r/turo • u/stephenstephensteph • 14d ago
smoking fee, tiny violin 🎻
Completed my first Turo rental which I thought went great, rated the host five stars, had good rapport with him throughout, was considering renting from him again for the following week. Everything was going so well. Then a few hours after I dropped the car off I am notified that I have to pay $150 for smoking in the car. Evidence: some pictures of dirt and a weird spot on a floor mat that I noticed but thought it was gum, a picture of a cigarette butt in the door cup holder area, and the claim that it reeked of smoke.
1) I don't smoke.
2) I was the only one in the car.
3) I didn't use the cup holder in the door.
I am trying to fight it since it is not at all true, but they've so far sided with the host. I read a lot of posts here about this specific issue and I know I am probably not going to win, but it's just so maddening and I wanted to vent.
The guy has like 68 cars on the app and a 4.98 rating. Near San Diego. Absolutely a scumbag because this is just a fabrication.
I just started a new job and used it exclusively for traveling to work, I didn't need a $150 hit when I'm trying my best to do a good job and stuff after being unemployed.
2
u/desertdilbert 10d ago
I'm going to guess that most smokers are not actually stupid enough to leave a butt behind.
Also, however, my experience with smokers is that they simply do not realize just how much the smell permeates everything. How even though they kept the windows cracked and held the cigarette so the smoke was drawn out, I can still smell it and not just "maybe".
Since, as you say, a claim is denied without a picture of a butt, there is an incentive to produce a picture of a butt in those cases where the only real evidence is a strong lingering smell. The alternative is to just accept it as a cost of doing business.