Hervey Bay man charged thousands over rental truck scratches

A Hervey Bay flood victim who rented a truck to move his flood-damaged furniture has been hit with a huge bill for scratches he admitted to making on the vehicle’s exterior.

A Fraser Coast man has been left startled and angry after receiving a bill from a vehicle rental company for more than $3000 because of these scratches left on the truck he rented.

A Fraser Coast man has been left startled and angry after receiving a bill from a vehicle rental company for more than $3000 because of scratches left on the truck he rented.

Lee Swindell, 57, was inundated with water up to his knees in his Scarness rental after the freak March flash flood event in Hervey Bay, which left thousands counting the cost of extensive damage to their homes.

Living close to a large storm drain, his property was one of the worst hit in the rain bomb.

Mr Swindell needed to move water-soaked furniture and appliances out of his home, so he booked himself a truck with Europcar.

All was well with the booking and the truck, until he accidentally hit the side of the vehicle on his gutter, leaving scratches on its exterior.

Lee Swindell's home suffered extensive damage during Hervey Bay's freak flash flooding in March 2025.

He flagged it with the company when he returned the vehicle, only to be met with a bill that he believes is unreasonably high.

“I did this. It’s my fault and my name on the contract, but the things that matter here are the depth of the gouge... and the opaque nature of what they’ve come to me with,” he said.

Mr Swindell has been charged $3111 for the scratches.

“It’s more money in their bank, and more salt in my wound,” he said.

Mr Swindell, who suffers from chronic fatigue, which leaves him unable to work since 2013, could not afford professional movers to clear his home, instead choosing to use the rental service so he could save a few dollars.

A large portion of the bill was caused by one hour’s worth of labour, which was valued at $2073, covering the cost of paint and repairs.

“If I hadn’t been honest and declared the damage when I returned it, there’s every possibility it wouldn’t have been seen,” he said.

A Fraser Coast man has been left startled and angry after receiving a bill from a vehicle rental company for more than $3000 because of scratches left on the truck he rented.

“Corporate bullying. That’s what this feels like to me.

“They’re charging me $93 for rivets.

“What is the reason for charging me this?

“Is it just because they can?”

Another charge from the invoice included $429 for new parts while the loss of use in the vehicle for a reported two days and an admin fee will cost Mr Swindell an extra $233.

The situation has left Mr Swindell contemplating the nature of alleged corporate greed in society.

“This is a society quite close to terminal decline,” he said.

“It’s so tragically wrong.”

Europcar was contacted with questions about the situation, but declined to comment.