Antitrust, 5 million fine to Ald Automotive for unfair practice

The Antitrust Authority fined Ald, a global player in long-term rental, 5 million for unfair commercial practice with regard to the handling of customer charges for vehicle damage incurred during rental.

In particular, in the pre-contractual and contractual phase, the company, explains the Antitrust Authority, provided consumers with deficient, ambiguous and fragmented information on the nature, main features and conditions of the service, which is an accessory and subject to a fee, and which allows them to limit liability for damage to the vehicle.

This service, purchased by almost all customers, is supposed to allow consumers to pay only the agreed deductible in the event of damage to the rented vehicle. However, the company did not make it clear that customers must promptly report any damage on the Ald portal, and this has hindered the use of the purchased service.

In addition, it was found that the consumer was not promptly informed of the criteria adopted by the company to assess which damages were not considered to be caused by normal wear and tear and were therefore to be charged to the customer if not immediately reported when they occurred (Ald excludes charges only for damages assessed as "normal wear and tear"). Finally, the Authority found it aggressive that customers are charged for repairing damages that they only become aware of at the time of return, after the technical assessment has been completed, because they are minor or not visible to the naked eye. In relation to these damages, which were not reported before return precisely because they were not easily identifiable, the company's conduct prevented consumers from benefiting from the limitation of liability they had purchased.