Deeply troubled and distressed by Woodford rental agreement
I am deeply troubled and distressed by the rental agreement experience I had picking up a car in Durban, Springfield, on Friday morning. I was renting a vehicle for 62 days. I did my homework first around adding insurance. Discussed certain things with the man doing the check-out. He made some suggestions. I had done numbers. He did numbers. I wanted to make sure all was clear, sorted, nothing for me to be concerned about after my one previous experience with Woodford, where I felt bullied and taken for a ride on returning the car. The big problem yesterday, as I see it, is their lack of transparency. The man is behind the counter. Seemingly helping me. Doing figures. I am writing things down, did before I got there, and have my confirmation print-outs and am working from those. I felt, and know, I was being diligent and all finally seemed to be in order, the best options. One is requested to sign the documents on the computer screen. I did not for a moment think I wasn't signing what we had agreed to. I paid the R4,000 deposit with one CC and the 62 days, including insurance, with another. I waited for the rental agreement then was directed outside to the man getting the car ready. I realised I hadn't been given the rental agreement so went back inside and asked for it. I was told they don't give you a paper copy, it would be emailed to me. Thought that was OK. Until I returned home later and there it was. I downloaded it. And — whew. The cover and liability is there at R17,000 when I paid for insurance that had my max liability be R3,400. There is no record of the R4,000 deposit. I checked the car out at 10:20am. This is not reflected for return, which was meant to have been updated, as it was the previous time, from 7am. No way I could ever get there 7am for drop-off or pick-up. The mileage was 3km out (I took a pic before driving out); very minor and not something I would have concerned myself with, had everything else been in order. The insurance parts on the form are so badly reflected that — again, if everything else was in order, I would take it as read those were correct and as agreed — but now I am concerned that I cannot read them. I immediately, when I saw the errors, got back to Woodford by email at the address they advise one to connect on, as I could not drive back over there. No response yesterday or today. Hence this Hello Peter, which they had previously sent me... I also, yesterday, WhatsApped Mr Essa Suleman as when you get your car, a WhatsApp comes with the message: If your experience has been anything short of fantastic, to contact him directly. I have received no response. I did all that was my part with good will, good intention, and thoroughly. Surely, thinking about it now: to not give a customer a form to read... Is that fair to the consumer? What am I to do now? I have no clue. This truly feels like a last straw in such a burdensome time, when one hopes people will all just be decent. I had a friend waiting with me, who can confirm all here. She was doing the figures with me, for support. I was a little nervous as last time, the first time, I rented from Woodford, I know I was ripped off re my deposit. I wanted to make sure there would be clarity this time. Another friend, meanwhile, who rented from them since I last did, on drop-off was told she owed R3,000, which was false and was dropped when she called them on it. Lack of transparency was what I felt the issue was, with my last Woodford experience. It seems it is the same thing in a different guise now. Why was I not given the document in the offices to sit down and read then sign? Sure, it is more efficient this way, but then the Woodford staff need to do things correctly and accurately and professionally and ethically. I have no idea what to do now. Surely that man who drew up the document knew what he was doing, seeing it is his job. I am at a loss...