Dewey's Towing & Body Shop Service

Review: I rented a car on 6/20/16 from this business. I returned the car on 6/28/16. When car was returned they claimed that I had driven the car through flood waters in [redacted]. The flood occurred on Thursday 6/23/16. The car was parked in the parking lot at the [redacted] on 6/23 and did not leave until the morning of 6/24. I have proof that the car was parked there on the 23rd. On the morning of Friday the 24th I was at Dewey's at approximately 8:15 am because a head light was out on the car. I left there and went to get a bite to eat and a few things I needed at home. I left [redacted] at approximately 11 am Fri morning. I drove the car to [redacted] and by this time the water had receded. I left the car parked at [redacted] and my husband came to pick me up in his SUV as the road was too damaged for the car to pass, plus I would've had to drive 17 miles out of my way to get home. I did not want to put any more mileage on the car than necessary. We made trips to town every day to check on the car and it was fine.

I made a trip to [redacted] on Tuesday the 28th. On the way back I had a tire going flat. I stopped in town and a friend put the spare on for me before the tire could go flat. I called Dewey's and they said I had to bring the car back immediately. [redacted] said they had to check for undercarriage damage, would have to do an all wheel alignment because the car had been in the [redacted] area. I took the car back right then like they asked. Once I was there [redacted] found a place on the left front fender that joins the front door, a little patch of paint was gone and I told him it was like that when I rented the car. He did not say anything else about the car until he checked the tire. He took it into the garage, came back and told us the rim was bent in the same place the cut was. We, my husband and I, asked to see it. He brought it out, the rim was bent at least 6-8 inches above where the tire was cut. The tire was cut in the tread at the edge of the wall but not in the wall. They said they would have to check for all damages. We told them to do what they had to do and we would do what we needed to do.

We told them that [redacted] of [redacted] would be coming to get my car. We then went across the road to get a bite to eat. Before [redacted] arrived they locked my car up and would not allow him to have it. The allowed him to look at it and he said it was fixable like Dewey's had said. We went to [redacted] on Wednesday morning and rented a car. We then went back to [redacted] and was told to clean our car out that [redacted] was coming to get it. I asked for a copy of the rental as well as the estimate. They (Dewey's) always claimed they were to busy to give me one and I never received one. [redacted] went back a few days later to get the car they told him [redacted] had already taken it. I called Dewey's and told them I had called [redacted] and was told they had not sent anyone to get my car. I told them it was my car and through [redacted] I was allowed to get my car. Dewey's said I had a bill there that had to be satisfied before they would allow me to have my car back. I called [redacted] and asked the amount of the bill. It was $1229.00 I asked if I paid it would [redacted] reimburse me and they said they would. [redacted] went to get the car. I called Dewey's and told them I was bringing a check for that amount and to allow [redacted] to have my car, which they did.

The day I arrived at Dewey's and needed to rent a car [redacted] told me he had a real nice car coming in at 4 that afternoon if I'd like to wait. My son came and picked me up at that time, my husband took me back later to rent the car. I called at about 3:45 and asked if the car was there. I was told it would be in shortly. I was back in [redacted] at shortly after 4 to rent the car, a Ford Fusion. I was told the car had just been returned. I have never rented a car before so I didn't know to walk around and check the car. No one from Dewey's walked the car with me to check it out either. All they told me when I rented it was that I had to return it with at least a half a tank of gas. When I got in the car there was a little bit of dirt in the floorboard and a small glob of something on the console that I had to wipe off I also noticed when I got home a small scuff on the right front bumper. When I returned the car they did not walk it, he only pointed out the spot on the left fender.

This past Thursday, 8/3, I called [redacted] and they told me of the damages to the Fusion I had rented. [redacted] said Dewey's was claiming approximately $3100 in damages to the car. We went to [redacted] to have Dewey's show us the damage to the car. Dewey went to the back of the Fusion took his foot and pulled out the plastic underguard under the bumper on the left hand side. Then went around front to the right bumper and kicked the piece under the bumper, and said I trashed their car. He did not show me any damage to the right front door but on the claim they say there is damage to the right front door. When I had asked to see the car he told me he had already started some of the repairs. My husband and I both told him the car was not driven through any water and we did not damage the car. I told him I was not paying for those damages since I did not cause any damage to the car. He used foul language and again accused me of tearing up his car. I told him I did not tear up his car, and that all I would pay for was the flat tire and the interior clean up. My husband told him to do what he needed to do and we would do what we needed to and we left. He called out and said that he would call Enterprise and tell them how I trashed his car. Dewey does not know I have a timeline as well as proof of where that car was parked unless an officer with the [redacted] Police Dept I have talked to has told him, or [redacted] has told him.Desired Settlement: The desired outcome is that I am not charged for the damages I did not cause. I am willing to pay for the flat tire and the interior clean up. I also don't want him ruining my credibility by making claims about me that I did not do.

Business

Response:

Consumer wrecked her car, insurance towed off. Insurance Co. sent their own adjuster out, they wrote the estimate and made the determination of how much damage she did to the vehicle. Estimator quoted the $3000 in damages and will pay all but for a couple of dings. She rented a vehicle from business, brought it back with inch slice in tire, rim bent. Mud all in car and under the car, looked like was in the floods in WVA. Consumer has a $500 deductible for insurance and I'm willing to write off the $500.Dewey

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

The 2014 car I rented from Dewey's on 6/20/16 was never in flood waters in [redacted] I have documentation showing showing that the car was parked at [redacted] in [redacted] Va until 7:15 am on 6/24/16. I also have my time sheet showing I worked that night. I did not get back into [redacted] until approximately noon on 6/24/16. The car was never in flood water.Dewey's turned in an estimate of $3000.00 to my insurance. My insurance company then sent out an adjuster to look at my car. They decided to pay about one-half of the $3000 that Dewey's turned in. The insurance said Dewey's would accept that so I agreed.

Regards,