Returning car at end of lease. Condition charges

[Roger645]

I returned my 6 on the 4th of November and as far as I am concerned it was clear of any damage. The guy who picked it up and found a couple of tiny stone chips but nothing else. How long is it before they let you know if they think there are and condition charges?

[M-J-B]

I would expect it to be a there and then decision.

I assume he made a note of the stone chips? If so, that's ll they can claim.

[chrisx666]

M-J-B said:

I would expect it to be a there and then decision.

I assume he made a note of the stone chips? If so, that's ll they can claim.

Unfortunately not , if you read the BMWFS paperwork. It says the car will be taken to another place where an additional inspection is carried out. They can then bill you - you are given the opportunity to inspect any damage not noted on the pickup sheet (very good of them!).

My 645 was picked up and sent directly to auction 2 miles away - I didn't hear anything else (car was 'perfect' though).
I would have thought that after 2 weeks you are safe - you could hardly be held account for what happens after a fortnight of it being shoved round the auctions..

Just out of interest Roger what was the GFV (if it was PCP) - mine was just short of 16k.

[Tacklebury]

As Chris has said, I handed mine back after doing a 'voluntary termination' and all I got was a letter from the DVLA letting me know someone else was trying to register it in their name.

Mine was far from mint. Didn't get around to cleaning it, had four new LingLongs (£206 all round!) and a few dents here and there.

No charges were ever raised. BMW didn't even bother sending me a letter!

I still worry about getting a letter and its been 12 months!!!

[Roger645]

chrisx666 said:

M-J-B said:

I would expect it to be a there and then decision.

I assume he made a note of the stone chips? If so, that's ll they can claim.

Unfortunately not , if you read the BMWFS paperwork. It says the car will be taken to another place where an additional inspection is carried out. They can then bill you - you are given the opportunity to inspect any damage not noted on the pickup sheet (very good of them!).

My 645 was picked up and sent directly to auction 2 miles away - I didn't hear anything else (car was 'perfect' though).
I would have thought that after 2 weeks you are safe - you could hardly be held account for what happens after a fortnight of it being shoved round the auctions..

Just out of interest Roger what was the GFV (if it was PCP) - mine was just short of 16k.

Chris, mine was an 04 and I re-pcp's mine at 4 years and the GFV for the final stint was £14.1k.

[Deva Link]

Tacklebury said:

As Chris has said, I handed mine back after doing a 'voluntary termination' and all I got was a letter from the DVLA letting me know someone else was trying to register it in their name.

Mine was far from mint. Didn't get around to cleaning it, had four new LingLongs (£206 all round!) and a few dents here and there.

No charges were ever raised. BMW didn't even bother sending me a letter!

I still worry about getting a letter and its been 12 months!!!

I think that's a bit of an anomoly if you VT it - the Consumer Credit Act only requires you to have taken reasonable care of the item.

Normally end of lease/PCP charges are levied very quickly - as someone else pointed out, they'd be on dodgy ground trying to enforce charges some weeks later. My brother ended the PCP on a Golf recently and the car was being taken straight to auction. The car was absolutely unmarked save for a slight crack in the windscree. No idea why he thought it would be OK, and they either wanted to bill him for a new screen or (as happened) he arranged for the screen to replaced at the auction centre paid for by insurance.

[M-J-B]

In my experience returning contract hire vehicles, as soon as the vehicle has been handed over and return paperwork has been signed any damage noted at a future time/date is not the responsibility of the previous hirer.

As I mentioned early, providing the car has been checked over I'd tell them to get stuffed away as any bodywork damage may have occurred after handover, and I'd also defy any company to take further action - how can they prove it didn't happen after you let the car go?

With regard to the interior, providing you are looking at fair wear and tear you don't have a problem. If the interior is a st heap and has been abused, then you will be liable.