Feb
27
Legal Advice please! Company trying to rip off kids on Spring Break -took $200 from my son–next step?
Filed Under Pre Paid Legal
brodiemojo asked:
My son,19, is in Florida for Spring Break. He & friends rented scooters yesterday &initialed a small print paper.They just listened to the guy saying what it was.They each left a $100 deposit. On return, the guy told my son he scratched the front plastic part of the bike. He said he was taking out $300 from his card for damages. My son insisted he did not scratch it–the bike was covered in scratches and dents before he rented it. He said no to paying $300. The guy said fine-he was keeping the entire groups deposits. My son didn’t want everyone to suffer so he said OK-but, he didn’t have $300 in his debit account. The guy wanted to know how much he had & ended up taking $200. I called the owner who says if any damage is made-they get $300. I said they were ripping off kids, because the bike was covered in scratches & no pre-rental check was done with my son to see if new damage occurs. She said she’d look into it. Nothing so far. They have a BAD BBB rating. Any advice?
We do have a family lawyer, but would rather figure this one out myself.
#2 response–Phone picture. Old Bike, scratched up all over. My son tells me good and bad. The scratch is 1″ long on a plastic thingy on the front-surrounded by other scratches that obviously have never been “repaired” by the $300 they took off other poor kids.
What about this guy bargaining him down to $200 ?? Didn’t he break the contract by trying to see how much money my kid had in his account?mIsn’t it obvious he was just stealing money with a ridiculous contract??
What amazes me is that no one yet seems appalled by the sleazy business practices of this cycle shop that makes its money off of kids having fun on vacation.
Christiana
My son,19, is in Florida for Spring Break. He & friends rented scooters yesterday &initialed a small print paper.They just listened to the guy saying what it was.They each left a $100 deposit. On return, the guy told my son he scratched the front plastic part of the bike. He said he was taking out $300 from his card for damages. My son insisted he did not scratch it–the bike was covered in scratches and dents before he rented it. He said no to paying $300. The guy said fine-he was keeping the entire groups deposits. My son didn’t want everyone to suffer so he said OK-but, he didn’t have $300 in his debit account. The guy wanted to know how much he had & ended up taking $200. I called the owner who says if any damage is made-they get $300. I said they were ripping off kids, because the bike was covered in scratches & no pre-rental check was done with my son to see if new damage occurs. She said she’d look into it. Nothing so far. They have a BAD BBB rating. Any advice?
We do have a family lawyer, but would rather figure this one out myself.
#2 response–Phone picture. Old Bike, scratched up all over. My son tells me good and bad. The scratch is 1″ long on a plastic thingy on the front-surrounded by other scratches that obviously have never been “repaired” by the $300 they took off other poor kids.
What about this guy bargaining him down to $200 ?? Didn’t he break the contract by trying to see how much money my kid had in his account?mIsn’t it obvious he was just stealing money with a ridiculous contract??
What amazes me is that no one yet seems appalled by the sleazy business practices of this cycle shop that makes its money off of kids having fun on vacation.
Christiana
Comments
5 Responses to “Legal Advice please! Company trying to rip off kids on Spring Break -took $200 from my son–next step?”
Katy
Consider it a cheap lesson in life. Be happy it didn’t cost him more.
Cherie
small claims court
How do you know you son did not damaged it? His word? Did you see thebike? You are aware they were most likely drunk.
Carmelina
Your son signed the document. You could sue, but youd probably end up wasting more time and money then its worth.
Bess
“Kid on Spring Break Ripped Off in Florida!” Call the headline writers.
If your son wants to return to Fla. for the trial he can file suit in Small claims court for about $105.00 bucks. Otherwise, its a relatively cheap lesson. Next time he rents a wreck he’ll take photos of it.
Lenard
This would be a small claims case in Florida, which your (adult) son would have to file and prosecute there. Not worth the time and expense to take legal action.
For the future–your (adult) son should read the contracts he signs, even the small print. When he rents or buys any item, he should inspect it before he takes it. That’s just common sense, especially in a situation where he is specifically leaving a deposit in the event that there are any damages claimed by the shop.
He should also learn that each contract stands on its own. If his friends each had separate agreements to rent scooters, there is no legal way for the shop to keep the other deposits for damages on your son’s scooter.
As for “breaching” the contract by taking only $200–no. They were negotiating a settlement of the dispute. That is not breaking any the contract as you described it.
EDIT – being appalled doesn’t improve the answer to your legal question, but if it helps you, I am appalled.