Best course of action for a totalled rental car?

[Teggie]

Texas

My elderly mother put her credit card up to allow my sister to rent a car to drive herself and her bf to Cali where they were going to be staying. My sister was the listed renter and her bf had cash to pay for it but neither had a credit card. My sister had just got out of jail after 6 months and my mother felt like she needed to help her out. This was a mistake we know, I had no knowledge of this or I would have asked her not to. Long story short the car was found off the road, totaled. We know my sister is alive bc evidently she called the rental place in Cali and reported the car had been stolen. When they asked for more details she hung up on them. We have since found out she prob has a warrant out for her in Cali and that's prob why she hung up. Of course we have not heard from her and have no idea where she is.

My question is what is the best course of action to take from this point on to protect my mother as best as I can? I would imagine my first step would be to make a police report to the authorities.

Thank you,
Teggie

 

[Ohiogal]

Texas

My elderly mother put her credit card up to allow my sister to rent a car to drive herself and her bf to Cali where they were going to be staying. My sister was the listed renter and her bf had cash to pay for it but neither had a credit card. My sister had just got out of jail after 6 months and my mother felt like she needed to help her out. This was a mistake we know, I had no knowledge of this or I would have asked her not to. Long story short the car was found off the road, totaled. We know my sister is alive bc evidently she called the rental place in Cali and reported the car had been stolen. When they asked for more details she hung up on them. We have since found out she prob has a warrant out for her in Cali and that's prob why she hung up. Of course we have not heard from her and have no idea where she is.

My question is what is the best course of action to take from this point on to protect my mother as best as I can? I would imagine my first step would be to make a police report to the authorities.

Thank you,
Teggie

You can't really do anything to protect your mother. Her credit card was NOT stolen and your sister had permission to use it. Your mother may very well be on the hook for this.

 

[Teggie]

You can't really do anything to protect your mother. Her credit card was NOT stolen and your sister had permission to use it. Your mother may very well be on the hook for this.

Thank you for your response. We know she will be liable but we are unsure just how much she will be charged over this fiasco. Does the rental agencies carry any insurance on their vehicles? We are going to file a police report on all this, doubt it will do much good but we have to try anyways.

 

[Ohiogal]

Thank you for your response. We know she will be liable but we are unsure just how much she will be charged over this fiasco. Does the rental agencies carry any insurance on their vehicles? We are going to file a police report on all this, doubt it will do much good but we have to try anyways.

The insurance is going to want to be reimbursed by the responsible party -- your sister who used your mother's credit card. As such your mother may end up being responsible financially because she let your sister use her credit card. Why are YOU going to file a police report? You are not involved legally. And what is your mother expecting to say in a police report? She let your sister use her credit card?

 

[Teggie]

The insurance is going to want to be reimbursed by the responsible party -- your sister who used your mother's credit card. As such your mother may end up being responsible financially because she let your sister use her credit card. Why are YOU going to file a police report? You are not involved legally. And what is your mother expecting to say in a police report? She let your sister use her credit card?

I would be initiating these calls while my mother is present. My mother is 73 and gets confused and flustered very easily. I will only be her advocate. She only wants it documented that my sister reportedly said the car was stolen per the car rental people. That's what my mother was told by the car rental people. And give whatever information might be needed. As far as we know my sister did not file a police report of theft. Like I said I doubt it will do any good but we will try. I guess there is no chance my mothers car insurance will cover any of this if the try to hit my mother with the full cost of the car?

 

[Ohiogal]

I would be initiating these calls while my mother is present. My mother is 73 and gets confused and flustered very easily. I will only be her advocate. She only wants it documented that my sister reportedly said the car was stolen per the car rental people. That's what my mother was told by the car rental people. And give whatever information might be needed. As far as we know my sister did not file a police report of theft. Like I said I doubt it will do any good but we will try. I guess there is no chance my mothers car insurance will cover any of this if the try to hit my mother with the full cost of the car?

Your mother's insurance MIGHT cover it but has your mother reported the accident to her insurance? If not, that could present a big problem. She needs to report the accident to her insurance and let them let her know if it will be covered. And you would be playing a game of telephone. Who talked to the car rental company? Who talked to your sister? You or your mother? Because you are in the midst of triple hearsay at minimum right now which means the story is most likely not as you were told.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Actively process this as quickly as possible. They will be adding a loss of use fee daily.