Double access charged after accident without notice or knowledge there of

<p>on 01/05/2017 I was taking my hired car, which I had hired for 38 days, for a wash. This was literally 5 hours before I was to hand the vehicle back to OR Tambo Europcar. I unfortunatley had an accident in the process and it involved a 3rd party. I had called Europcar immediatley and did the necessary. The car was towed within 2hrs of the accident. My excess was explained to me to be R9500 because I did not choose the super wavier option. To my knowledege this was all I was supposed to pay as that is what an excess amount is.</p> <p>The following day when I had phoned to enquire about the payments due bacause I wanted to finish this issue ASAP, I was informed that I was also liable for R15000,00 Third party excess. I was not happy as I was not informed of this when I had hired the car. I however then accepted the fact that I was to pay the extra R15000 as the accident was completely my fault but was upset because this was not told to me on collection of the vehicle.</p> <p> </p> <p>On the 18/05/2017 money was deducted from my creditcard account, totalling R29726.62 which was more than the required excess as explained. I had thought that this was including the thirdparty access and that is why it was considerably higher that the R9500 plus other odds and ends. But I had also immediatley emailed Europcar to explain the amounts deducted to me as I wanted to make sure that all was settled. A few days later they rep**** to me with and email containing an invoice for the towing and a copy of the accident report which I had filled in for them. I had hearn nothing further until this past week (mid June 2017). I had recieved a call from OUTSURANCE, the third parties insurer, requesting payment for the R15000.00 third party excess.</p> <p> </p> <p>I had called the Europcar offices asked for further assistance telephonically and was told that the lady handeling my claim was on leave and I would have to wait until she is back before I can get an answer.</p> <p> </p> <p>My problem now is that, after searching online to find the procedure of Europcar claims, I found a document stating that the person hiring the vehicle is liable for double the excess amount if the car was written off. </p> <p>Firstly I do not think that it is right to deduct money from a client, or anybody, of which they are not aware of. Secondly nobody had showed me that the vehicle was written off as it was only damaged from behind and on the passanger door (the vehicle had 2300km).</p> <p> </p> <p>I want my R9500 back!!</p>