Problem with National Car's Spanish rental affiliate, Atesa,
Picked up a car in Malaga, Spain, from National's Spanish partner, Atesa. Problems with car resulted in our turning the car over to a tow truck with authorization from Atesa manager the following day. Now we have an exorbitant charge on our credit card. National's International customer service rep has done little. Any suggestions? Credit Card folks alerted that the charge is in dispute.
Joan
Danville, CA US 10/30/09
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Work with National customer no-service in the USA. Do they say what the "exorbitant charge on our credit card" was for? Did you purchase the insurance from Ateza when you rented the car? Check with National about what is covered and what wasn't. Do you have coverage from your credit card (check with your credit card company). The cover you if you declined Atesa's insurance.
A lot also depends on what the "problems with car" were. Did you hit a cow and have to be towed, or did the engine catch on fire, or did you put diesel in a gasoline car? A lot depends on what happened.
Disputing the charge will slow down when you might have to pay, but National/Atesa will answer the dispute and you'll still be footing the bill for your "problems with the car."
Thanks for answering so promptly. We noticed right away in leaving the airport that the car was difficult to shift (we waited an hour for the rep to bring the car to us--I'm guessing it was waiting for repair and they were short of cars). By the time we arrived at our hotel approx. 30 miles away, the car was smoking/burned smell. Next day, we called rental office at airport, said we weren't comfortable using it. Tow truck arrived-conversation in Spanish between the truck driver and rental office manager which we weren't privy to. Upshot: Rental car mgr. said the tow truck driver found nothing wrong with the car, but believed we weren't driving it correctly. Mgr. offered to exchange car; we did so. Then $1660 charge appears on our card statement when we arrive home. National's international rep says case closed: Atesa says we burned out the clutch. I don't believe we were ever asked if we wanted insurance. Atesa took a 100 euro depost which they said would be refunded if car was returned in good condition. That deposit still shows on our card in addition to the "expected" charge. In calling national again today, I was told I have to deal with the credit card co. to get resolution. Great trip except for this.
If you indeed burned out the clutch, National is right in charging you for it. That comes down to a he said she said thing on who did what.
Since you did not purchase the insurance from Atesa, you might try making a claim against your credit card's plan. If it was a Visa, look at this link.
MasterCard is available only to Gold, Platinum, World and World Elite cardholders. Ask your bank if you are covered.
I once smacked a rental car against a pole and removed the side mirror, my credit card insurance came in great, but there was a bunch of paperwork.
Good luck!