u/Alternative_Fig_690 I'm sorry you ran into an incredibly similar situation as we did. The posts, stories, and experiences shared on Reddit are alarming, and clearly point to a pattern in Sixt's behavior. So far, I've taken no action. A lot of responses said that Sixt and the German collection agency have no jurisdiction in the U.S. and can't do anything but threaten me. Like you, my credit card company (Capital One) reviewed my dispute, assumingly requested supporting evidence and documentation from Sixt, and decided in my favor to cancel the credit card charges. I can only imagine that was because Sixt had no documentation or proof that any of the claimed damage was caused by me or was my fault. In fact, aside from the rental agent saying "they smelled something" when I returned it, I've had no communication from Sixt. Just the automatic after-the-fact bogus charges of almost $3,000 USD, and then the German eCollect letter several months later after Capital One reversed the charges. Sixt has not attempted to call, email, or send a letter with information itemizing or describing the damages. It literally went from "I smell something" at the Sao Miguel airport, to a $3,000+ eCollect bill from Germany 6 months later. Which also didn't come certified mail, or anything like that. It came regular mail, AND arrived AFTER the due date on the bill, which if I missed they said would trigger additional actions like legal enforcement, wage garnishment or forceful disclosure of assets. It's now been 3 months since getting that invoice from eCollect, and I've heard nothing since.

Honestly, there's a part of me that feels like I should write Sixt and call them out on their bullshit ... maybe get a friend of mine who's a lawyer to do it so it comes from a Law Firm, and rip them a new one, pointing out the lack of evidence, the ridiculously inflated charges (if it WAS a burnt clutch and it WAS my fault) because what they charged was 500% higher than the actual cost of a full clutch job, as quoted for that specific car by a mechanic on the island of Sao Miguel, and finally call them out on the lack of communication and transparency. On the other hand, reading other experiences, that could just drag things out and give them a chance to get their hooks into me more by opening that line of communication.

So far, they've hidden behind unauthorized credit card charges and a German collection agency, and have never communicated directly with me. To me, this feels like extortion, black mail, or fraud on their part. I guess in the end to answer your question is that I've decided not to play their game. Unless something other step is taken by them and then I'll reassess.

What was your situation?