Urgent advice needed on grey area between lease and insurance

morrit

My car is due to be returned to the lease company this friday, and I have an insurance claim in regarding the repair to the roof lining. The approved repairers gave a turnaround of 3 weeks, and I advised the insurance company I would search for another garage. The local main dealer for my vehicle make advised me they had the part in stock, and they ordered it and booked my vehicle in on the Monday gone (yesterday). The insurance company have approved the repairs to go ahead. So I took the car in and was about to hand the key over when I asked if the part was in, bearing in mind the job takes about 3 hours to do, and they then told me the distribution depot was on strike and they didnt have it in but they would contact me when it did arrive. So today I find out the part has 'gone missing'. My fear is that they won't find it in time, and my car will have to go back to the lease company to suffer their wrath of damage wear and tear. The insurance company will not cover the amounts they will charge as they have already approved a repair. The lease company say they will charge me per day for each day over that I have the car.
The repairs will be paid for by me, and recouped, less excess from the insurance company.

Where do I stand? Either way I am looking at charges due to the garage having a) a strike and b) losing the part.

Of course, if they find the part tomorrow it will get done but as we all know things never work out as smoothly as we want. Someone said the garage are liable for these but I can't see how as no contract was entered into other than a booking...

Can someone advise me urgently please?

Thank you.

forgotmyname

Unless they explicitly agreed a timescale for the work to be done then it will be a choice.

Hand the car back and let them charge you for the damage. Unless you have a contract with an agreed date the car must be fixed by.



Keep paying and wait for the garage to fix it.

Get a 2nd hand part and get them/someone to fit it?

I doubt you can hold the garage liable for the extra costs.

morrit

The contract ends on 21 June, and they inspect for fair wear and tear.
The lease is through my work, however they will not pay beyond the agreed end date. any charges after that would need to be recouped from me by my work. I simply cannot afford to run 2 cars on my wage and am already committed to a new vehicle as of the 22nd June. I can't afford both, and to cancel the new one will incur charges as well. I am literally in a catch 22 position. the new car is through a different company not involved with my employer...

morrit

And also, the insurance claim is already processed.

morrit

Have had it from Ford that the part is actually not in the country, despite their computers saying it was. My companies insurance will not cover the charge the lease company will levy and will only cover the cost of repairs but cannot do the repairs as the lease company will not allow it to be repaired after it is taken away.
Un believable how I have been treated with people only speaking to 'fleet managers'. Not much frickin good if they are not at work!!!!

So...in essence... screwed!

Quentin

Can you source the part (new or second hand)? Then pass it to the garage to fix.

morrit

It's the car headlining... I have searched high and low and the only place garages go to is the Ford parts depot where they had this alleged strike and computer issue. I wouldn't know where to start in getting a second hand one by Friday...

Quentin

From a write-off at a scrap yard??

morrit

I will try. I just hope the trim matches my vehicle if I find one. Problem is I shouldnt be having to go to such lengths when it has been agreed by insurance company... The fact is the damage is done, the claim is there, but because of zero flexibility that benefits all parties involved, they refuse to allow the repair after the contract... Surely this has come up before... Say someone jas an accident in their lease car the day it is due to go back... The insurance would cover it but does that mean the lease company charge you for having a massive dent deapite it being covered...? It doesnt seem right or very fair in the grand scheme of things.