Returned lease car - damage report/payment

[Fats25]

I have had a mercedes on pcp for the past 2 years, and I decided to hand it back. So the car was collected last week, and I received the report back today of damage/costs. This is the first time I have had a car on pcp and I will be honest has been the bit I have been dreading, as I have always been concerned about being stitched up.

Before returning the car I had some minor repairs done to bumpers, door dings, windscreen etc. I knew there were another couple of bts and pieces that I expected to be charged for. However the report that I have received today is not right.

They have picked up on 10 things at a cost of repair of nearly £900.

I agree with 5 of the 10 things listed, which would be a total of approx £220.

They are not open until Monday to call them, which I will, but just wondered other people's experiences that have been in the same boat are. How is the conversation likely to go on Monday?

[Fats25]

Caulkhead said:

Does the company that collected your car sound like they were named after an engine invented by Sir Frank Whittle?

Yes.

[Fats25]

To give one example I have been sent a photo of a tyre with a chunk out of it. I am 100% sure that it was not there before the car was loaded. The report I have when car was collected states all tyres are fine.

Also they mention a full respray of a panel, due to unsatisfactory repair. The panel was never repaired in the time i had the car!

There is more but these are the worst of what I feel they are claiming.

[Fats25]

Deva Link said:

Did you have the car from new for the two years, and how many miles did you do?

To be honest, if you had stuff repaired, and you still agree with 5 of the 10 things wrong with the car, it does come across like the car's had a hard time. I've returned many company cars with 100K on them and they've been immaculate.

Car has done a staggering 19000 miles in the two years I had it from new. Has certainly not had a hard time.

Before returning the car I had a door ding removed from the rear rh door, and the guy that did it commented there was a slight door ding to the left hand door, but was not deep enough form him to 'get at it'. The rear bumper had a scrape down the right hand side, and the front bumper had scrapes on the underneath of the bumper, where it was parked forwards against kerbs and had been scraped. A mate of mine with a very good body shop, removed the bumpers, repaired and refitted. All 4 wheels had small scrapes on them.

Then the car was handed back.

The 5 things I agree with are 3 x alloy wheel repairs, and giving the benefit of the doubt to the left hand side door (which I could not see, but as above was pointed out to me previously), which merc have placed as two different items.

The bits I do not agree with are:-

1) tyre as listed above
2) rear bumper repair
3) bad repair on quarter panel as listed above
4) replacement of door guard when3) is completed (x2)

From the replies seems like this is all part of the game for returning a car.....

[Fats25]

mattviatura said:

Having said that there are strict guidelines which must be adhered to and if you PM me I'll send you a copy of the BVRLA guidelines on fair wear and tear for you to appeal.

Mods. As a general point is there any way of having a forum for leasing as I'm often on here having to defend my line of work because lots of people seem to not understand the process?

PM on it's way.

Mercedes do send letters stating what is acceptable and what isn't, hence me getting some 'tarting up' of the vehicle done, including bumpers and windscreen. As per these acceptable guidelines, the only thing I expected to get charged for was the wheels, and the dent on the ns front, which as stated above I could not see, but my dent master mate said he could. If this is how it transpires, then that will be fine.

As per the link to the mb forum, that is very interesting, I am in same boat as the others, as I only took photos of the wheels, as there was nothing else I was concerned about. I would have had to have taken photos of the entire car where it would have just appeared clean! I wish I had made morer of an effort though, although I do have high res photos of the day the car was collected of both sides of car, and front and back that I can zoom in on.

With regards to defending your line of work, I have no issues with the entire leasing process. Just this piece!

[Fats25]

mattviatura said:

There are several "Mercedes-Benz Finance" companies and they all used to, yes.

Did you get my PM? Are you able to send the BVRLA details through please?

[Fats25]

A brief update - after a number of letters over the past three months, I have reached a resolution with Mercedes Benz Finance which I think is reasonable and am happy to pay.

1st letter - claimed £880.99
2nd letter - adjusted to £599.99
3rd letter - adjusted to £553.99
4th letter - adjusted to £416
5th letter - Settled on £161

I could have pushed it further, possibly getting the fees waived after the lack of response, and the way they have acted. However as stated in my initial letter I was prepared to pay £220 for damage, and stated this in my initial letter to them - so £161 is I believe a fair settlement.

Has really tarnished my respect for Mercedes though, and I am afraid that the whole episode has meant at this stage, I am not prepared to go down this lease/pcp route again. The risk of being "done over" is just too high on the return of the vehicle.

BTW - for anyone in this situation, I have not had to provide any evidence of what I have stated in my return letters. It was just common sense reasoning behind my objections to charges.

[Fats25]

mattviatura said:

It's understandable but a pity you've been put off, not all of the leasing companies have the same policies.

Very true. However the rest of the process I was very happy with. The ease and cost of leasing is very attractive, and is still very attractive to me at this point.

Once I have cooled off from this entire Mercedes experience, I may change my mind.

Is there more support going through a company like yours on the returns process? Or are you just broking the deal? There could be some value if the returns process was managed through a third party with a vested interest in both the dealer, and the customer.