I've a rental car....wtf do I do now? Fupin COVID

Diemos · 27-03-2020 09:27PM #1

As the title says
I've a rental car, due back tomorrow morning.
The company's lines are closed.

What do I do now?

Samuel T. Cogley · 27-03-2020 09:28PM

Drop it back tomorrow morning? Post the keys through the letter box.

Edit: Take photos!

Diemos · 27-03-2020 09:29PM

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Drop it back tomorrow morning? Post the keys through the letter box.

But the country is on lock down
I've no way to get home without public transport

radiata · 27-03-2020 09:30PM

Burn it

Samuel T. Cogley · 27-03-2020 09:30PM

Diemos wrote: »

But the country is on lock down
I've no way to get home without public transport

That's a point. I'm sure the company website will be updated in due course.

colm_mcm · 27-03-2020 09:31PM

radiata wrote: »

Burn it

I’m afraid that’s the only feasible answer.

yogmeister · 27-03-2020 09:33PM

Diemos wrote: »

As the title says
I've a rental car, due back tomorrow morning.
The company's lines are closed.

What do I do now?

There's a good chance car hire companies will be open as they are supplying vehicles to the hse and other essential services around the country

Hogzy · 27-03-2020 09:35PM

Diemos wrote: »

But the country is on lock down
I've no way to get home without public transport

Public transport is still running, albeit at 80% capacity but it might just mean you have to wait a little longer for a bus/train.

Samuel T. Cogley · 27-03-2020 09:38PM

Hogzy wrote: »

Public transport is still running, albeit at 80% capacity but it might just mean you have to wait a little longer for a bus/train.

You're not meant to be on it unless you're traveling to an essential job for one of the outlined reasons. I expect there will be spot checks tomorrow, at least.

Diemos · 27-03-2020 09:44PM

yogmeister wrote: »

There's a good chance car hire companies will be open as they are supplying vehicles to the hse and other essential services around the country

But if you are not allowed out for non essential services
And I'll have no way to get home.

Diemos · 27-03-2020 09:45PM

Hogzy wrote: »

Public transport is still running, albeit at 80% capacity but it might just mean you have to wait a little longer for a bus/train.

They specifically said, only essential workers are allowed on it.

bazz26 · 27-03-2020 10:30PM

Car Hire companies usually have an emergency number to ring. Ring them first thing in the morning for guidance. These are exceptional times so I don't think they will screw you.

vandriver · 27-03-2020 11:31PM

Hire a car to get home.

towger · 27-03-2020 11:56PM

What hire company ?

towger · 28-03-2020 12:00AM

vandriver wrote: »

Hire a car to get home.

You could get a Go Car as you could drop that close to your home perhaps.

Wishbone Ash · 28-03-2020 11:57AM

Diemos wrote: »

As the title says
I've a rental car, due back tomorrow morning.
The company's lines are closed.

What do I do now?

Hold on to it until you hear more. They can't charge you more in these circumstances.

Send them an email to explain and you can refer to that later if required.

Emmersonn · 28-03-2020 12:57PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Hold on to it until you hear more. They can't charge you more in these circumstances.

Send them an email to explain and you can refer to that later if required.

Take photos of mileometer total and attach to the above email, This will prove whether or not you have used the car after this date,

Spook_ie · 28-03-2020 01:15PM

Diemos wrote: »

But the country is on lock down
I've no way to get home without public transport

Public transport is still operating

The chan chan man · 28-03-2020 01:16PM

Go down the Winchester, have a pint, and wait for this all to blow over

Jin luk · 28-03-2020 01:16PM

Diemos wrote: »

As the title says
I've a rental car, due back tomorrow morning.
The company's lines are closed.

What do I do now?

Keep it

Samuel T. Cogley · 28-03-2020 01:19PM

The chan chan man wrote: »

Go down the Winchester, have a pint, and wait for this all to blow over

Not if he's driving.

Wishbone Ash · 28-03-2020 01:49PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Public transport is still operating

Only for essential travel for those who have to get to work. Returning from a vehicle rental facility would not be deemed 'essential travel'.

biko · 28-03-2020 01:59PM

Keep the car until you get through to the company.

kingtut · 28-03-2020 02:22PM

OP where are you based / where does the car need to be returned to?

JustJoe7240 · 28-03-2020 02:25PM

towger wrote: »

You could get a Go Car as you could drop that close to your home perhaps.

Go Car has to be dropped back where you got it.

newcavanman · 28-03-2020 02:35PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Only for essential travel for those who have to get to work. Returning from a vehicle rental facility would not be deemed 'essential travel'.

I cant imagine the bus driver will ask if you are going to work and if so where?
Personally i think the new system is no gread advance on the last set of regs. Those who want to comply will and those who dont , wont bother , just look at
the K , to see how these people respect rules etc . A friend of mine is a manager in Dublin Bus and he says the buses are practically empty anyway, so no one is going to bother you

Wishbone Ash · 28-03-2020 02:45PM

newcavanman wrote: »

I cant imagine the bus driver will ask if you are going to work and if so where?
Personally i think the new system is no gread advance on the last set of regs. Those who want to comply will and those who dont , wont bother , just look at
the K , to see how these people respect rules etc . A friend of mine is a manager in Dublin Bus and he says the buses are practically empty anyway, so no one is going to bother you

Whether a bus driver asks or not is irrelevant. It goes against the spirit of the quarantine period. There are multiple garda checkpoints on the roads today. My wife was stopped twice this moring, asked for ID and proof that her journey was essential.

Regarding empty buses - you're contradicting yourself implying that many won't abide by the rules and then saying buses are empty. Surely that shows the vast majority are complying.

newmember2 · 28-03-2020 03:14PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Only for essential travel for those who have to get to work. Returning from a vehicle rental facility would not be deemed 'essential travel'.

Where are you pullin that one out of? Public transport is for the public. The public can use it for any essential journey.
OP...drive the car back, throw the keys in the letterbox and get the bus home.

newcavanman · 28-03-2020 03:56PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Whether a bus driver asks or not is irrelevant. It goes against the spirit of the quarantine period. There are multiple garda checkpoints on the roads today. My wife was stopped twice this moring, asked for ID and proof that her journey was essential.

Regarding empty buses - you're contradicting yourself implying that many won't abide by the rules and then saying buses are empty. Surely that shows the vast majority are complying.

no, what im saying is, the buses are running with very low load factors anyway. the people who will disregard the new rules are the sort who disregarded the old rules too. they are the sort who only respect a hard approach from the authorities

Wishbone Ash · 28-03-2020 04:14PM

newmember? wrote: »

Where are you pullin that one out of? Public transport is for the public. The public can use it for any essential journey.
OP...drive the car back, throw the keys in the letterbox and get the bus home.

I think you've missed the entire point - the OP's journey home does not meet the criterion of an essential journey. Why is that so difficult for some people to understand?

From hse.ie -

Do not go to work.

Do not use public transport.

Do not have visitors at your home.

Do not visit others, even if you usually care for them.

Do not go to the shops or pharmacy unless it's absolutely necessary - where possible, order your groceries online or have some family or friends drop them off.

Keep away from older people, anyone with long-term medical conditions and pregnant women.

okidoki987 · 28-03-2020 04:18PM

OP
What did you decide to do in the end?

HDiPower · 28-03-2020 04:23PM

newmember? wrote: »

Where are you pullin that one out of? Public transport is for the public. The public can use it for any essential journey.
OP...drive the car back, throw the keys in the letterbox and get the bus home.

It was announced last night, public transport is only for essential/frontline workers not the general public now

Markcheese · 28-03-2020 05:42PM

HDiPower wrote: »

It was announced last night, public transport is only for essential/frontline workers not the general public now

What if you need public transport to get to the shop to buy essentials..

punisher5112 · 28-03-2020 07:36PM

The Gardai don't have the power yet..... To do much and can't stop you traveling but can advise...

This will change with new laws and bill getting voted in....

I seen 3 checkpoints today and heard of many others.....

I had elderly people on the bus that really shouldn't have been out....

Drug addicts and some workers....

Isambard · 28-03-2020 07:38PM

maybe the cards should be withdrawn temporarily?

mikeecho · 28-03-2020 07:48PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Whether a bus driver asks or not is irrelevant. It goes against the spirit of the quarantine period. There are multiple garda checkpoints on the roads today. My wife was stopped twice this moring, asked for ID and proof that her journey was essential.

Regarding empty buses - you're contradicting yourself implying that many won't abide by the rules and then saying buses are empty. Surely that shows the vast majority are complying.

I clocked up 120km of needless driving today.
Didn't interact with anyone .

Saw plenty of Garda cars.

I was just driving around to keep the small one asleep.

As for the rental car... Just do what you originally planned on doing.

HDiPower · 28-03-2020 09:41PM

Mr.S wrote: »

You'd be hard pressed finding someone who doesn't class "getting home" as essential.

The stance is to avoid public transport where possible, but a bit of common sense - if you need public transport to get home in an urgent situation (like the OP) then you should take it.

What else is he going to do, walk?

Hey I didn't make the rules, was just quoting the text. I saw no provision for people like the op so not sure how they should proceed/ if it will be policed

"public transport and passenger travel will be restricted to essential workers"

Samuel T. Cogley · 28-03-2020 09:47PM

Car rental has been deemed essential and:

There will be a grace period until 6pm on Monday 30 March for people who need to make necessary arrangements to wind down their activities in an orderly way. This should however be done in a way that minimises travel and personal interaction as much as possible.

28-03-2020 10:43PM

OP, if you're anywhere near me (drogheda) and need a lift i can offer to give a hand. Send me a message.

Spook_ie · 28-03-2020 11:16PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Only for essential travel for those who have to get to work. Returning from a vehicle rental facility would not be deemed 'essential travel'.

Disagree, from
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/dfeb8f-list-of-essential-service-providers-under-new-public-health-guidelin/#rental-and-leasing-activities

Rental and Leasing Activities
rental and lease of cars
light motor vehicles and trucks necessary to support the provision of essential services

Would imply that the return of rental vehicles would apply, and as they would then be required to return either to an essential workplace or their 2km exercise quarantine zone then makes them eligible for essential public transport.

HDiPower · 28-03-2020 11:51PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Disagree, from
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/dfeb8f-list-of-essential-service-providers-under-new-public-health-guidelin/#rental-and-leasing-activities

Would imply that the return of rental vehicles would apply, and as they would then be required to return either to an essential workplace or their 2km exercise quarantine zone then makes them eligible for essential public transport.

The wording is essential workers not essential travel

L1011 · 28-03-2020 11:53PM

HDiPower wrote: »

The wording is essential workers not essential travel

The wrap-up time until Monday evening allows the OP to return it realistically - assuming the firm is operational

If they aren't, they cannot logically charge for a car that is unused while they cannot take it back. Timestamped photo of the odometer should be taken if it comes to this.

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 29-03-2020 12:02AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

OP, if you're anywhere near me (drogheda) and need a lift i can offer to give a hand. Send me a message.

What if either you or the OP have the have the virus? Then you’ll both have it. Have some cop on

Spook_ie · 29-03-2020 12:39AM

HDiPower wrote: »

The wording is essential workers not essential travel

Essential task such as shopping, no private transport so they need to use public transport, so your interpretation would be they should be left to starve?

HDiPower · 29-03-2020 01:40AM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Essential task such as shopping, no private transport so they need to use public transport, so your interpretation would be they should be left to starve?

I don't honestly know what the plan is but the wording just says:

"public transport use restricted to only those travelling to or from work in frontline/essential jobs"

There is no provision for essential journeys or shopping etc provided so one must assume they are prohibited?

Emmersonn · 29-03-2020 06:32AM

HDiPower wrote: »

I don't honestly know what the plan is but the wording just says:

"public transport use restricted to only those travelling to or from work in frontline/essential jobs"

There is no provision for essential journeys or shopping etc provided so one must assume they are prohibited?

For God's sake give it a rest. :mad:

Diemos · 29-03-2020 07:44PM

So returned the car
Threw my bike in the boot and cycled it 20km home.

Nobody challenged me.

Lots of people were there leaving cars back early.
The company Thrifty, part of Hertz, were pretty aggressive.
'Get the car back, we are open, it is your responsibility'
How do I get home?
'You need to return the vehicle'

Thanks for all the advice.

29-03-2020 07:58PM

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Drop it back tomorrow morning? Post the keys through the letter box.

Edit: Take photos!

Take photos, videos, snapchats, WhatsApp’s, bookfaces and any other thing you can think of- took me over a month to get back an additional charge from a rental company a few years ago when they accused me of leaving the car back late

I called them thieving bast***s in my opening post (I had plenty of evidence on my side)

I've a rental car....wtf do I do now? Fupin COVID

Comments