BCA/Alphabet Damage Fees

[Mrp1103]

I opted to return my Golf R a month early. Alphabet sent me the break costs which equated to some fees and one months rental (which i was told would be reduced once my August payment was debited).

I was referred to their fair wear and tear manual on their site. Booked collection today and I was contacted by BCA yesterday to advise that a Inspector would contact me an hour before arriving and then the a driver would collect the car.

Get a call at 11.30 from the driver to say he is at my house.

i informed the driver that an inspection has not yet taken place. after an hour of ding donging with BCA over the phone they finally authorise the drier to do the inspection.

He noted the following issues (with my comments in brackets)

- 2 rear alloys with scuffs (by my measurement no more than the acceptable 50mm);
- one alloy with a scuff of more than 50mm;
- one with damage to the rim.
- 2 surface scratches (not more than the acceptable 25mm) one on the front and one rear bumper;
- 1 surface scratch to the onside rear passenger door; and
- 1 dent to the rear onside quarter panel (no more than the acceptable 10mm).


He costed the dent and 3 scratches at £83.00 each, the scuffs on the alloys at £40.00 each and one new alloy at £240.00 total bill amounts to Circa £600. Having measured each item of damage (and taken pictures with a ruler), of the three surface scratches 2 measure less than the allowed 25mm and the scuffs on the two rear alloys measure less than or equal to the allowed 50mm. Also, the Alloy that he feels needs replacing can be repaired by a specialist- i had a diamond cut alloy repaired on my old MK7 Golf GTD and i paid somewhere between £125 and £150.

I allowed the driver to take the Vehicle but did not accept the condition report and commented on the report. The Driver did say that they will be in touch with exact damage costs and I can appeal it with them and then the BVRLA. By my untrained calculations I should be paying for the scuffs on one alloy, the damage on another and the scratch on the rear onside passenger door as the rest of the damage is within the limits they set out in their fair wear and tear guide.

Question is, on any appeal can I refer them to this and also say the alloy that they are charging me for to replace can be repaired for circa £100.00 less and I am willing to accept a charge of approximately £250-£300.

Hindsight being a wonderful thing, I should have just said come back tomorrow as the driver initially suggested and gone and got some T cut and polished the surface scratches out. I don't remember the previous BCA driver when he collected my VWFS Golf GTD in 2016 as being this thorough.

Any one had similar issues and can make any comments/recommendations?

Thanks.

[anonymous-user]

Have you received an actual invoice with these charges?

I also had an inspectionin my lease car with items pointed out on the report e.g. scratches but I was never invoiced.

[Mrp1103]

RaymondVanDerDon said:

Have you received an actual invoice with these charges?

I also had an inspectionin my lease car with items pointed out on the report e.g. scratches but I was never invoiced.

Not as yet. inspection was today.

I received the hand back report via email but no invoice. He said that Alphabet would issue this separately.

[Mrp1103]

Happy to report after having spoken to Alphabet over the early termination fees and they confirmed they didnt think the damage warranted any charges.

Dodged a bullet with that one rim.