Please help a tourist - added photos and estimate

Owning an RV rental company I can say that I have seen small repairs add up to big dollars. That said anything over $1000 is covered by insurance with our business. So at most the out of pocket would cover the deductable (in our case $1000). There is the issue of being able to charge while it's out of service but I don't see that itemized here. 2 questions; did they have insurance for the rental (MBA?) and if so what did the rental contract say (fine print in the back) should detail a section about repairs and damage, second did you consult your insurance company? Often they will cover damage to a rental vehicle. Not always but it's worth it to check. Although if you already paid them it's likely a moot point now. This sounds like they did the repair in house, never contacting the insurance and fluffling the repair ro make some extra money. I can't be sure but that's what it smells like. I once had a small stone chip in the fiberglass about the size of a penny under the front grill on one of our units. My friend who works at an RV repair shop told me his best price would be $900. And that's a friend. So who knows.

From the evidence presented here, it's my opinion that you're getting ripped off.

The other question is, will they take your $1100.00 and actually repair the damage? I doubt it. I've seen those rentals and many times they're pretty dinged up. Then again, I guess that it would become their decision to do with whatever they wanted to with the $1100.00. I doubt that there is any legal requirement for them to actually repair the damage once they charge someone for the cost to repair.

Effy wrote:
Why are you being charged for paint 2x? And what color to match? It's white.

More than one white.

I have seen some body shop estimates for damage not much different.

The problem is that it is all but impossible to exactly match paint for a small job, so you end up painting a good size hunk of the body.

And thus, that estimate is in line with many I've seen.

HERE is what I suggest.

To me the linked photo was not all that clear but go to a body shop near you that works on RV's and ask THEM,, After all, they are the experts.

Why are you being charged for paint 2x? And what color to match? It's white.

If the insurance covered side damage it would of had some before I left. Seriously I don't think the price is to bad if it needs any type of painting. If it can be buffed out its way out of line.

Unfortunately, I think you are hosed. You probably would have had to have taken it to a couple places and got estimates before turning it in. Even then, there could be language in the contract to negate that helping you out. Also, looking at the pictures, I wouldn't have expected that high of a bill either.

Something to be aware of when renting for sure. I can't believe the insurance doesn't cover the top, front and bottom. Isn't that convenient when those are the areas most likely to get damaged in simple mistakes....

Having worked for an insurance company I can tell you that a door ding from a shopping cart routinely cost about $600 to have repaired on a car. In view of the bills I saw for repairs, that amount is not out of line. Also when they paint, they paint out in a larger area than just the damage to blend the paint so that the new and old paint lines are not visible. From the photo the scratch looks superficial and like it could be buffed out??? That would not be near as expensive.

And all of those rental units that are for sale are totally blemish free? Right.

yagil.tzur wrote:
https://twitter.com/YagilTzur/status/407984665513820160/photo/1

I am a tourist which recently got back home after 2 weeks RV rental in which we traveled through Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yosemite. The travel was great. the US is amazingly beautiful. During the travel, I scratched the RV. The damage is shown in the attached photo. I was charged $1100 for the damage. As I have no experience with RVs, I'm struggling with the question whether it is a reasonable or exaggerated amount? (especially as the RV rental company, probably pays much less then a private owner). Any opinion will be appreciated as it may help my case.

Ripped off.