Consumer complaint received 2025-04-05 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Auto debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: Viking Client Services
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
XXXX sent me a bill for {$270.00} earlier this year for the replacement of a tire that got a nail in it during my rental. I rented the car in CA in XX/XX/year>. In the rental terms & conditions XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ), it states " FOR RENTALS COMMENCING IN CALIFORNIA, ( A ) YOU ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO THE CAR RESULTING FROM COLLISION, ROLLOVER, THEFT OR VANDALISM, .. '' According to this, I don't owe this debt. I also requested paperwork from XXXX explaining the breakdown of charges. In that breakdown that was sent to me, I was charged for the replacement of two tires, and not just the one that got a nail in it. I requested for XXXX to charge me for just the one tire, which the rep I was working said he could not do. After I sent this same rep the above portion of the agreement that calls our CA rentals specifically, he began ignoring and never responded to me again. 

A month or so later, I got a letter from a debt collector requesting I pay the debt. I disupted the debt, and they sent me the same information regarding my rental including the whole rental agreement. I responded to the debt collector assigned to my case on XX/XX/XXXX, tellig her that I do not owe this debt as I was charged for 2 tires instead of the 1 damaged during my rental. I also sent her the same portion of the rental agreement that calls out XXXX XXXX which I included above. I also left her two voicemails. She never responded to me. 

This is the second time I am submiting this complaint, as the first time, the debt collector, Viking Client Services LLC, did not respond to the above CA clause. Instead, the response stated : " I have read through the rental agreement ( attached ) and do not see where that verbiage is referenced. To my knowledge, a rental that commences in California is subject to the terms and conditions ( attached ) which state that any damage is the responsibility of the renter while the vehicle is in their possession. '' I'm not sure whether this representative said this out of plain ignorance or just to continue scamming her customers. The Rental Terms & Conditions that she referenced above ( whic I have also attached ) are outdated and differ from those that are linked to my reservation in my receipt. The linked and updated terms can be found here : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX The section of the terms that proves that I am not liable for replacing 2 tires if 1 gets a nail in it is Section 4.1. This sections states : " 1. FOR RENTALS COMMENCING IN CALIFORNIA, ( A ) YOU ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO THE CAR RESULTING FROM COLLISION, ROLLOVER, THEFT OR VANDALISM, ( B ) YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO THE CAR WILL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE CAR AT THE TIME IT IS LOST OR DAMAGED, PLUS ACTUAL CHARGES FOR TOWING, STORAGE AND IMPOUND FEES, AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE, ( C ) YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO THE CAR RESULTING FROM VANDALISM UNRELATED TO THE THEFT OF THE CAR WILL NOT EXCEED US {$500.00} AND ( D ) YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO THE CAR RESULTING FROM THEFT UNLESS IT RESULTS FROM A FAILURE TO EXERCISE ORDINARY CARE BY YOU OR ANY AUTHORIZED OPERATOR. '' Separately, the rep said : " Unfortunately, it is standard protocol to replace two or all four tires to maintain the integrity of the vehicle. After the vehicle inspection it was determined that only two tires should be replaced. '' My response to the above is that in car insurance parlance, a nail in a tire is generally considered regular wear and tear. In the rental agreement it states that I am not liable for regular wear and tear. And what XXXX generally does in terms of charging customers for replacing 2 or 4 tires if only one is damaged has nothing to do with your rental agreement terms & conditions, as that is not specifically mentioned anywhere. That is one way you choose to scam your customers to cover the cost of vehicle maintance that you should be covering. Just because you do it regularly does not mean it is allowed under your rental terms & conditions. My questions to Viking Client Services LLC are as follows : 1. How can I be liable for the nail in the tire considering the CA clause above?

2. Show me which section of your rental terms & agreement allow you to charge a customer for multiple tires if only 1 is damaged during the rental.

I truly believe you are takig advantage of your customers with these small wear and tear charges because many are unwilling to fight back for such small charges. I can pay this charge easily, but I know I do not owe it according to your rental terms & conditions. 

Thanks, XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation