If you’re an AA or RAC member, they may be able to help.

Failing that try Citizens Advice or https://www.themotorombudsman.org

Don’t pay them but tell them that you dispute their assessment. 

Good luck
Dave

Hi, 

Surely you were insured to drive it? I'm not sure why you're having to pay anything other than an excess. 

Thanks for the reply. So their insurance small print is very nasty - they've said the insurance doesn't cover anything on or below the bumper :(. I really don't know how they're getting away with all this and recently they got another round of funding :/ ...

Thanks for the msg. They took the payment straight away already, direct from my bank account and sent an invoice shortly afterwards. I was so shocked when I saw my account drop by ANOTHER 2.5k after the initial 1k.

Next time you hire a vehicle take out a seperate insurance in advance to cover the excess. I have an annual policy for multiple hire it  costs under £100 and covers everything tyres windscreen roof underside mirrors. Ive only claimed once the hire company charged my credit card immediately and the policy refunded it in 6 weeks. Leaving no loss to me whatsoever. 

Is your cancer still in remission?

Ah, I didn't think about taking out separate insurance :( Yours sounds like it would've been perfect if I had it !

So I believe a Glioma never goes into remission so it's just a matter of time ...

Definitely one for the ombudsman then.

Ok thanks 

They should not be able to just take money from your bank account like this. Even if you had a contract with them it must be reasonable. Tell your bank to block any further payments to these sharks, send them a letter of complaint about hidden charges in the smallprint and effectively helping themselves to your money. If you get no joy, then go to the ombudsman. Good luck for 

Hi,

having owned a motorhome that had the same issue the problems caused can go somewhat deeper than what appears to be the issue on the surface. On first look it usually appears to be fibreglass bumper/panel cracked that needs replacing, but these things have flimsy plywood insulated sandwich floors that overhang the rear sitting on a solid metal chassis behind them, Any knock can break these up and crack them which would allow water ingress and rot to occur. There is also the possibility that the sides that attach to the floor can get distorted, by their very nature they are lightweight and their limited strength comes from the whole, disrupt that and you have a major problem..

Replacing a broken floor or union between the sides involves removal of a lot of internal cupboards and fitting and that is where the labour costs mount up. On first sight these vans look substantial but the reality is they are flimsy,and a sideways push on an angle on the rear can cause major issues and goes a long way to explain why the insurance exclusion on the bumper. On hire vans the reality is unfamiliar drivers with the length of the vehicle will often hit things on the angle reversing causing the issue, and overwhelmingly the bulk of damage on returning vehicles will be from bumper hits.

Whilst l have every sympathy with your predicament your hirer may not be ripping you off, did you actually check underneath behind the bumper for yourself, check the inside floor behind the internal lockers, or notice any gaps appearing from cupboards and overhead lockers indicating a twist in the body before handing the vehicle back. Have you asked for a breakdown of the damage aside from a replacement outer fibreglass panel, which are usually single skin with no substance, only the supporting metal brackets which will be attached to the floor and any buckling of these will cause floor damage.

David