Hey Team - Hope all is well and you have been enjoying the festivities.
I successfully completed my VT with Mercedes in August 2019. I notified them of my VT using the templates from this forum, I did not sign their form. The only thing I have signed was the return confirmation when I returned at the Mercedes dealership on their iPad. I challenged signing at the time as I could not see the report printed until I had signed it. I took photo’s prior to giving the vehicle back, so I do have my own evidence.*
Since then, I have received charges for excess mileage and damage reported. I have responded with the below text in writing. Mercedes have since responded via email again this is detailed below.*
Further to this I have recently received another letter advising this will be taken to credit management agency DLC.
I have not discussed any of the detail on the phone or in email. I would be grateful for some advice in my next response please. Ideally I would like to contest these within the limits of law and not just cave to their request. Any help or advice on this would be much appreciated.
NB: The charges they are requesting is £1,450.
=====Letter from me to Mercedes contesting charges=====
I am writing to you with reference to the above matter and your letter dated 03 December 2019. Please note that liability in relation to the alleged outstanding balance for excessive damage to the vehicle is denied.*
Thank you for sending the revised invoice and request for payment. I can confirm that this is rejected.*
The vehicle was maintained in a reasonable condition throughout the period of the agreement and therefore such damage charges you are claiming would amount to fair wear and tear; the vehicle does not need to be returned to you in any better condition other than a reasonable one.*
Photographic evidence was taken prior to the vehicle being transferred to you which clearly shows that the vehicle was in a reasonable condition. The onus is on you to prove that the alleged damage caused was more than reasonable fair wear and tear.*
Furthermore, reviewing the industry standard guidelines for ‘Industry Fair, Wear and Tear standards’ it is clear the vehicle is not in breach of this.*
I do however note that the ‘Alloy Wheel Key’ is said to be missing and on the day of returning the gentleman did say he could not see in the boot. I urge you to take another look as both Mercedes Benz or Kwik Fit have never had a problem locating this to carry out vehicle checks. If this really cannot be located, then I accept the charge to replace the ‘Alloy Wheel Key’ ONLY as quoted within the correspondence.*
Excluding the ‘Alloy Wheel Key’, other sums you allege to be owed may only be recovered by a court order only and should you wish to pursue this matter in court, your application will be defended. There is no factual, measurable evidence to suggest otherwise.*
Please confirm by return that you agree to the above and this matter is now closed.*
Yours faithfully
====Email response from Mercedes=====
Dear Mr …..,
Further to your recent email received by our offices, after looking into the damage charges raised the damage is evident and falls outside of our Vehicle Return Standards.
To ensure you were aware of the expected return condition of the vehicle, we provided a copy of our Vehicle Return Standards at the start of the agreement and these are also available to view online. We believe this provided you with ample opportunity to familiarise yourself with our fair wear and tear allowances and to have any repairs carried out at your own cost.
Regarding the cost of the damage charges raised as you receive a copy of our damage charge matrix at the start of the agreement and this is available to view online throughout the agreement we feel this this provided you with ample opportunity to familiarise yourself with the costs of any repairs that would have needed to be carried out.
Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact one of our advisors on 0370 240 1110. Calls to our numbers starting 03 will cost no more than calling 01 and 02 numbers.
Kind regards
De-Fleet Administrator
*
I successfully completed my VT with Mercedes in August 2019. I notified them of my VT using the templates from this forum, I did not sign their form. The only thing I have signed was the return confirmation when I returned at the Mercedes dealership on their iPad. I challenged signing at the time as I could not see the report printed until I had signed it. I took photo’s prior to giving the vehicle back, so I do have my own evidence.*
Since then, I have received charges for excess mileage and damage reported. I have responded with the below text in writing. Mercedes have since responded via email again this is detailed below.*
Further to this I have recently received another letter advising this will be taken to credit management agency DLC.
I have not discussed any of the detail on the phone or in email. I would be grateful for some advice in my next response please. Ideally I would like to contest these within the limits of law and not just cave to their request. Any help or advice on this would be much appreciated.
NB: The charges they are requesting is £1,450.
=====Letter from me to Mercedes contesting charges=====
I am writing to you with reference to the above matter and your letter dated 03 December 2019. Please note that liability in relation to the alleged outstanding balance for excessive damage to the vehicle is denied.*
Thank you for sending the revised invoice and request for payment. I can confirm that this is rejected.*
The vehicle was maintained in a reasonable condition throughout the period of the agreement and therefore such damage charges you are claiming would amount to fair wear and tear; the vehicle does not need to be returned to you in any better condition other than a reasonable one.*
Photographic evidence was taken prior to the vehicle being transferred to you which clearly shows that the vehicle was in a reasonable condition. The onus is on you to prove that the alleged damage caused was more than reasonable fair wear and tear.*
Furthermore, reviewing the industry standard guidelines for ‘Industry Fair, Wear and Tear standards’ it is clear the vehicle is not in breach of this.*
I do however note that the ‘Alloy Wheel Key’ is said to be missing and on the day of returning the gentleman did say he could not see in the boot. I urge you to take another look as both Mercedes Benz or Kwik Fit have never had a problem locating this to carry out vehicle checks. If this really cannot be located, then I accept the charge to replace the ‘Alloy Wheel Key’ ONLY as quoted within the correspondence.*
Excluding the ‘Alloy Wheel Key’, other sums you allege to be owed may only be recovered by a court order only and should you wish to pursue this matter in court, your application will be defended. There is no factual, measurable evidence to suggest otherwise.*
Please confirm by return that you agree to the above and this matter is now closed.*
Yours faithfully
====Email response from Mercedes=====
Dear Mr …..,
Further to your recent email received by our offices, after looking into the damage charges raised the damage is evident and falls outside of our Vehicle Return Standards.
To ensure you were aware of the expected return condition of the vehicle, we provided a copy of our Vehicle Return Standards at the start of the agreement and these are also available to view online. We believe this provided you with ample opportunity to familiarise yourself with our fair wear and tear allowances and to have any repairs carried out at your own cost.
Regarding the cost of the damage charges raised as you receive a copy of our damage charge matrix at the start of the agreement and this is available to view online throughout the agreement we feel this this provided you with ample opportunity to familiarise yourself with the costs of any repairs that would have needed to be carried out.
Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact one of our advisors on 0370 240 1110. Calls to our numbers starting 03 will cost no more than calling 01 and 02 numbers.
Kind regards
De-Fleet Administrator
*
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