LEASE HAND BACK EXPERIENCES
Discussion
My wife's car (our first lease) goes back in July. It has been a family car and has been used well to cart young kids and dogs around. I am just looking at sorting a few things out like PDR, scuffed wheels etc.
What have peoples experiences been like returning cars at the end of their lease? Does 'fair wear and tear' vary from company to company? Even within the same company, does it depend on who comes out to inspect the car?
I've heard stories from people being charged £35 per wheel for a refurb cost to cars being examined in great detail. Just wanting to know what to expect. Bonus points for any recent experiences with ZenAuto!
What have peoples experiences been like returning cars at the end of their lease? Does 'fair wear and tear' vary from company to company? Even within the same company, does it depend on who comes out to inspect the car?
I've heard stories from people being charged £35 per wheel for a refurb cost to cars being examined in great detail. Just wanting to know what to expect. Bonus points for any recent experiences with ZenAuto!
Do ZenAuto publish a price list?
Eg when my daughter handed back a BMW, scuffed alloys & lost key were half the price or her getting the wheels fixed or getting a key!
https://issuu.com/bfwsn67/docs/fwt_2015_issuu_zeni...
Eg when my daughter handed back a BMW, scuffed alloys & lost key were half the price or her getting the wheels fixed or getting a key!
https://issuu.com/bfwsn67/docs/fwt_2015_issuu_zeni...
Edited by James6112 on Sunday 21st January 07:21
Handed back a Tarraco 18 months ago from Zen. There were a couple of minor bits that they could have probably charged me for but didn’t. I would get it as clean as possible and just give it back.
The only time I’ve ever done anything to a lease car before handing back was when things had actually broken - the vents slats and removable boot floor on a Golf. I bought secondhand parts and replaced to avoid potentially being charged full price for replacements.
The only time I’ve ever done anything to a lease car before handing back was when things had actually broken - the vents slats and removable boot floor on a Golf. I bought secondhand parts and replaced to avoid potentially being charged full price for replacements.
car prices had gone up and instead of doing around the 24k mile mark after 3 years she'd actually only done 4 
couple of lightly scuffed alloys too.
Handed back an ipace about 2 years ago. No issues, 2 or 3 very minor marks were all under the size for repair and fell into w&t.
The guy spent about 20 minutes looking over the car, 40 to 50 photos taken I would say.
They clearly know the cars and where to look for damage. I would say if there is a defect they will see it.
They have a size chart that they use to tell if its w&t or not. I think you can get them online to check yourself before hand.
The guy spent about 20 minutes looking over the car, 40 to 50 photos taken I would say.
They clearly know the cars and where to look for damage. I would say if there is a defect they will see it.
They have a size chart that they use to tell if its w&t or not. I think you can get them online to check yourself before hand.
BCA hopeless at collecting.Waited all day ,got a call at 5.30pm to say they were not coming.
When the guy came a few days later he marked every hairline mark even behind the door handles.
He said there was a mark on the front seat ,if there was it was almost invisible.
There was a mark on a door panel where a kid had kicked a stone at it.
I complained to VWFS about the poor service from BCA and did not get any charge.
When the guy came a few days later he marked every hairline mark even behind the door handles.
He said there was a mark on the front seat ,if there was it was almost invisible.
There was a mark on a door panel where a kid had kicked a stone at it.
I complained to VWFS about the poor service from BCA and did not get any charge.
You should compare any damage against the BVRLA guidelines eg - https://issuu.com/bfwsn67/docs/car_fwt_standard_20...
Most of the time any damage is less than it would cost you to repair it, but you'll need to request a price list for damage from your lease company so you can see if that is worthwhile.
(I've just returned a M135i and i'm still waiting for the damage assessment paperwork, it was driven from my house about 15 miles to a compound and then has since been driven about 50 miles to Stoke so I'm hoping nothing will come back (it was mint bar a 30mm wheel scrape which is below the 50mm allowed so no charge), no idea where it was actually assessed! Could of picked something up between my home and the compound 15 miles away!),
Most of the time any damage is less than it would cost you to repair it, but you'll need to request a price list for damage from your lease company so you can see if that is worthwhile.
(I've just returned a M135i and i'm still waiting for the damage assessment paperwork, it was driven from my house about 15 miles to a compound and then has since been driven about 50 miles to Stoke so I'm hoping nothing will come back (it was mint bar a 30mm wheel scrape which is below the 50mm allowed so no charge), no idea where it was actually assessed! Could of picked something up between my home and the compound 15 miles away!),
Try to arrange a day when the weather will be bad for collection (slightly more tricky in July) and at a time near the end of his working day so he'll be rushed and want to finish quickly - hopefully he'll miss stuff. Make sure the car is nice and clean, especially on the inside, it pisses them off if they have to look inside a dirty car. Be nice to him, offer him a brew, strike up a conversation with him, try to find a shared interest, it'll make him like you and he might go easier on you.
I have this saved from Dog Star who posted this bit of genius some time ago:
"My technique.....
- make sure that any direct debits are stopped immediately after your final payment is made. This is just in case they try and take any alleged damage monies by DD.
- when you get a letter off them asking for £xxx send one back and dispute it. This will stop the clock.
- when they write back to you wait a month before replying
- always wait a month before making any reply BY POST
- ask for some better photos. By this time the car is long gone so they can't
I got a 500 quid bill down to 50 using this technique. Just spin it out."
I have this saved from Dog Star who posted this bit of genius some time ago:
"My technique.....
- make sure that any direct debits are stopped immediately after your final payment is made. This is just in case they try and take any alleged damage monies by DD.
- when you get a letter off them asking for £xxx send one back and dispute it. This will stop the clock.
- when they write back to you wait a month before replying
- always wait a month before making any reply BY POST
- ask for some better photos. By this time the car is long gone so they can't
I got a 500 quid bill down to 50 using this technique. Just spin it out."
We handed a C3 back a couple of years ago.
My FiL had reversed into it. I'd used a hammer to roughly get the rear 3/4 back into shape.
It was never mentioned, I was amazed. Maybe because it was 4 years old and worth maybe £5k at auction they didn't care? Who knows.
Awful car, the worst I've ever driven.
My FiL had reversed into it. I'd used a hammer to roughly get the rear 3/4 back into shape.
It was never mentioned, I was amazed. Maybe because it was 4 years old and worth maybe £5k at auction they didn't care? Who knows.
Awful car, the worst I've ever driven.
Sorry, should have mentioned that I have had a look at the guidelines but the post was more due to varying experiences.
I called ZEN with a general enquiry to see about a 'price list' and was essentially told that they don't publish these and to get any defects fixed. The car has 19" diamond cut wheels so if I can avoid the £300/£400 for a refurb and pay half that in charges I will.
I called ZEN with a general enquiry to see about a 'price list' and was essentially told that they don't publish these and to get any defects fixed. The car has 19" diamond cut wheels so if I can avoid the £300/£400 for a refurb and pay half that in charges I will.
I would give it back as is and see what happens, in my experience it cheaper than paying before.
I gave back my A35 in July, it had 10 stickers on it showing damage, and a curbed alloy. Also one monthly payment still due, according to them.
Haven’t heard a thing since and no money taken. It’s now sitting somewhere with no petrol and a flat battery and hasn’t moved since December according to Mercedes Me.
Previously I had a Golf GTD and they measured the thickness of the paint and tried to charge me.
As above argue politely and slow everything down as much as you can.
I had a nice BCA man collecting the A35 who I spent an hour in the rain listening to the cricket walking around the car on hand back. Be nice to them. They can help you if they want.
I gave back my A35 in July, it had 10 stickers on it showing damage, and a curbed alloy. Also one monthly payment still due, according to them.
Haven’t heard a thing since and no money taken. It’s now sitting somewhere with no petrol and a flat battery and hasn’t moved since December according to Mercedes Me.
Previously I had a Golf GTD and they measured the thickness of the paint and tried to charge me.
As above argue politely and slow everything down as much as you can.
I had a nice BCA man collecting the A35 who I spent an hour in the rain listening to the cricket walking around the car on hand back. Be nice to them. They can help you if they want.
RichA35 said:
I would give it back as is and see what happens, in my experience it cheaper than paying before.
I gave back my A35 in July, it had 10 stickers on it showing damage, and a curbed alloy. Also one monthly payment still due, according to them.
Haven’t heard a thing since and no money taken. It’s now sitting somewhere with no petrol and a flat battery and hasn’t moved since December according to Mercedes Me.
Previously I had a Golf GTD and they measured the thickness of the paint and tried to charge me.
As above argue politely and slow everything down as much as you can.
I had a nice BCA man collecting the A35 who I spent an hour in the rain listening to the cricket walking around the car on hand back. Be nice to them. They can help you if they want.
Noted, tempted to make sure it's clean and then leave as is - thanks!I gave back my A35 in July, it had 10 stickers on it showing damage, and a curbed alloy. Also one monthly payment still due, according to them.
Haven’t heard a thing since and no money taken. It’s now sitting somewhere with no petrol and a flat battery and hasn’t moved since December according to Mercedes Me.
Previously I had a Golf GTD and they measured the thickness of the paint and tried to charge me.
As above argue politely and slow everything down as much as you can.
I had a nice BCA man collecting the A35 who I spent an hour in the rain listening to the cricket walking around the car on hand back. Be nice to them. They can help you if they want.
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