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End of car lease - excessive charges.

6 replies

leasecarendcharges · 29/08/2023 18:56

I have had a lease car for 3 years, it ended early July. We had an examiner out, to check for fair wear and tear and any damages. We were aware of a small dent in the door and scuffs on one alloy.

He was very meticulous and found many more supposed claims of damages. Some not even visible. He had to get a zig zag chart to show supposed distortion of a dent. It was laughable the lengths he went to, to point out "damages"

Anyway, they estimate the cost to repair is £1000.

We are happy to pay for the dent and alloy, but not the rest, as in my mind, a few non-visible scratches are literally the definition of fair wear and tear?

Also, we gave the car back with 1500 miles less on the clock, so they are getting the car back in a more favourable condition than they expected.

I wasn't given the fair wear and tear guidelines when I started the contract. It was only when I probed at the end I finally was sent the guidelines. Nowhere in the guidelines did it say half of the claims they reported.

They said as a gesture of goodwill, they will take off £150, so are asking £750.

They have advised we go to the financial ombudsman, but when I tried that it seemed like it was only for bank disputes etc? Does anyone have any advice where I can go from here, please? Thank you

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 29/08/2023 19:01

Their advice was correct. You go to the financial ombudsman. Their remit includes car finance agreements.

PurBal · 29/08/2023 19:04

I agree with PP that the financial services ombudsman would cover contracts. But there is a motor ombudsman who may help if you’ve been miss sold or not made fully aware of what you were purchasing. Maybe worth a try? https://www.themotorombudsman.org/

Home

The Motor Ombudsman is the UK’s government-backed, self-regulatory body for the motor industry. Find a garage you can rely on and resolve motoring disputes.

https://www.themotorombudsman.org/

leasecarendcharges · 29/08/2023 19:06

Thank you for your reply, which of the following would fit for a car lease company?

End of car lease - excessive charges.
OP posts:
Spirallingdownwards · 29/08/2023 19:08

Loans and other credit like car finance....

prh47bridge · 29/08/2023 19:15

Loans and other credit, like car finance...

geoger · 29/08/2023 19:29

Hi OP, I gave my lease car of 3 years back today. When they dropped it off to me originally I was taken round the car by the person who dropped it off to check for scratches/scuffs. We spotted 3 and these were added to a sheet that we both signed. So when I gave the car back today I handed over that sheet to show they were existing scratches/scuffs. Did you have this sheet?
More importantly, did you read the T&Cs of the lease? They’re usually very fussy about dents/scratches etc and I know they will charge way more than it would cost at my local garage to sort it out - the fact that you’ve done less mileage than you’ve stated on the lease makes no difference. So, I always get my scratch/dent guy to come out and sort out any scratches/dents before the car gets picked up, eg: he came out on Saturday and fixed a dent from where I’d hit a bollard and sorted out one of the alloys plus a few scuffs. It cost £400 but had I left it I know the company would’ve charged way more. I also spent £20 getting the car thoroughly cleaned.
I’ve been leasing cars for 12 years now and I always make sure I sort out any damage myself because I know the company charges a fortune

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