Young Renter / "Accidental Repo"

Setting: Jackson, TN. I was the assistant manger. This was my first gig ever in management. It was spring, 2000.

Renter was young - about 20. He had State Farm insurance, which is pretty good insurance. His car was in the shop after he wrecked it. We rented him a BRAND NEW Saturn LS100. This was the first year for that make of car.

Renter called our office at 5 pm one day. He said the car would not start. I asked him if the car had been involved in any sort of collision - and he said no. He stated he put the key in the car and the engine would simply not crank.

This was a typical problem, as many people with rental cars are unfamiliar with the vehicle and inadvertantly miss something needed to make the car start. In this case, the renter could not make the engine even turn while turning the key. So I go down the list:
- Car fully in Park?
- Turn the wheel a bit while trying to turn key?
- Foot on the brake?

Still, the car would not crank, much less start. Daniel, the manager, lived inthe same area that the car was at, so he said he would get it on his way home.

I get a call from Daniel just after closing time - 6:00 pm. He says the renter is not to get into another car. Daniel advises to put the renter on the "Do not Rent" list. I asked why and Daniel explained:

The renter had been involved in at least two collisions in the vehicle - one of them resulting in a completely demolished passenger side of the car. The other causing severe damage to the trunk area.

Furthermore, the renter had been caught in a Wal-Mark parking lot, speeding and jumping speed bumps. In the process, he had ripped off the bottom of the oil pan and had driven the car 5 days without oil!

When the car finally croaked, he had then decided to call us, stating the car would not start.

When Daniel had gotten there, the renter finally fessed up, and Daniel took possession of the car, denying the renter further services from our company.

Result: State Farm had to pay for a total loss on a brand new Saturn (less than 300 miles on the car). Renter's personal insurance got canceled.

On a side note: Although the renter did not owe money on the rental, he never paid Enterprise his $1000 deductible. State Farm paid for the total loss amount, less the $1000, as per his policy language. So this renter found himself on the "Do not Rent" list.