Mahmoud Ahmad, manager of one of the giant car rental
companies in Riyadh, told Arab News most of the problems they faced came from
customers. "Many of the customers are uncaring. The best ones are those
who bring the car back safe but showing signs of great negligence," he
said.
The manager noted that some customers rent cars to go
joyriding. "They will dust the car (temporarily change the color) and
change the number plates to avoid the Saher system. When they return the car,
they start bargaining on the extra mileage. When we discover that the car has
been misused, they refuse to pay," he said.
Ahmad said some customers would abandon the cars anywhere
without informing the office of its exact location. "We may find the car
later either in a bad shape or totally damaged."
The manager said some customers rent cars only to disappear
completely after some time. "They will take them to villages and remote
areas away from the eyes of the traffic police to dismantle them and sell the
parts," he said.
According to him, some customers give the company wrong
information about themselves. "Some will even give us company ID cards but
when we go there, we discover that he had left the job a long time ago,"
he said, wondering why former employees are allowed to keep such identification.
Ahmad said some young men who are underage will send people
who possess driving licenses to hire cars for them and when there is an
accident, the insurance won't pay as the drivers were under the legal age for
driving.
Faisal Al-Ali, an agent for a car rental company, was
looking for a car that disappeared six months before Arab News met him. He said
the car was rented for five days earlier this year but has gone missing ever
since.
He said the customer presented to the company identity and
family affairs cards that were both forgeries.
"How can we distinguish a forged card from a genuine
one? Why can't the Interior Ministry make a national number for each citizen so
that he is easily located," he asked.
Faisal said his company is suffering losses of more than SR2
million, most of which comes from outstanding dues from customers.
Faisal Al-Yami, a legal representative for a car rental
company, said a customer rented a 2011 model car and had an accident. He said
the customer took the car to a workshop and denied that the vehicle had been
damaged.
Al-Yami said they called the police to complain about the
customer but they were told to take the matter to the traffic police. He said
when officers from the department arrived three hours later, they asked the
company to take the car back to the scene of the accident or refer the matter
back to the police. "When we got sick of finding a resolution, we repaired
the car at our own expense. It cost us SR11,000," he said.
Ahmad Al-Otaibi, another legal representative for a car
rental company, said Shariah courts can be slow in helping them pursue lawsuits
against errant customers. "The courts are slow in their procedures. We are
also asked to file lawsuits at civil courts close to those we are taking action
against. Why are we not allowed to file lawsuits at courts where the company is
headquartered?" he asked.
Al-Otaibi said the courts usually give the defendant three
months to appear and when he fails to do so, he is automatically given another
three months. "When the defendant fails to show up even after the second
period, the case goes to the governorate which gives him yet another three
months to appear," he said.
Al-Otaibi said sometimes it can take them more than a year
to simply force the defendant to appear before the court. He asked for rulings
on such cases to be made by the police within 24 hours.
