn in the car early. You can cancel the contract early if they want.
I know it was stated before, it is not their fault that your husband drove that car. It only your own. I wouldn't won't to be married to a sneaky husband that would wait for me to be distracted for him to steal the car. Sounds like there are more marital issues here that needs to be addressed.
And what the hell does it matter that your husband is the only male bartender in town? Seriously! Nothing in your story makes any sense to me at all. None at all. If it is true, you brought it all on yourself.
Jessica
LaVergne,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Wet & Reckless
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sun, May 28, 2006
Wet & Reckless: a plea to a charge of reckless driving which was "alcohol related." A wet reckless results from a plea bargain to reduce a charge of drunk driving, when the amount of blood alcohol was borderline illegal, there was no accident, and no prior record. The result is a lower fine, no jail time, and no record of a drunk driving conviction, but if there is a subsequent drunk driving conviction the "wet reckless" will be considered a "prior" drunk driving conviction and result in a sentence required for a second conviction.
**You never should have allowed your husband near that rental car. You're lucky he didn't get into an accident and seriously hurt himself or someone else! He needs help ~ not the keys to a car!!!
Scott
Sioux Falls,South Dakota,
U.S.A.
Take responsibility
#12Consumer Comment
Sat, May 27, 2006
Did you ever think about calling the police when your husband was driving the car illegally? You wouldn't be in this predicament if you would have taken steps to make sure he wasn't in the car.
From the way you put, he repeatedly drove without a license and no insurance. As far as I'm concerned, you should be charged with aiding and abetting. You knew a crime was in progress (many times) and did not report it.
R
Portland,Oregon,
U.S.A.
wet and reckless?
#12Consumer Comment
Sat, May 27, 2006
This is truly a bizarre tale, Enterprise accepting cash under the table. I've rented hundreds of vehicles from many large rental companies including Enterprise. They ALWAYS require a valid drivers license and major credit or debit card that can cover the deposit and anticipated rental.
Your husband should not have been driving the vehicle. He didn't have a license or insurance.
As a result you owe Enterprise 17K. So pay up.
And to the person who asked what "Wet and Reckless" is, I wondered that as well. My guess would be it's alcohol related. Most likely like this accident.
Pamela
Wasco,California,
U.S.A.
Requested return of vehicle
#12Author of original report
Sat, May 27, 2006
Twice during the time I was renting a vehicle, I asked the manager to please either come and get the vehicle and/or took the vehicle to them for returning. Once, they had no one to take me home and the other time, they told me my husband had been in that day and had paid for an additional week, so they told me to keep it.
I explained to them that he was driving the vehicle (actually hunting for those hidden keys, etc) and they laughed. The second time they followed him home, I thought they would take it then, but as he was talking to them in our driveway and I could see him reach in his pocket, I went out to speak to them myself.
As they were writing him a receipt for the cash, I asked if they weren't taking it back. They just looked at me. My husband told me he had just paid them more money so why would they. I looked at the Mgr's and said, "And again may I remind you of his lack of a license?" Nothing said to me. To my husband, they said Thank you and drove off.
So, yes, I could've driven the car into their lot and handed over keys. Walked or gotten a ride to wherever I needed to go. It seemed foolish, as this is not the first time they have allowed him to drive one of their rentals w/out proper legal ID; this is just the first time he has wrecked one. Prior rentals have been w/ his credit card and my name also, even if I wasn't there to do the initial paper work.
Thanks for your feedback all. I do appreciate it.
Jennifer
Levittown,New York,
U.S.A.
I'm Confused
#12Consumer Comment
Sat, May 27, 2006
You entered into a rental agreement with Enterprise but your husband was paying them cash so that he could drive the car? This doesn't make any sense.
When you rented the car, did you provide your husband's drivers license as well as your own? If you only showed your own, then you are the only one allowed to drive the car. It's that simple. All the cash under the counter does not change that. If this is the case, you are basically SOL. He is not covered under your insurance policy and you refused the insurance with Enterprise.
You stated that you told them to take the car back and they wouldn't. Why didn't you just return it to them if you were so worried about your husband driving it? Or hide the keys?
You may want to consult a lawyer but I'm not really sure what he could do for you. A rental agreement is a legal, binding document. If you rented as the only driver and he totalled the car (no matter what the reason), you are responsible for the car.
P.S. What is a "wet and reckless"?
Jennifer
Levittown,New York,
U.S.A.
I'm Confused
#12Consumer Comment
Sat, May 27, 2006
You entered into a rental agreement with Enterprise but your husband was paying them cash so that he could drive the car? This doesn't make any sense.
When you rented the car, did you provide your husband's drivers license as well as your own? If you only showed your own, then you are the only one allowed to drive the car. It's that simple. All the cash under the counter does not change that. If this is the case, you are basically SOL. He is not covered under your insurance policy and you refused the insurance with Enterprise.
You stated that you told them to take the car back and they wouldn't. Why didn't you just return it to them if you were so worried about your husband driving it? Or hide the keys?
You may want to consult a lawyer but I'm not really sure what he could do for you. A rental agreement is a legal, binding document. If you rented as the only driver and he totalled the car (no matter what the reason), you are responsible for the car.
P.S. What is a "wet and reckless"?
Jennifer
Levittown,New York,
U.S.A.
I'm Confused
#12Consumer Comment
Sat, May 27, 2006
You entered into a rental agreement with Enterprise but your husband was paying them cash so that he could drive the car? This doesn't make any sense.
When you rented the car, did you provide your husband's drivers license as well as your own? If you only showed your own, then you are the only one allowed to drive the car. It's that simple. All the cash under the counter does not change that. If this is the case, you are basically SOL. He is not covered under your insurance policy and you refused the insurance with Enterprise.
You stated that you told them to take the car back and they wouldn't. Why didn't you just return it to them if you were so worried about your husband driving it? Or hide the keys?
You may want to consult a lawyer but I'm not really sure what he could do for you. A rental agreement is a legal, binding document. If you rented as the only driver and he totalled the car (no matter what the reason), you are responsible for the car.
P.S. What is a "wet and reckless"?
Bill
Fort Pierce,Florida,
U.S.A.
Why is this Enterprise's fault?
#12Consumer Comment
Sat, May 27, 2006
I don't understand a couple things. Why is it Enterprises fault if your husband chose to "take off" with this car. And secondly, if you wanted them to take the car back, all you had to do was go to their office and tell them you would like to close your contract. Would it have been Enterprises fault if your husband had wrecked your car before your daughter did? The real problem here seems to me that you simply chose to try to get around your personal insurance company's rules about SR22 and it backfired. I am sorry you're in a bad spot, but it appears bad decisions had a lot to do with it. Keep in mind that Enterprise rents cars, they are not a policing agency.