My case
Example

Example case: scratch on the bumper at Goldcar in Málaga

Sanne rented a car for a week from Goldcar at Málaga airport. She returned it early in the morning through the key box. Two weeks later she got a €640 claim for a scratch on the rear bumper. This is what the check showed.

The claim
Rental companyGoldcar · Málaga Airport
ReturnedAugust 14, 2026
Claim dateAugust 29, 2026
Amount claimed€640
Damage according to the companyKras achterbumper rechts, 18 cm
Excess€1,200
Strong case
Much of the rental company's evidence is missing.
7weak points
€640claimed
2EN + ES

What we found

No joint inspection

Without a joint inspection the company can hardly prove that the damage happened during your rental.

Returned after hours

The car was only inspected later, without you. Anything could have happened in the meantime.

No proper damage photo

Without a dated photo of this car it is not shown that the damage was there at return.

Claim came too late

Under card scheme rules the company should report damage within 10 days. This claim is late.

No repair invoice

An estimate does not prove what the repair really costs, or that it was done.

Admin fee not agreed

This fee is not in your contract. You don't have to pay what was not agreed.

Loss of use without proof

The company would have to show it really lost income. That is missing.

The objection letter

This is the letter as Sanne received it. Your letter uses your details and the points in your claim.

Dispute of damage claim MAL-2026-118204 / Reclamación contra el cargo por daños MAL-2026-118204
Dear Sir or Madam,

Rental agreement: MAL-2026-118204
Licence plate: 4821 LKM
Rental period: 7 August 2026 – 14 August 2026
Office: Málaga Airport, Spain
Your claim: €640 (29 August 2026)

I dispute your claim of €640 for damage to the car I rented from you.

My reasons are:

1. The car was not inspected together with me at return. You therefore cannot show that the damage occurred during my rental.

2. I returned the car outside opening hours. The car was only inspected later, without me present. What happened to the car after I returned it is not my responsibility.

3. You have not sent a dated photo of the damage on this car showing the licence plate. It has therefore not been shown that the damage was present at return.

4. Your claim came 14 days after I returned the car. That is later than the 10 days within which a rental company is expected to report damage.

5. You have only sent an estimate, not an invoice for a repair that was carried out. An estimate does not prove the costs you actually incurred.

6. You charge €65 in administration fees. These fees were not agreed in my rental agreement.

7. You charge €90 for loss of use or loss of value without showing that you lost any income.

I do not accept liability for this damage.

I therefore ask you to:
- send me dated photos of the car at pickup and at return, showing the licence plate;
- send me the signed inspection report from the return;
- send me the invoice for the repair that was carried out;
- withdraw the claim and refund any amount already charged.

I expect your reply within 14 days, by 16 September 2026 at the latest.

While this dispute is open, please do not charge any amount to my card and do not pass the claim on to a collection agency.

Kind regards,
Sanne de Vries
Dispute of damage claim MAL-2026-118204 / Reclamación contra el cargo por daños MAL-2026-118204
Estimados señores:

Contrato de alquiler: MAL-2026-118204
Matrícula: 4821 LKM
Periodo de alquiler: 7 de agosto de 2026 – 14 de agosto de 2026
Oficina: Málaga Airport, España
Su reclamación: 640 € (29 de agosto de 2026)

Por la presente me opongo a su reclamación de 640 € por daños en el vehículo que les alquilé.

Mis motivos son:

1. El vehículo no se revisó conmigo en la devolución. Por tanto, no pueden demostrar que el daño se produjera durante mi alquiler.

2. Devolví el vehículo fuera del horario de apertura. Se revisó más tarde, sin mi presencia. Lo que ocurriera con el vehículo después de devolverlo no es responsabilidad mía.

3. No me han enviado una foto fechada del daño en este vehículo en la que se vea la matrícula. Por tanto, no queda demostrado que el daño existiera en la devolución.

4. Su reclamación llegó 14 días después de devolver el vehículo. Es más tarde que los 10 días en los que una empresa de alquiler debe comunicar los daños.

5. Solo me han enviado un presupuesto, no la factura de una reparación realizada. Un presupuesto no demuestra los costes reales.

6. Cobran 65 € en gastos de gestión. Estos gastos no se acordaron en mi contrato de alquiler.

7. Cobran 90 € por lucro cesante o pérdida de valor sin demostrar que hayan perdido ingresos.

No acepto ninguna responsabilidad por este daño.

Por ello les solicito que:
- me envíen fotos fechadas del vehículo en la recogida y en la devolución, en las que se vea la matrícula;
- me envíen el parte de devolución firmado;
- me envíen la factura de la reparación realizada;
- retiren la reclamación y devuelvan cualquier importe ya cargado.

Espero su respuesta en un plazo de 14 días, como muy tarde el 16 de septiembre de 2026.

Mientras esta reclamación siga abierta, les ruego que no carguen ningún importe en mi tarjeta y que no cedan la reclamación a una empresa de cobros.

Atentamente,
Sanne de Vries
Check my own claim

This example is made up, but based on common claims. Names and numbers are not real.