AA Discount Auto Rental

Review: I rented a Van which was inspected by myself and a representative of the company and when I returned the vehicle the representative of the company charged me for a chip on the windshield that was there when I first rented the vehicle. Neither myself of the rep for the company mentioned the chip on the windshield at the time of the rental because it was so small that it just looked like dirt. When I returned the vehicle they charged me $35 to repair the windshield! I was furious but the company charged me anyway. The amount of the charge isn't excessive and If I was at fault I would've had no problem with paying but this seems like a common practice for them. There were other damages to the vehicle that I noted when I first picked it up that Im sure they charged people for but was never repaired. It seems to me that they are in the business of charging people extra money and never making repairs with hopes of charging other people for the same damages.Desired Settlement: I would like my $35 refunded to my debit card immediately!

Business

Response:

At the time this van was rented the customer together with a company rep inspected the vehicle on all sides and from top to bottom. The windshield was deemed free of any and all cracks and/or chips. The customer initialed "OK" in the windshield section of the vehicle condition/inspection report. There were ZERO cracks or chips in the windshield when the customer left with our van. Upon return during inspection our company rep discovered a new chip in the driver view side of the windshield. It was explained to the customer that the condition report that HE SIGNED and initialed indicated that there were no chips when he took our van and that we needed to charge him to cover the cost of repairing it which was $35 which is our cost for this type of repair. The windshield was repaired the next day at a cost of $35. Had we left the chipped windshield unattended it would need to be replaced completely. We did not charge the customer the cost of a brand new windshield which would be in excess of $550. We do not profit in any way from any of this activity. We do expect to have our vehicles returned to us in the same condition as when they leave our location. If this customers habits are to damage other peoples property and not take responsibility then he will have difficulties with any rental company on the planet in the future.