*****/Sneaky amount in the Invoice

On 23 June 2022 at the King Shaka International Airport at about 20h20 I hired a Mercedes Vito 116 and paid a deposit of R8 171.01.

Inspection of the vehicle was done and all the dents that were there were marked and the report was signed and I kept a copy.

I returned the vehicle on 26 June 2022 at 20h45 at the King Shaka International Airport after taking good care of the vehicle. I handed over my copy of the inspection report that I took on 23 June 2022 and signed a document indicating that I have returned the vehicle.

A further amount of R6 529.16 and R6000 was deducted in my bank account taking the total including the deposit to R20 700.17. I was concerned by this cost as I did not expect the amount to be this high. I waited for an invoice which was not being forwarded to me. I then decided on 28 June 2022 to make a phone call and request the invoice which was than emailed on the same day, Invoice number *** and dated 26 June 2022.

Every item on the invoice was itemised and the total cost of the invoice including VAT was R14 700.17. The only amount that was not itemised on the invoice was R6000 and just described as "Balance due". I immediately called to query what is this amount for called "Balance due"?

I was not getting an adequate explanation and my called being transferred all over, I was been given a run around. I eventually got hold of a Manager at King Shaka International Airport who indicated I was being charged for a cracked boot. This came as a shock to me as that crack was always there and as per the inspection report, I immediately disputed that and even indicated that I have pictures of my phone with the date and time the pictures were taken. He promised to get back to me and he didn't. This was very disappointing to me as I was not informed of this before the money was deducted from my account.

I had to make numerous phone calls on 29 June 2022 and I eventually got hold of the Manager, he then changed and said they are not charging me for the cracked boot, the amount was deducted in error and will be refunded in due course. I asked for timeliness and he kept referring me to their claims department. This caused a huge inconvenience to me because it was month end and they were debit orders that needed to go through and find that amount of R6000 in my bank account..

The amount was eventually refunded on 3 July 2022 after some ********** experience.

Had I not queried this invoice, the amount would have been deducted in my account in a *****, sneaky way for something that was not true.

1. Why was the invoice not sent to me and I had to request it?

2. Why was I not informed that I will be charged for a cracked boot that was always there?

3. Why was every amount itemised on the invoice except the R6000 that was described as "Balance due" without further description?