Returning a scratched van
Discussion
Hi all,
Some advice would be very welcome here.
I've a VW T6 Kombi which is due to be returned to VW Finance (or rather checked and collected by BCA to be auctioned) in a few weeks and there's a scrape down one arch, a scuff on the wing mirror, scratches and scrapes in the boot from general use, and a couple of very faint dents from foreign objects whilst the van was parked. The arch scrape is the only major thing, it's not to the metal but it is quite noticeable and you'd still feel the grooves if it was touched up.
Should I get it to a body shop? How bad are BCA when it comes to charging for damage?
Any advice appreciated!
Some advice would be very welcome here.
I've a VW T6 Kombi which is due to be returned to VW Finance (or rather checked and collected by BCA to be auctioned) in a few weeks and there's a scrape down one arch, a scuff on the wing mirror, scratches and scrapes in the boot from general use, and a couple of very faint dents from foreign objects whilst the van was parked. The arch scrape is the only major thing, it's not to the metal but it is quite noticeable and you'd still feel the grooves if it was touched up.
Should I get it to a body shop? How bad are BCA when it comes to charging for damage?
Any advice appreciated!
VWFS (via their agent BCA) are one of the fairest firms in the UK when it comes to damage costs at return of lease. They subscribe to BVRLA wear an tear guidelines (link below):
https://www.bvrla.co.uk/guidance/fair-wear-tear.ht...
They even provide a cost matrix which almost always means that handing the vehicle back and accepting their charges will be cheaper (and often considerably so) than paying to fix it yourself. You also need to bear in mind that if you do elect to have damage rectified yourself the standard may not be acceptable and you end up paying twice. I have had VWFS leases for the past six years and have only paid to have damage rectified because it was fairly early on in the lease and I simply didn't want to look at it. From a financial aspect - just hand it back and accept their reasonable charges.
https://www.bvrla.co.uk/guidance/fair-wear-tear.ht...
They even provide a cost matrix which almost always means that handing the vehicle back and accepting their charges will be cheaper (and often considerably so) than paying to fix it yourself. You also need to bear in mind that if you do elect to have damage rectified yourself the standard may not be acceptable and you end up paying twice. I have had VWFS leases for the past six years and have only paid to have damage rectified because it was fairly early on in the lease and I simply didn't want to look at it. From a financial aspect - just hand it back and accept their reasonable charges.
Mark, very much appreciate reply - thank you.
I had heard they were reasonable some time ago but I got a bit of a shock today when I got the 'quote to buy' email; they were asking £10,461 over today's list price for a 2 year old van with 20k on the clock. So I thought they might take the piss with damages too. But very relieved to hear it should be ok.
Cheers
I had heard they were reasonable some time ago but I got a bit of a shock today when I got the 'quote to buy' email; they were asking £10,461 over today's list price for a 2 year old van with 20k on the clock. So I thought they might take the piss with damages too. But very relieved to hear it should be ok.
Cheers
Yes, the quote to buy will have been generated by BCA but VWFS set the damage costs and are signed up to BVRLA guidelines for the definition of 'wear and tear' so its down to the BCA inspector to decide if any damage is within those limits and ultimately for VWFS to impose their charges. You can still dispute any charges later of course.
Get yourself some touch up paint - Chipex or manufacturer branded (avoid halfords paint mixing if you can), apply conservatively, smooth it down with T-Cut and elbow grease, and then polish it with Auto Glym super resin polish. Repeat if necessary.
Clean your vehicle thoroughly inside and out before handing it back.
BCA seem to be pretty fair in the current climate.
Clean your vehicle thoroughly inside and out before handing it back.
BCA seem to be pretty fair in the current climate.
Van returned yesterday, spotless inside and out.
The costs for repair were very reasonable, the scuff on the arches was £150. However, the assessor was incredibly anal about what constituted damage (everything!) and I ended up being hit with a bill for over a grand. There was a parking ding, a tiny indent where someone had opened the door in a carpark (presumably) - £150. A scratch on the front bumper which looked like a white hair had fallen on the paint - £150. Scuff on the bumper from loading - £200. Mark on the wing-mirror - £200. 20- size indent in the near panel - £150.
It's been used as a commercial vehicle and a family car for 2 years in fairly equal measure, and apart from the scuff on the arch, it's in good condition IMO. Getting hit with a bill like that amortises to an extra £50 per month over the 2 years, and I certainly wouldn't do it again. Buying a Toyota van outright is the plan now.
The costs for repair were very reasonable, the scuff on the arches was £150. However, the assessor was incredibly anal about what constituted damage (everything!) and I ended up being hit with a bill for over a grand. There was a parking ding, a tiny indent where someone had opened the door in a carpark (presumably) - £150. A scratch on the front bumper which looked like a white hair had fallen on the paint - £150. Scuff on the bumper from loading - £200. Mark on the wing-mirror - £200. 20- size indent in the near panel - £150.
It's been used as a commercial vehicle and a family car for 2 years in fairly equal measure, and apart from the scuff on the arch, it's in good condition IMO. Getting hit with a bill like that amortises to an extra £50 per month over the 2 years, and I certainly wouldn't do it again. Buying a Toyota van outright is the plan now.
BarcelonaLewis said:
Van returned yesterday, spotless inside and out.
The costs for repair were very reasonable, the scuff on the arches was £150. However, the assessor was incredibly anal about what constituted damage (everything!) and I ended up being hit with a bill for over a grand. There was a parking ding, a tiny indent where someone had opened the door in a carpark (presumably) - £150. A scratch on the front bumper which looked like a white hair had fallen on the paint - £150. Scuff on the bumper from loading - £200. Mark on the wing-mirror - £200. 20- size indent in the near panel - £150.
It's been used as a commercial vehicle and a family car for 2 years in fairly equal measure, and apart from the scuff on the arch, it's in good condition IMO. Getting hit with a bill like that amortises to an extra £50 per month over the 2 years, and I certainly wouldn't do it again. Buying a Toyota van outright is the plan now.
Did you "accept" the charges on the form/ipad when presented by the inspector? Some of what you have described are "inside" acceptable BVRLA guidelines, hence you can argue those, but ideally only if you didn't 'accept' on the form.The costs for repair were very reasonable, the scuff on the arches was £150. However, the assessor was incredibly anal about what constituted damage (everything!) and I ended up being hit with a bill for over a grand. There was a parking ding, a tiny indent where someone had opened the door in a carpark (presumably) - £150. A scratch on the front bumper which looked like a white hair had fallen on the paint - £150. Scuff on the bumper from loading - £200. Mark on the wing-mirror - £200. 20- size indent in the near panel - £150.
It's been used as a commercial vehicle and a family car for 2 years in fairly equal measure, and apart from the scuff on the arch, it's in good condition IMO. Getting hit with a bill like that amortises to an extra £50 per month over the 2 years, and I certainly wouldn't do it again. Buying a Toyota van outright is the plan now.
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