Lease Car Contracts

Jonnyherbert

I'd be grateful for any thoughts or advice - thanks in advance

I worked until recently for the NHS and leased a car from NHS Fleet solutions. A monthly fee was deducted from my salary. I had the car for just over 2 years when I negotiated a career break and had to return the car early. I paid an early return redemption fee of some several hundred £s in May 2016.

I went on my career break and then subsequently left the NHS altogether in April 2017. In January 2018 I received a letter from my employer stating that there had been an underpayment of lease charges in the year 2015/16 and that I owed around £500 to the Trust.

I have written to the Trust and stated that I did not think that this was reasonable given that I returned the car 18 months previously. I have had no response, and instead the Trust has handed the matter to a debt management team.

I have asked for a copy of the original contract - but overall and left wondering on what grounds I can argue my case. I cannot see how it is reasonable to pursue someone for an underpayment after such a long period has elapsed, particularly when any error would relate to the lease car company and my former finance dept - and not me as an individual employee.

Thanks