Wannaskoda54

@Winston_Woof from me or from them?? a engineer friend sent me this link https://www.supermagnete.de/eng/faq/What-is-the-safe-distance-that-I-need-to-keep-to-my-devices which is quite detailed and please enjoy an exciting picture of the hotel key fob similar but not as ‘heavy duty’ as the one alleged to have caused the damage

Lol. I doubt anything fancy but more like an old system that’s not been updated unfortunately we are no longer at that hotel but the one we are in now has a similar system I will send a picture asap

@Winston_Woof No not a credit card style key. It was a separate fob type thing attached to a normal door key. The fob magnet was then located in a ‘holder’ beside the entry door, activating the power to the room

Thanks all. Must say it’s a bit stressful having my family here on holiday with this hanging over my head. The company was recommended by experienced traveller to Crete. I’ve declared without concrete proof that I caused this damage I won’t be paying anything further. They have told me a manager will be at the depot to collect the cash payment. They also stated that should I need an invoice for the key payment (had I agreed) it would be another 24% on top of the €250. Car rental firms do my nut in Would you folks be thinking then that if the magnetic field couldn’t have damaged the key there was something else that was already iffy? That they may have known about?? Again I’m v grateful for your time and opinions im going to be calling Skoda today to get a technicians advice too and I’ll let you know how things transpire. Because I’m sure you’re all enthralled!!! LOL

Thank you @Warrior193

The question I need to find an answer for is whether a magnet hotel key could damage this type of key due to proximity ?

That’s what I’m thinking @Jocko @Paws4ThotThe key they gave me was without any buttons and much like the one attached. I think there was a Skoda badge on it the company replaced the car with a 2023 Fabia (at no extra cost)

thanks to all for your replies Thank you JR this is what I was suspecting. Regarding the aces they have not taken any credit card details. and like I’ve mentioned, if it transpires I am to blame I’ll pay.

Lol Thanks for your reply Woolf Im in Crete. and you response kinda highlights my suspicions to be fair. The key they gave me was not a three button job. that’s my point

Hello all. I’m new here and this is my first post though I have skulked the pages for some years researching a VRS Tdi mk2 I have had my eye for some time. I spent some time looking before posting and found valid but not specific info regarding my issue. Which is as follows. I rented a 2014 Skoda Fabia on holiday. They gave me what I believe is an ignition key. There were no buttons to press on the key at all. After collecting the car and using it for a few days it then refused to run. It would start then the engine cut out and ‘No Key’ appeared on dash. The rental company are blaming me for key damage accusing me of having dropped it or water etc. and want to charge me silly money for a new key. Ok. So the ignition key was kept next to the magnet key for our hotel room which I believe is what the rental company are saying has damaged the key. Can the magnet cause this to happen to an ignition key? I’ve had a look around the web and it seems to suggest that it would o,need to be a very strong rare earth magnet. if I’ve caused damage then fine, I can accept and will pay. It’s their word against mine at the moment though. It could have been a dodgy key from the beginning, they’d have nothing to lose in letting me take a car where any key damage could be put on the customer as per rental contract. There are also ways to reprogramme the key with a spare locking it from the drivers door etc… Rather than try this, charge the customer ? Any advice/ help/ opinion is welcome and to reiterate if it’s a sure thing that I’ve damaged it then I’ll accept that. thanks I’m advance everyone