This is a crapshoot but I’m debating how to handle this:
I rented a zipcar one day and it was broken into and my gym bag was stolen (bag and contents likely worth $500+ to replace. I had taken some jewlery off while swimming and left it in my bag after so that is the bulk of the cost, plus the bag itself which was a USA Triathlon messenger bag). I want to contend that the Zipcar is known by thieves to not have an alarm system. Further, I’m contending that when the thief broke the glass they were gambling that there WAS something worth stealing as my bag was on the floor and the car came standard with rear privacy glass. I don’t think it is a cut and dry case of it being plainly visible. Given the bag is only $500, I’m not sure I want to bother with a claim to my home-owners’ policy. I figure that stuff is just gone and some Chicago-area crack whore will be getting a Mignon Faget necklace and some chainring earrings for Valentine’s day.
I just called a body shop to get more educated on pricing for such repairs, apparently if there is used, un-tinted glass on the market it can be as little as $150 but with privacy glass (and given that the car is an '08, used privacyglass might not be available), the repair in their estimation could easily go over $500. They apparently fielded similar calls from other Zipcar customers because they said as part of my agreement with Zipcar, I agreed to let them pick the repair shop so I am at their mercy. If I put myself in Zipcar’s shoes, this makes perfect sense. They should repair their property as they see fit.
I would like to argue, since this wasn’t a moving violation, that Zipcar is partially to blame. The thief knew that the blinking light on the dash was not an alarm. I was parked near much higher end vehicles yet mine was broken into, not the other vehicles.
Is there a shred of substance to my side of the story or do I take my lumps, likely pay the full deductible (and cancel my zipcar membership IMMEDIATELY).
Dude, the street value of a wet women’s bathing suit, a soggy towel, half bottles of shampoo and conditioner, 8 month old goggles, a cap, ratty flip flops and a stained 3-year old messenger bag aren’t much. The replacement value of all that junk to me of course is more. My stance to any greasy attorney out there is: Is there a comparable negligence argument available to me?
I had completely forgot about the jewlery being in the bag - - so much so that I didn’t even remember it until several hours after filing the police report (which can only be amended in person and there are no police stations near my work, another PITA). And in all my years, I had never had a car broken into - - it was broad daylight in a busy yuppy area of the city. The car did not have a trunk (Scion XB), so leaving stuff in the trunk was not an option.
Us honest people don’t think that someone would want the crap I enumerated above. Thieves on the other hand like to gamble because every now and then they steal something worthwhile. Now the retail value of the jewlery is $200, I’m sure the pawn shop value is considerably less…hence the lucky crack whore.
Depending on where you live, you may have heard of I-Go cars…basically it is a “car sharing” service - - you rent cars by the hour or by the day. Gas and insurance is included. It is best for folks who occasionally need the use of a car - - generally city folk. This incident might push me over the edge and I might become a bonified car owner again since this is going to cost enough money to make Zipcar not a very palatable deal for me.
Depending on where you live, you may have heard of I-Go cars…basically it is a “car sharing” service - - you rent cars by the hour or by the day. Gas and insurance is included. It is best for folks who occasionally need the use of a car - - generally city folk. This incident might push me over the edge and I might become a bonified car owner again since this is going to cost enough money to make Zipcar not a very palatable deal for me.
Sorry, I’m not the sort of person who ordinarily picks on spelling in people’s posts . . . but this one gave me a good chuckle. I think the term you’re looking for is “bona fide.” This alternate spelling sounds like something else altogether.
Good luck in your dealings with Zipcar - and BTW, I was also unaware that car sharing services were actually up and running in the U.S. I’d think that they’d really be wanting to generate some customer loyalty at this point . . . but perhaps they have somewhat of a different business model.
Good luck in your dealings with Zipcar - and BTW, I was also unaware that car sharing services were actually up and running in the U.S. I’d think that they’d really be wanting to generate some customer loyalty at this point . . . but perhaps they have somewhat of a different business model.
I think Zipcar’s business model is to drive their non-profit competitors (like Igocars.org) out of business so they can raise rates.
I fail to see where Zipcar is liable. In fact, if you look in your contract, valuables that are stolen are probably not covered in any circumstance.
The fact is that you parked the car in a location where it was broken into. That was beyond Zipcar’s responsibilities.
As far as the glass is concerned, if it was your car, would you want some used glass installed in the car by the insurance company? You would be up in arms.
I think you didn’t understand my post - - my belongings are a minor secondary concern to me. The crux of the argument is that the car was broken into in the first place - - and that I will have to pay $500 to fix the window. It isn’t a moving violation. I’m not a careless driver. I parked the car on a busy street in broad daylight. I’m saying that thieves are apparently aware that they can break into these things and no alarm will draw attention to it. It happened while I was renting it but because it is known that these cars are sans car alarm, it could have happened anywhere any time - - it just happened to occur “on my watch” so to speak which is definitely bad luck…
You rented a car and I assume, took their insurance policy. Is that correct? Or did you waive their insurance? Or, did you waive their insurance but use a gold card that provides its members with insurance?
I’m trying to see why you’re paying $500 - assuming of course that you were covered.
You said gas and insurance is included in the rental. What you should have is a comprehensive claim for the broken window. What’s the comp deductible? Most likely $500, which means you pay the whole repair cost. The lack of a car alarm, and it not being a “moving violation” are both complete non-issues as far as the insurance or your responsibility are concerned.
Something many people don’t realize until after it happens, is that items stolen from your car are not covered by your car insurance. If you have homeowners or renters insurance, most items stolen from the car should be covered by those policies.
Okay - I went back and reread this thread and I have to say that following what you call logic is like trying to push rope uphill.
Did you or did you not read the terms of the rental agreement, including the insurance policy?
If you did not, sucks to be you. Deal with the consequences and learn your lesson for next time. You’re getting off cheap.
If you did, you should be aware of the terms and I’m guessing that you are likely on the hook for the deductible. If that is the case then your financial involvement caps out at that. It doesn’t matter if they get it fixed at Joe’s backyard garage or at the Ferrari dealer, you will pay no more than the deductible. Since you’ve been throwing around $500 as a number, it seems that that is your deductible. How the car was damaged is completely irrelevant, and they don’t care - all that matters is that it was damaged, and under the terms of the rental agreement you are responsible for its repair (which, assuming you had insurance, means the deductible).
Note that this is not a shortcoming of Zipcar. Had you rented a car from a traditional car rental company, or even purchased a car and had it insured under your own name you would be in exactly the same place. Shit happens. Instead of trying to blame the rental company, accept the fact that you are liable and deal with it already.
I guess I just discovered the fatal flaw of this type of a car sharing agreement. Suppose I went to pick the car up at it’s designated parking spot (typically an outdoor spot here in the city no different from where I left it parked), and found the window broken and the gas card missing. Could be that the previous driver knowing they would get hit with the deductible, left it there that way or could be it got broken into in between rentals. I wonder what Zipcar does then? Do they assume that is a risk inherent in their business model or do they pin it on the two unlucky saps who rented on either side of when the damage occurred? Hopefully they eat it in that case but I’m wondering how they would know that the previous renter hadn’t just left it there like that? This is just something I hadn’t thought of before now and I don’t think I’m going to stick around and find out about that headache.
I guess I just discovered the fatal flaw of this type of a car sharing agreement. Suppose I went to pick the car up at it’s designated parking spot…
But that is not what happened in your case. The end results would not have been any different if it was a Zipcar, a Hertz rental, or your own car. You would have been liable for the deductible in each case.
there is always a $500 deductible w/zipcar, unless you chose to purchase a damage fee waiver and reduce the deductible.
i’m also a zipcar member, and you do get that option when you join. being cheap, i didn’t purchase a damage fee waiver, which is a risk i choose to take.
any damage to the car DURING your reservation for which fault is assigned to you or no fault is assigned will trigger you paying the deductible.
i’ve called at the start of a reservation before and reported damages (scratches). as far as i know (they accidentally sent or cc’d me on the email), zipcar will contact the person who had rented it prior to the person who reports the damages and ask them for any information they may have w/respect to the damages before assigning any blame.
Do the Zipcars have big Zipcar logos on them or anything?
IIRC, there was an issue with a lot of tourists getting robbed somewhere, and they found that the thieves were targeting rental cars which had stickers identifying the cars. The rental car places stopped putting the stickers on. I don’t know if there were any lawsuits though.