This Arizona woman went to visit her sick 88-year-old grandma in Pennsylvania — then got hit with a $1,300 bill from a car rental company for ‘sustained damages.’ Here’s what happened after

Brown shared her story with Phoenix CBS Channel 5’s On Your Side. She rented a BMW from a car rental agency called Sixt Rent-a-Car during the visit and returned it four days later, receiving no comments at the return desk.

“No one filled out any paperwork with me,” she said. “When they took my keys there was no system whatsoever so I didn’t know. They rushed us on the shuttle.”

But when she and her son returned to Arizona, Brown got an email from Sixt Rent-a-Car claiming she was responsible for $1,371.13 damages, to be paid in full, along with photos of tire damage she allegedly caused.

Challenging a rental car damage charge

Brown says she barely drove the car when she flew up to visit her grandmother, other than doing some sightseeing with her son.

She told the company she would not pay the $1,371.13. She heard nothing back for three months, and then the company repeated its claim. At that point, Brown reached out to On Your Side for help.

Investigative reporter Gary Harper contacted Sixt Rent-a-Car about the dispute, and the company immediately dropped the claim.

“I thought this was going to be a long huge battle and it wouldn’t go away and could possibly affect my credit,” Brown says. “I’m so relieved.”

How to avoid rental car damage disputes

While Brown was able to settle her rental car dispute with help, there are steps you can take to avoid such disputes altogether.