Autos

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Enterprise Charged Him $3,300 for Damage Done AFTER He Returned His Rental Car

It sounds like the definition of chutzpah. A fellow in Canada rented a truck from Enterprise for a few hours. He returned it after the location had closed, parking it in their lot, and put the keys in their lockbox for after-hour returns. A week later, he got a bill for $3,300 for damage that was done after he returned the truck.

How in the world could they charge the renter for subsequent damage?

*MOUSE PRINT:

rental damage

That’s right, tucked in the rental contract is an unexpected provision that the renter is responsible for any damage done to the vehicle until the vehicle is actually checked back in by an Enterprise employee.

But there is good news. After CBC started asking questions about this questionable practice, Enterprise relented and cancelled the consumer’s bill. But there is bad news: this provision is common to agreements of the major car rental companies. So do try to avoid returning any rental cars after hours.

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AAA Stops Cramming “Optional” Donation Onto Members’ Bills

In April, we spotlighted the American Automobile Association’s practice in some parts of the country of tacking on a one dollar charge to members’ bills as an “optional” contribution to their safety foundation. The trouble was they automatically included that extra dollar in the total “amount due” without the member’s consent. [See original story.]

AAA billClick to enlarge

*MOUSE PRINT:

AAA dollar disclosure

Now comes word from one of the consumers we spoke to for that story that her latest AAA bill no longer has that extra dollar automatically added into the total due.

*MOUSE PRINT:

AAA 2022 bill

The “optional” one dollar donation has been removed from bills at least for members in Massachusetts. [But, see comments about one reader’s experience in Maryland.] At the same time, however, the cost of their annual membership went up by a dollar. (We don’t believe that AAA has simply embedded the contribution into their regular annual fee.)

We asked AAA headquarters whether all regional offices that used to add the “voluntary” one dollar donation to their members’ bills have stopped the practice and why. AAA did not respond to our request for comment.

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Mercedes Promotes New Automatic Valet Parking Feature, But…

Mercedes is introducing a new high-end feature to its luxury vehicles called Intelligent Park Pilot. And just as the name suggests, when you engage the system, the car will find its way to the hotel, airport, or restaurant parking garage on its own.

To introduce the new technology, Mercedes created a commercial capturing something we have always wondered about — what do parking valets really do with your car when you hand them the keys?

This commercial shows them joyriding, speeding, and making daring moves all while you are eating a peaceful dinner somewhere and none the wiser.

The clincher in the commercial is the following disclosure about the automatic parking system.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Mercedes

So we’ll just have to wait until roads and garages get smart enough to safely guide cars with automated valet parking to a parking spot, and driving laws allow unattended systems like this.