Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Texas

Rental Car Issue

In September 2003, I rented a car in Beaumont, Texas from a rental car company. When I was driving in Houston, TX, I met with an accident. I didn't take a CDW when I rented the car. As the accident was due to my fault I accepted to pay the charges to the rental car. Some days later I moved to Houston. The rental car company had tried to contact me. As they couldn't get my reply, they reported it to a collection agency in Minnesota. The collection agency is now calling me and asking to pay for the damages. In my current financial situation I cannot pay the amount right now. So, I have to decided to ask them more time. My doubt is, if I take more time to pay it off, will the collection agency report it to credit bureaus? I'm worried whether my credit history will get affected, if in case it gets reported to credit bureaus? Please provide me a solution for this. Thanks.


Asked on 3/11/04, 3:49 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Peter Bradie Bradie, Bradie & Bradie

Re: Rental Car Issue

You are on the right track, assuming you didn't own a car at the time of the accident. If you did, your own auto insurance would take care of the rental car damage, save for the deductible.

Explain the situation to the agency, and see what sort of payout schedule would be acceptable. It is probably reported already, so if it shows up on your credit report, simply ask the bureau to let you add an explanation.

Use letters, and not the telephone, so you have a record of what's been negotiated.

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Answered on 3/11/04, 4:37 pm


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