PCP HELP - VT with Renault disputing charges

samtaylor1986

Hi there please any advice would be great

VT my Renault Clio in august 2017. They got in touch with an invoice for £1600.

I disputed the charges and have been back and forth with them disputing since August.

Had an email from them yesterday to say they have passed the debt to debt collecting agency as they sent me a letter in September and I still haven't paid?

Well I wouldn't have when I'm in dispute? Can they do this? Any advice?

BoGoF

What were the charges for?

samtaylor1986

'Bubble in paintwork' was one - charges over £200 for this 'damage' but the car was involved in an accident months earlier and the bumper had been repaired via appropriate garage advised by insurers. Work guaranteed so I disagreed with the charges.

Another was a scratch on the windscreen. Admittedly didn't see this till the day the collectors came BUT it's on the passenger side and not affecting the drivers line of sight - another £250 for replacement windscreen but BVRA guidelines say it's only considered unfair if on drivers side....

£80 for a scratch in the door sill where my child gets in the Car? Can barely see it especially with the car door shut? But I did a patch up Job on a scratch or two
On the back bumper and this wasn't reported on?

usefulmale

If the DCA get in touch, tell them the debt is in dispute. They then have to pass it back to Renault.

Renault would then have to take it to court to enforce it.

samtaylor1986

Ah is that right?! This is what I don't understand? How can they pass it on the DCA when I'm disputing charges? I've been fully co-operative throughout the whole process and haven't tried to ignore them etc I've sent in copies of invoices from insurance company, my reasons as to why I disagree with charges etc I am fully engaged with them and then they send me this out of the blue?

k3lvc

samtaylor1986 wrote: »

'Bubble in paintwork' was one - charges over £200 for this 'damage' but the car was involved in an accident months earlier and the bumper had been repaired via appropriate garage advised by insurers. Work guaranteed so I disagreed with the charges.

Another was a scratch on the windscreen. Admittedly didn't see this till the day the collectors came BUT it's on the passenger side and not affecting the drivers line of sight - another £250 for replacement windscreen but BVRA guidelines say it's only considered unfair if on drivers side....

£80 for a scratch in the door sill where my child gets in the Car? Can barely see it especially with the car door shut? But I did a patch up Job on a scratch or two
On the back bumper and this wasn't reported on?

So this is £530 - what's the other £1,070 ?

neilmcl

As above, there's clearly more to this than you're telling us.

Can I assume the bulk of the £1600 owed is for excess mileage charges?

samtaylor1986

No there's not 'more than what I'm telling you' - I'm asking for advice as to whether Renault can put the charges to a debt collection agency when I'm
Disputing the charges? Nothing underhand going on?

£500 of excess mileage. I changed my job a few months after having the car so unexpected increase in mileage.

Other charges relate to scuffs to the alloys which I have said I agree that this is not deemed wear and tear and I am liable for.

a few charges related to apparent 'bumps' in the doors - nothing that I could notice but the man assessing said it can be done by other car doors opening onto my car for example being in a shopping centre . They have since removed these charges but I was
Disputing the windscreen and the bubble in paintwork as this was a repair job via recommended insurance company.

forgotmyname

Accident damage repaired poorly = down to you or your insurer, but handing the car back before getting that sorted means Renault will need to repair it or sell it for less.

The charges for the damage you mentioned sounds fair.

Plenty of substandard repairs on cars, good job it wasn't a Mercedes.

samtaylor1986

I thought these pages/forums were for advice not the Spanish Inquisition.

The BVRLA guidelines state it is acceptable for windscreen to be scratched as long as it's not in the drivers line of sight. And the 'scratch', as minute as it is, is in fact on the passenger side so I'd be inclined to disagree and say this charge is not 'fair'

almillar

We're talking about defects that you are claiming to be small, so by definition, we need to be detailed - you should expect questions. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition...

Anyway, if you've got your hands on the BVRLA guidelines, that's about as much as we can tell you from the other end of the internet without pictures.
If you think that any of the repairs are within what the guide finds acceptable, argue it. If not, don't - it's the bible for this and very useful. If you repaired yourself, and can still see it, it's probably not acceptable. The repair done by their approved centre, is another matter altogether, and I wouldn't be paying that.