Ho visto qualcuno localmente pubblicare questo screenshot su un’altra piattaforma e mi sembra abbastanza strano, quindi volevo chiederti se si tratta di una procedura regolare o meno.
Credo che stiano cercando di mascherare una questione penale come civile, e tutti questi avvertimenti/minacce sembrano essere un meccanismo di pressione per il pagamento anticipato (concedono 3 giorni per questo). Mi chiedo anche se questo tipo di problemi (uno specchietto laterale rotto) siano generalmente esclusi nei contratti di assicurazione completa, o anche se qualcosa di questi possa essere segnalato come negligenza a un organismo di consumatori con sede nell’UE.
Il nome dell’azienda non viene divulgato, quindi immagino che sia sicuro pubblicarlo.
https://i.redd.it/vhvs2pqx5ycg1.png
di paveltrufi
7 commenti
Seems like a scam to me. It’s giving all the signs of one anyway. Time sensitive, pressure of retaliation, bigger financial loss, if not acted on.
Did the would-be defendant vandalize the vehicle? If not, the penal part sounds like intimidation bullshit.
Looks like extortion. I would suggest filing a case for this at the consumer protection authority. Full insurance is full insurance.
I had a similar issue with a car rental company a few years ago. They claimed the one of the wheel covers had fallen and that I had to pay for a full set of 4. I am Bulgarian, told them what would happen after I file a complaint against them and they suddenly didn’t want to bother me about that issue.
Never ever us a car rental company, the are all scammers.
I think this is a scam or something. One, the penal code says if you ***destroy*** someone’s property you can be put in prison, and I’m pretty sure a broken car mirror doesn’t count. Two, if you’re going to sue someone for damages in court, the damages are determined and awarded by that court – you don’t get to make up your own sum and demand it in advance.
I’m not a lawyer though, so I could be wrong, but still. I wouldn’t trust it – and if there’s a company name in this message, I’d contact them directly to confirm this is real.
The penal threats are a complete joke, they have to prove you did it on purpose. If it is indeed a full insurance, answer them that you are reporting the case to the Comission for consumer protection, and if they do not react do it, here is their site, the “file a complaint” button to the top right:
[https://kzp.bg/en](https://kzp.bg/en)
The advice below is Chat GPT generated, but overall valid.
Key red flags:
• Threats of criminal prosecution for a civil rental dispute
• Immediate mention of prison, asset seizure, bank account freezing
• No court reference number, no prosecutor file number
• A relatively small amount (558.58 EUR) paired with extreme language
This style is common in aggressive debt-collection tactics in Eastern Europe and does not mean proceedings have actually started.
Article 216 of the Bulgarian Penal Code concerns intentional destruction of property.
For this to apply, they would need to prove:
• Intent (dolus), not accident or wear & tear
• Beyond reasonable doubt
• That the damage was not covered by the rental contract or insurance
👉 Normal rental damage disputes are civil matters, not criminal ones. Prosecutors do not pursue tourists for alleged car scratches.
Using criminal law language in a debt email is often considered abusive or misleading, and prosecutors are generally uninterested in such cases.
A private bailiff in Bulgaria can act only after:
1. A final court judgment, or
2. A payment order that you failed to contest
This process typically takes months, not days or emails.
They cannot legally:
• Freeze foreign bank accounts without EU-level enforcement
• Garnish wages abroad without recognition by your local court
• Seize assets unless you reside or own property in Bulgaria
Respond once, calmly and professionally. Do not argue emotionally.
Ask for:
• The rental agreement clause they rely on
• Before-and-after photos of the alleged damage
• The repair invoice (not an estimate)
• Proof the damage was not covered by insurance
• Confirmation whether the amount includes administrative fees (often unlawful)
Many claims collapse at this stage.
If you paid by credit card:
• Contact your bank and flag a potential abusive claim
• Ask whether chargeback protection applies
Also check:
• Travel insurance
• Credit-card rental insurance
• Collision Damage Waiver terms
In most cases like this:
• No criminal complaint is ever filed
• No court case is started (costs exceed claim)
• Emails continue for a while, then stop
• Sometimes the amount is quietly reduced
If they charged you a deposit and they take from the deposit to cover the damages – initiate a chargeback immediately. The fee is around 20-30 EUR. According to Card Scheme rules (VISA and Mastercard), car rental can NOT charge damages through the pre-authorized deposit. If you start a dispute on this basis alone, you will get your money back 100%.