After failing to register car trip conclusion with Bolt Drive car-sharing app, a woman was asked to pay EUR 8 737.45 for repairs of a car damaged in a crash possibly caused by a different person.
Anna Miesniece claims on Facebook that on the 23rd of August, she drove back home and concluded a trip in a rented car through the car-sharing app. In the morning, however, the woman found in the app that the car she had rented earlier was still moving.
She attempted to conclude the drive while the car was still in movement, but she failed. The woman then wrote to Bolt customer service and called the Bold customer service hotline, but it was turned off. On the next day, however, the woman’s account was suspended. After that, Bolt representatives contacted the woman and informed her the car was found later and that an investigation was launched.
A couple of weeks later the woman was contacted by the police, who informed her that the car was found crashed and that the case involves her. The woman claims her colleagues can confirm that she was at work in the morning and that Bolt app clearly showed the car was in the opposite end of Riga. She stresses that she attempted to contact the company when the car was in motion.
One month later the woman received an e-mail from Bolt. In it, she is asked to pay for car repairs worth EUR 8 737.45.
Bolt Drive manager in Latvia Edvīns Kažoks told LETA that in this specific case the woman did not contact State Police, and information to Bold customer support was provided several hours after the end of her own trip. During this period of time, it is possible the car may have been used by another. This third party could have caused the crash, which is now being investigated by State Police.
Kažoks explained that Bolt Drive terms of use stipulate that everything that happens to the car during the rental period is the responsibility of the person renting the car. This is why Bolt invites all users to make sure after the end of their trip that the car is switched off in order to avoid incidents.
In the event that the user, after completing the trip, finds that the car has not been locked and is actively used, Bolt Drive invites you to first contact the State Police and report about the location of the car, and then inform the Bolt Drive customer support service about the situation.
At the same time, State Police have initiated administrative violation proceedings for the accident, as well as the author of the Facebook post has provided an explanation. Also, State Police have received an application for possible theft of the car, the application has been registered and is in the process of being considered, the agency LETA admitted to State Police.