Lease car going back....
Discussion
Hi all - my lease car is going back next week (hurrah!) to make room for something much more exciting 
I'm just getting a few dings and bits sorted out and then remembered this random hairline crack on the lip of the bumper (see picture below) which appeared whilst the car was left at Heathrow a year or so ago. Is it likely the lease company are going to pick up on this as outside of wear and tear damage and if so am I likely to have my wallet significantly invaded? If so (and I do think so) what would be the best remedy for it? I am open to ideas, but would ideally like to keep the cost down and it's just a repair to apease the lease company!
Many thanks!
Alex
I'm just getting a few dings and bits sorted out and then remembered this random hairline crack on the lip of the bumper (see picture below) which appeared whilst the car was left at Heathrow a year or so ago. Is it likely the lease company are going to pick up on this as outside of wear and tear damage and if so am I likely to have my wallet significantly invaded? If so (and I do think so) what would be the best remedy for it? I am open to ideas, but would ideally like to keep the cost down and it's just a repair to apease the lease company!
Many thanks!
Alex
smileymikey said:
Run to Halfords buy a white wax scratch repair crayon, fill the crack. Then have your girlfriend in a very low cut top bend over to tie her shoelaces every time the inspection guy goes anywhere near the back of the car....Worked for me 
- I will have to see if I can make this fly with the fiancee but I see no reason why not if no actual solution can be found in time!!smileymikey said:
Run to Halfords buy a white wax scratch repair crayon, fill the crack. Then have your girlfriend in a very low cut top bend over to tie her shoelaces every time the inspection guy goes anywhere near the back of the car....Worked for me
Sod's law says the inspection 'guy' turns out to be a woman! Hedge your bets fella - wear your speedo's just in case...... 
PIGINAWIG said:
smileymikey said:
Run to Halfords buy a white wax scratch repair crayon, fill the crack. Then have your girlfriend in a very low cut top bend over to tie her shoelaces every time the inspection guy goes anywhere near the back of the car....Worked for me
Sod's law says the inspection 'guy' turns out to be a woman! Hedge your bets fella - wear your speedo's just in case...... 
I was braced for a right royal shafting when I had to hand one of our lease pool cars back. A pug with high miles, and damage to every panel except the roof. There was a hole in the carpet, scuffed alloys and bumpers. There was even rus on it where a previous repair had gone bad, the key fobs were buggered though it did have a perfect service history.
I was away when they came to get it. On my retuen the sheet had been left for me. Bodywork described as being in "pefrect condition"
wildcat45 said:
I was braced for a right royal shafting when I had to hand one of our lease pool cars back. A pug with high miles, and damage to every panel except the roof. There was a hole in the carpet, scuffed alloys and bumpers. There was even rus on it where a previous repair had gone bad, the key fobs were buggered though it did have a perfect service history.
I was away when they came to get it. On my retuen the sheet had been left for me. Bodywork described as being in "pefrect condition"
You were lucky. When our MB when back off lease they picked up on everything, even the fact that damage caused by us being rear ended hadn't been properly repaired by their own bodyshop...I was away when they came to get it. On my retuen the sheet had been left for me. Bodywork described as being in "pefrect condition"
I am fully prepared for a bit of a battle - especially when it comes to what might be considered wear and tear niggles - scrapes and supermarket dings mainly.
I do need one alloy refurbed before it goes back where I got a bit intimate with a curb. Other than that and the rear bumper it just needs some tlc with a bit of t-cut, wax and polish - and probably a dust and hoover on the inside...
I think I've just got to stand up to them...on the plus side unlike the MB above, it's ONLY a SEAT....so it won't be being resold as a premium model...just a cheap Vag.
I do need one alloy refurbed before it goes back where I got a bit intimate with a curb. Other than that and the rear bumper it just needs some tlc with a bit of t-cut, wax and polish
- and probably a dust and hoover on the inside...I think I've just got to stand up to them...on the plus side unlike the MB above, it's ONLY a SEAT....so it won't be being resold as a premium model...just a cheap Vag.
miln0039 said:
I am fully prepared for a bit of a battle - especially when it comes to what might be considered wear and tear niggles - scrapes and supermarket dings mainly.
I do need one alloy refurbed before it goes back where I got a bit intimate with a curb. Other than that and the rear bumper it just needs some tlc with a bit of t-cut, wax and polish - and probably a dust and hoover on the inside...
I think I've just got to stand up to them...on the plus side unlike the MB above, it's ONLY a SEAT....so it won't be being resold as a premium model...just a cheap Vag.
Take Billions of photos before you hand it back as it is not unknown for lease companies to try and bill you afterwards for damage that you 'missed' even though it's been signed off by the collection guy.I do need one alloy refurbed before it goes back where I got a bit intimate with a curb. Other than that and the rear bumper it just needs some tlc with a bit of t-cut, wax and polish
- and probably a dust and hoover on the inside...I think I've just got to stand up to them...on the plus side unlike the MB above, it's ONLY a SEAT....so it won't be being resold as a premium model...just a cheap Vag.
If they try this always ask for evidence of damage and invoices for repairs. (they normally don't bother with fixing the cars as they are usually thrown straight to auction).
OP its not the fact that it's only a SEAT or what you deem to be fair wear and tear thats important.
Its all down to the BVRLA and what they consider to be fair wear and tear which is whay you signed up to on your agreement.
You can find more information on this here
It might be worth your while getting a cost from a friendly, good smart repair man to get your bits taken care of as I am aware of at least two big leasing companies that are using the costs as an alternative revenue stream as the are getting a bit of a hammering on residuals.
HTH
Its all down to the BVRLA and what they consider to be fair wear and tear which is whay you signed up to on your agreement.
You can find more information on this here
It might be worth your while getting a cost from a friendly, good smart repair man to get your bits taken care of as I am aware of at least two big leasing companies that are using the costs as an alternative revenue stream as the are getting a bit of a hammering on residuals.
HTH
angry jock said:
OP its not the fact that it's only a SEAT or what you deem to be fair wear and tear thats important.
Its all down to the BVRLA and what they consider to be fair wear and tear which is whay you signed up to on your agreement.
You can find more information on this here
It might be worth your while getting a cost from a friendly, good smart repair man to get your bits taken care of as I am aware of at least two big leasing companies that are using the costs as an alternative revenue stream as the are getting a bit of a hammering on residuals.
HTH
Thanks for your reply, I had been looking at the link you provided via the lease company's own website prior to writing the above and that is what I was referring to with my wear and tear comment - I wasn't very specific so apologies. Its all down to the BVRLA and what they consider to be fair wear and tear which is whay you signed up to on your agreement.
You can find more information on this here
It might be worth your while getting a cost from a friendly, good smart repair man to get your bits taken care of as I am aware of at least two big leasing companies that are using the costs as an alternative revenue stream as the are getting a bit of a hammering on residuals.
HTH
I am reasonably happy that most of the bits and pieces fall within their guidelines - although I will still be preparing the car with diligent washing, t-cutting, cleaning etc as I would aim to do prior to a sale.
I will get the main jobs done myself if I can before it goes back, so wheel refurb (easy) and something on the bumper - but I don't know what. It's only small, there must be an easy fix?!
No problem 
The scratch looks like an easy fix. A decent smart repair person would be able to get most of that our so that its acceptable. Have seen a few people being stung with this and is always the case, it can be a complete ballache to go through the appeals process and the leasing companies know this.
Make the car look as mint as you can and I'm sure you will have no problems!
The scratch looks like an easy fix. A decent smart repair person would be able to get most of that our so that its acceptable. Have seen a few people being stung with this and is always the case, it can be a complete ballache to go through the appeals process and the leasing companies know this.
Make the car look as mint as you can and I'm sure you will have no problems!
angry jock said:
No problem
The scratch looks like an easy fix. A decent smart repair person would be able to get most of that our so that its acceptable. Have seen a few people being stung with this and is always the case, it can be a complete ballache to go through the appeals process and the leasing companies know this.
Make the car look as mint as you can and I'm sure you will have no problems!
Hopefully, I've got the alloy booked in now and will spend Saturday morning after the MOT giving it some tlc then take it down to the local hand carwash (good chaps - no stones on their sponges) and get them to give it a going over inside and out too.The scratch looks like an easy fix. A decent smart repair person would be able to get most of that our so that its acceptable. Have seen a few people being stung with this and is always the case, it can be a complete ballache to go through the appeals process and the leasing companies know this.
Make the car look as mint as you can and I'm sure you will have no problems!
Just that bloody scratch I need to think about because it's more of a crack than a scratch...but it's bloody tiny.
miln0039 said:
Just that bloody scratch I need to think about because it's more of a crack than a scratch...but it's bloody tiny.
Get a SMART repairer to fix it, or at least make it invisible so it won't show up in a photo. If the car is from VAG finance then they will pick it up, they're legendary, and not in a good way. It doesn't matter what the guy collecting the car says, they'll still bill you a month later. Deva Link said:
Get a SMART repairer to fix it, or at least make it invisible so it won't show up in a photo. If the car is from VAG finance then they will pick it up, they're legendary, and not in a good way. It doesn't matter what the guy collecting the car says, they'll still bill you a month later.
No it's with Lombard - not sure if that counts in my favour or not?http://www.smartrepairers.co.uk/ - these guys? Just to check before I get in touch.
Thanks for the tip
EDIT - Just found www.smartmapuk.co.uk - this seems to be the link for all approved SMART repair people?
miln0039 said:
found www.smartmapuk.co.uk - this seems to be the link for all approved SMART repair people?
You just pay £40 a yr to get on the map, no checks, proof of good workmanship, nothing, just £40 of your finest please.Bit like the guild of master craftsmen.
Approved my arse.
Wheelrepairit said:
You just pay £40 a yr to get on the map, no checks, proof of good workmanship, nothing, just £40 of your finest please.
Bit like the guild of master craftsmen.
Approved my arse.
Interesting - thanks for the heads up. If anybody has any recommendations for the Southampton area I'm all ears Bit like the guild of master craftsmen.
Approved my arse.
Had to hand a Lexus with 45,000 miles on it back just before Xmas and went through this, with the bloke at the local bodyshop filling my head with lots of horro stories. Had quite a bad scuff on the front bumper and a few other quite deep scratches that were outside of the normal wear and tear. I did the Halfords thing with the black T cut and polish (car is dark grey) and it worked. In the event they weren't half so picky, clean interior, service book, tyres and no rips in seats or holes in the dash seemed more important. If it's a 'split' in the bumper I'm not sure if the Halfords stuff will work, but it's worth a shot.
miln0039 said:
No it's with Lombard - not sure if that counts in my favour or not?
It's not in your favour. Bear in mind if you get it done cheap then they may well still pick up on it, so it's something of a gamble.Turn this around - if you'd just bought the car and then noticed the crack you'd expect the dealer to fix it properly.
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