The Debt Collectors Are After Me!

No, I haven't blown all my money yet (though I am damn close!)

No, I haven't left a trail of unpaid bills in my wake as I travel around the world.

No, I haven't taken out an unrealistically massive loan and skipped payments.

No, I do not have outstanding bills or alimony to pay in the UK.

Never-the-less, through no fault of my own, except perhaps being too honest, an American debt collection agency is after me - the b@£%^*s.

Let me tell you all about it...are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.

When I set off around the world I decided to employ as many different modes of transport as I could. Planes, trains and automobiles were obvious choices, though elephant, paraglider and kayak were refreshingly original. Well this quest has involved me hiring several vehicles.

                              

                                 

                                 

                                 

                             

                          Here are a few examples - though there have been quite a number

In Alaska, I hired a car to get me around (as the trains were still operating winter weekend hours only and buses were non-existent.) I took charge of a practically brand new Subaru Forester and set off to Fairbanks (to see the Northern Lights if you remember?)

                                 

Well, I had only travelled 40 miles when an idiot in a flatbed pickup zoomed past me doing 90mph. Unfortunately, he managed to kick up a stone from the road surface straight into my windscreen. It promptly chipped the said windscreen and left a pea sized crater with a tiny 5mm crack. I heartily cursed the driver...

1800 miles later and the tiny chip and crack had not grown. Every time I noticed it I wondered if my hire policy covered windscreen damage? I agonised over whether to tell the car hire company or not. I knew that the car was mucky enough and the chip was small enough for it not to be noticed when I returned it, but I was worried. What if I said nothing and the next driver had an incident due to the windscreen cracking or failing? I must admit I swithered (as my Scottish friends would say) between saying nothing one day and pointing it out the next. 

         

Anyway, the day came to return the car. I pulled into the underground garage at the airport in Anchorage and, just as I predicted, the inspection by the member of staff who looked over the vehicle saw nothing. I pointed out the chip.

"Oh dear Sir," said the man, "I will need to take $75.00 for the excess I am afraid. Shall I charge it to your credit card?"

"Yes," I muttered ungraciously.

What a bugger! Honesty had cost me after all, but at least I could leave with a clear conscience. End of story.

Not quite.

Four weeks go by and I am happily travelling from Portland to Reno by Greyhound Bus, the hire car is a dim and distant memory, when I get a nasty surprise in the form of an urgent email. It states:

"I am writing you on behalf of Dollar Car Rental (A Licensee) of Anchorage, AK. They have retained us to handle this file.  The letter attached is regarding a damage claim. If you have any questions, please contact a Claims Representative in Team 3, to further discuss. We are here to help."

               

I logged into Skype the first chance I got and called them - politely. The person at the other end explained that they were working on behalf of their client Dollar Car Rentals in the pursuit of an unsettled debt to the tune of $560. My response is understandably non-plussed and rather annoyed. I ask them why Dollar haven't contacted me themselves, since they have my email address, a working contact phone number and an address in the UK? I also ask how much it costs to replace a windscreen in the US, as the figure is so high and I query the need to replace it, rather than fix it with a resin infill repair? The lady I am speaking to maintains a professional distance and refuses to answer my questions, but informs me that I have 30 days to settle the full amount or the costs will increase. I mumble to my self about checking insurance and say I will get back to them. I ask them for electronic copies of the full paperwork and evidence that the windscreen replacement work was actually carried out. 

I decide not to act immediately. I will wait to sort it out when I am in Nashville, staying with friends I met on the Great Barrier reef. I know they will have access to a phone, serve as a good sounding board to my grumbles and may even help with printing or scanning documents if necessary. Meanwhile I dig out the travel insurance policy I took out with STA back in August 2014 and wonder if I am covered. 

"What do you mean I'm not covered - I took out the 'Gold' Policy?" 

"I'm sorry Sir, but you would require the Platinum version to cover car hire abroad. Do you have any other vehicle insurance?" 

"I thought I was fully covered when I hired the car, it cost me enough. I do recall some kind of cover from Alliance or something."

"That could be Allianz Sir. You should check with them. Can I help you with anything else?"

"No."

Well, I checked back through all my emails prior to collecting the car in Alaska and sure enough I find one which was from Allianz Global Assistance. It had a US contact phone number and a policy number. Stealing myself for further disappointment, I called.

Guess what? I discovered I had collision damage insurance for up to $40,000! Woo-hoo! All I needed to do now was get Allianz Global to talk to Alternative Claims Management and let them sort it out. Seven completed pages of A4 legal gobble-di-gook later and I had completed an official claim form. I scanned the completed paperwork and emailed it to them. Allianz said it would take 10 working days to process. I contacted Alternative Claims Management for good measure and sent them the paperwork too. I then told them both that I would be leaving the continent at the end of the month and would appreciate them getting a move on. I have yet to hear from either party. I have decided to give them until next Monday and then investigate if the matter has been resolved or not.

One thing I am sure about though, is that I shall not be using Dollar Car Rentals again ever, anywhere on the planet. A company whose first act is to contact a debt collection agency rather than get in touch with someone directly can (insert your own expletive here) - I will use the rather American term 'swivel'!

                                   

 

Nice car though. And it did only have 1300 miles on the clock when I picked it up.