Leased car - spare key dispute

JacksonD_2

I'm looking for some advice following the recent collection of my personal leased car.

2 weeks after the collection I received a bill stating that I had not returned the spare key and charging me £269. My issue is that I know that I did hand over both sets of keys to the driver when he collected the car from my home!! I had taken the day off and in preparation for the collection I had looked out the maintenance log book and both sets of keys in the morning.

At no time did the driver who collected the vehicle say that there was any issue and, after inspecting the car, he said that the car would go for a further inspection and that I would receive a report in a couple of weeks. He then asked me to sign a box on his hand held device but there was no checklist visible for me to check.

As you will appreciate, I am very frustrated to have received a bill for something that I know I provided. I have called the leasing company and they said that they would check the car again and see if they could find the key, however, they have now got back to me to say they don't have it. In response, I have emailed a complaint to their customer services, specifically about their collection process and the inaccuracy of their billing. However, I'm not sure of my rights in this situation or what further steps that I can take to resolve the issue.

Does anyone have any advice, I'd really appreciate it!

missile

I would refuse to pay. Unless you have authorised a DD, then they would need to take you to court to recover their "loss"?

123_LEASING

It would be in the contract stating in the case of lost key or damaged key there would be a charge. Most car leasing would charge for replacement keys.

paddyandstumpy

123_LEASING wrote: »

It would be in the contract stating in the case of lost key or damaged key there would be a charge. Most car leasing would charge for replacement keys.

^^^ OP who was the leasing company? ^^^ :rotfl:

Personally if you were 100% sure you gave them the 2nd set of keys I'd ask them to prove they didn't receive them when you handed them over.

When my partner gave up her lease car I made sure it was taken as seen and that there couldn't be any 'surprise' scratches when it was further inspected. I also took loads of pictures...

arcon5

paddyandstumpy wrote: »

^^^ OP who was the leasing company? ^^^ :rotfl:

Personally if you were 100% sure you gave them the 2nd set of keys I'd ask them to prove they didn't receive them when you handed them over.

When my partner gave up her lease car I made sure it was taken as seen and that there couldn't be any 'surprise' scratches when it was further inspected. I also took loads of pictures...

How did you manage that then?

soolin

123_LEASING wrote: »

It would be in the contract stating in the case of lost key or damaged key there would be a charge. Most car leasing would charge for replacement keys.

The OP states that they did hand over the second set though, so your post doesn't really make a great deal of sense, unless you are perhaps using insider knowledge to suggest this is a common car leasing scam :eek:

highet

did the collection agent fill in any checklist?? did you get a copy?? if not surely its his/collection companies word against yours with no evidence either way??

rich13348

123_LEASING wrote: »

It would be in the contract stating in the case of lost key or damaged key there would be a charge. Most car leasing would charge for replacement keys.

Is it in the contract to habitually lose the second set of keys therefore being able to charge customer for something they cannot prove?

facade

highet wrote: »

did the collection agent fill in any checklist?? did you get a copy?? if not surely its his/collection companies word against yours with no evidence either way??

Unless it was a real Mickey Mouse outfit, there would have been a checklist completed on collection for obvious damage, handbook, spare key, tools, (judging by the number for sale on eBay, you'd think parcel shelf as well), and you should have been given a copy after you countersigned it.

docmatt

Every lease car I've owned there has been a checklist. If you only hand over 1 set of keys it's discussed about there and then and you have to document the form.

Buzby

When my cars are returned both key sets are together (using a cable tie) only once was it queried (because they were 'together') but it was quickly sorted.