Being charged for damages to a vehicle which was no longer in my possession when it got damaged

The mail below was sent to Gloria van Zyl at Europcar...

Good day Gloria

As per our discussion yesterday; this matter was supposedly “referred” on three occasions already but I have received no feedback whatsoever.

I first called the call centre and they advised that I had to take the matter up with the manager of the Europcar outlet in Pta North; she was supposed to refer it but that never happened. I then called the call-centre again and was advised it would be escalated back to the outlet; I still received no feedback. I then called the call-centre on a third occasion and still received no feedback. I now have to explain what happened again (for the third or fourth time) and I am getting extremely frustrated.

I will not go into much detail as I have done so with Chantelle at the Pta North outlet – if you require more information please contact her.

• On 14/03/2017 I made an arrangement with Europcar to drop the vehicle at the panel beater at 10h00 on 15/03/2017 – I did so (the vehicle was in the same condition as when I had received it) but Europcar failed to uphold their side of the agreement and were not there to take delivery. • Without notifying me of any logistical issues, the vehicle was only collected on 16/03/2017 – more than 24 hours later. • The vehicle had been driven by an unauthorised driver onto the panel beater’s property for overnight safekeeping – this was a direct result of Europcar’s failure to collect the vehicle as arranged. • I was notified by Europcar on 16/03/2017 of alleged damage to the vehicle – photographs were later emailed to me.

1. Europcar authorised me to leave the vehicle with the panel beater 2. Europcar failed to collect the vehicle as arranged 3. The vehicle was driven by an employee at the panel beater as a direct result of the failure to collect the vehicle at 10h00 on 15/03/2017 4. My contractual obligations ended when I carried out my duty in terms of what had been arranged with Europcar

Lastly, when you and I spoke yesterday, you were quite evasive claimed to not have much knowledge of the incident yet you stated that the panel beater claimed that I had left the vehicle there without their knowledge. If this had been the case, please explain how they managed to drive into their garage on the evening of 15/03/2017. Did the key magically appear in their hands?

One last question: Had the vehicle been left outside by the panel beater and had it been ****** during the night, who would you hold accountable then?

Please provide me with feedback by close of business today as I this has been going on for 2 weeks now with absolutely zero progress.

Regards,