Several years ago, I rented a car for my mom. There was some damage on the hood. It appeared that somebody had operated the buffer a little too energetically
I pointed it out the rental guy, who said “It’s nothing. It’s not even worth noting it.”
I insisted that he do, though. Grudgingly, he did note the damage on the rental agreement. I watched him do it.
When my mom returned the car, they noted the damage on the hood and wanted to charge my mom. I happened to be there and showed them a copy of my mom’s rental agreement, which clearly stated that the hood was already damaged.
The guy said “Well, what do you know?” and let it go at that, as he should
One question: Do modern engine crank cases, automatic transmissions, power steering systems, and brake fluid “vent to air” without their covers and plugs being removed?
I probable rent at least 10 cars a year for business trips. I started taking pictures of my rental before I leave the lot years ago. What I found with rental companies…if someone scratches their car…they make the next 5 renters pay for too.
"Do not drive our vehicles on unpaved surfaces or off road. Do not take our vehicles into the desert (yes, this means Burning Man! Sorry Burners we love you, but our engines do not love that sand at all). "
This is the Web site statement. If the contract then specifically says off road in addition, OP doesn’t have a tire to stand on.
I LIVE on a dirt road and have rented cars before. They have a right to expect it would not be covered with mud and damaged by this activity. Often, communication error (reading in this case) is the cause for disagreement. I made one comment in support of OP because of the blanket assertions. Unfortunately, I did not do my job when I read…“a very dusty climate” area.
Maybe I support a little rethinking because I have bought cars that were used as rentals. Nothing said by the Bandago rep is unreasonable. I have off road and would never take a rented van, off road.
I sympathize with OP as few seldom read these agreements. Sympathy and support for OP’s future actions though, are two different things.
I don’t think Bandango is unreasonable with that policy. That said, I doubt that they really would mind you taking it down a dirt road. Hell, many roars out in those states are not paved to begin with.
They know you may go down an unpaved road…but it’s a road. Because of their location, they are more concerned with you driving in the desert sands, and wandering into some area where there is no trail or following some rutted track that someone else made with their 4WD Jeep.
As said, the OP has not returned to defend his side. If his contract did not state the exclusions that Bandango offered…he’d be here calling Bandango a liar, and prove it by posting a link to his contract.
Just remember, Bandago is not a professional mechanic. He runs a company that rents vans. He relies on the experience and opinion of professional mechanics to determine what repairs are needed and when. Smart man. Because a) he is not a professional mechanic and would be skewered in court if anyone subsequently got hurt and even an incompetent lawyer could spin that against him. b) the mechanic is on the hook for providing a professional inspection and recommendation of services which relieves Bandago of that responsibility.
The reach of litigation is long. They will name everyone they can reasonably find that had anything to do with the situation. That mechanic should know this. He is covering his butt too, or should be, because he would be next in line along with the company he works for.
The mechanic is the one that may have omitted the rear diff, not Bandago. Bandago is simply paying the bill of a professional for their services and he simply passed those costs on to the renter.
I seem to recall someone mentioning something to the effect- that’s why you have insurance. Insurance covers you up to the policy limits, after that, it’s on your dime. It doesn’t take much to imagine a scenario where you exceed a UC&R policy. Bandago is doing what any competent, responsible steward of a company should do, protect the business against such potential exposure to loss. That, and he probably has a conscience too and wouldn’t want someone getting hurt because he wanted to save a measly $750…
I believe it was stated that heavy rains had also hit before Burning Man. Some pictures showed a real mire and it’s stated that law enforcement even closed the road and while turning back vehicles for a time.
One unmentioned issue is just how deep any water and muck was that the van was taken through. That could affect vents on transmissions, differentials, etc but that gunk can also work its way into wheel bearings, tie rod ends, ball joints, and anything else in the lower couple of feet.