Company car damage

[Janeinspain]

Hello
i was working for a care agency as an area manager, so I was given use of their pool company car. When I left the company in May this year I returned the car which and some damage to it which I had notified my boss about,
Today I have received a bill for £900 which I have been told I have to pay. She does not want to use her insurance company as she has an excess of £1000.
I never signed anything to say that I would be liable for damage to the car, and the damage was sustained because of visiting a client who lived down an unmade track.
Am I liable for payment of this ?
thank you
JW

[Pezza54]

Hi
Welcome to LB
As the damage was not your fault and you were carrying out work in the course of your employment, you are not liable for the £900
In addition there is nothing in your employment contract that states you are responsible for paying for damage to the vehicle when you are using it

[PallasAthena]

The important thing here is what your contract of employment says, or any other document issued to you about driving a company car. Please have a look at your contract/company car user agreement and post here what it says about damage to company vehicles (if it says anything at all).

It's irrelevant that the damage is less than the excess on the company motor insurance policy. It's their choice to have a £1,000 excess. They can't use that as a reason to make you pay.

Did the bill explain why they thought you should pay. eg say it was in some employment contract/agreement? Did they allege it was damaged through your negligence?