[Resolved]  Zoom Car — invalid damage charges levied to my account

Address:	122001
Website:	zoomcar.com

This is in reference to booking id: jps62bk5p
I would like to draw your attention to this situation where i am being harassed by zoomcar with invalid damage charges.
I had booked a scorpio for 3 day period starting from 3rd june 2018, 10:00 am till 5th june 2018, 09:00 pm, for 295 km trip. So when i reached the pickup point at mahipalpur on 3rd june, it took me a while to spot the zoomcar associate. He took me to the car which was booked for me. He informed me about a check list and the other formalities to be completed but he seemed to be in a little hurry as it was too hot outside and the temperature was soaring. So, in the hurry, he proceeded with the formalities which included completing the check list, taking picture of the car number plate along with me in the same frame and checking my driving licence.in a while, i was handed over the car and i zoomed away with it.
On 5th june 2018, around 5 pm i went to return the car. I have driven over 500 km and was ready to pay for the additional km as per the zoomcar policy. Now, the associate who was to take the handover of the car, inspected the car. He checked the interior of the car and then top and finally started checking the exterior of the car. I informed him of a wheel cap which had come off and i had put it in the back of the car. Then, he came and started inspecting the rear left tyre of the car. He called in his other associates and asked them to reverse the car a bit so that they can put pressure on the area where there cut was on the exterior of the tyre. Then, he zoomed in and took a snap of the damage and i was informed that this shall be charged to my account. Since i was the only person driving and i knew that there has been no such incident occurred which would lead to such damages in the car. I denied this damage been done by me. He told me there is no point in discussing with him and i will receive a call from the customer care team who will give me all the details.
After that, the same day i could see the damage charges added to my account which is completely unjust. Since then, i was waiting for zoomcar to call me back and to resolve this issue. I had to call at their helpline and every time i got the assurance that zoomcar executive will get back to me in next 24 hours. I had also written to them on 10th of june to resolve this issue. I heard back from them on 12th june and they sent me the image of the cut on the tyre that was taken at the time of returning of the car and stated that the penalty levied is genuine.
The damage that they say happened to the tyre is a small cut at the exterior and there is no air leak, its so small that its nearly invisible to a layman’s eye. I drove nearly 500km with my family why would i be taking risk with a damaged tyre used in the car. The car always had a spare one. I suspect the he associate who took the vehicle handover was aware of the cut, he check only this tyre and left the other ones. Even if there is damage then you ask for repair charges not the entire amount to replace your weather part which has run for nearly 70, 000km. This is like zoomcar asking for the replacement of the tyre in case there is a leak. They have best operating model where for any major part repair to their existing fleet they levy the charges to an unsuspecting customer.
This is to all zoomcar customers existing + the new ones. When you go to pick-up your vehicle or when the vehicle is delivered at your doorstep, do have an experienced mechanic by your side. Have him microscopically check the entire car and then only take the delivery of the vehicle... Bcoz you never know when zoomcar associate will point to a damage which might not be visible/known to you and will put a damage charge on you, to replace their old weathered part.
I am very much upset by zoomcar has handled this and i find it impossible to book another zoom car for myself or even recommend it to my kith and kin. For now, i'd request you to kindly look into the matter, investigate it and help me in this situation.
Thanking you,
Warm regards,
Sharad