Car write-off : Proving Mileage.

SimonG_UK

Hi guys

I need some urgent advice.

My lease car was written off at the end of Oct when it was rear-ended by a Waitrose delivery van.

I was in month 11 of a 24 month lease and I had Gap Waiver (not insurance) so I’m already oout of pocket as I lost my initial upfront payment which was equiv to 9 months.

I opted to deal directly with John Lewis rather than go via insurance as at the time it seems to be the simplest and quickest way to get everything resolved as my insurance company Axa were virtually impossible to get through to (I spent several hours on hold over a 2 day period without speaking with anyone!)

The claim was settled between John Lewis and Leasys mid December and I just received a credit for the extra payments made.
However, I also received an invoice for £2k from Leasys for excess mileage as John Lewis reported that the car had covered 25k miles when I was contracted for 15k per annum.

The figure of 25k miles is completely wrong and the car had done circa 18k at most. Unfortunately Leasys are saying I need to pay this as this is the mileage that they say John Lewis provided and confirmed and they have said it’s up to me to prove it’s wrong ! ☹️

Where do I stand on this as I believe the cars been scrapped and I don’t have anything that proves I did less mileage than reported? - is it down to me to prove this or the lease company?

It’s very odd that the reported mileage is exactly 25,000

Any help much appreciated as this whole episode has resulted in me already being significantly out of pocket for an accident that was not my fault and I’ve not been treated well by either John Lewis or Leasys.

I’m a little concerned that if the whole insurance claim was based on a car with 25k miles instead of around 18k that Leasys may not have been correctly compensated in the claim and that John Lewis will therefore be reluctant to admit they recorded the incorrect mileage

Many thanks

Aylesbury_Duck

Have you got the recorded mileage from a recent service or MOT?

jimbo6977

Two things you need to establish:

1. Who currently OWNS the salvaged car - this is a paperwork exercise to work out who has signed over what to whom.
2. Who currently has possession of the salvaged car - ie where is the car physically located.

SimonG_UK

Thanks guys

I’ve just sent Leasys two invoiced from May and mid-July, with the July invoice showing 14k miles.

I ‘think’ the car is now owned by the salvage company as it was deemed unrepairable and will be scrapped - if it’s not already been.

I did ask Leasys to contact them to confirm the mileage but they say they are unable to.

I’ve also emailed John Lewis to ask them to re-confirm where the figure of 25,000 came from.

From a legal standpoint, I’m trying to find out who’s responsible for proving the actual mileage as if it’s the lease company then I’m included to tell them I’m not willing to pay any excess until they can provide evidence of the actual mileage.

jimbo6977

SimonG_UK wrote: »

Thanks guys

I’ve just sent Leasys two invoiced from May and mid-July, with the July invoice showing 14k miles.

I ‘think’ the car is now owned by the salvage company as it was deemed unrepairable and will be scrapped - if it’s not already been.

I did ask Leasys to contact them to confirm the mileage but they say they are unable to.

I’ve also emailed John Lewis to ask them to re-confirm where the figure of 25,000 came from.

From a legal standpoint, I’m trying to find out who’s responsible for proving the actual mileage as if it’s the lease company then I’m included to tell them I’m not willing to pay any excess until they can provide evidence of the actual mileage.

Leasys may have effectively sold the car to JL, who may have sold the car to a salvage dealer, which would explain why Leasys seem not to have the salvage dealer's details.

BUT you do need more clarity on ownership and location, as per my above post

Even if you can only find where it is, and it turns out it's in a salvage yard in mostly 1 piece, you (or a mate) could ring up and ask about buying the car, mileage etc.

If JL sold the car to salvage, they might tell you where they sold it to, but then again they might not, especially if you and Leasys have already signed away ownership of the car.

SimonG_UK

Thanks ......

From previous comm’s I believe the salvage company is QNQ Motor services - Leasys have been in contact direct with QNQ as they took a December lease payment from me because they said that they were waiting for a payment from QNQ before terminating my lease - thanks for the advice, I’ll give them a call direct and make enquires about the car.

Last update from Leasys is that even though they have confirmed that John Lewis’s insurance agent, AFS, provided them with the mileage that was used in the settlement they agreed between themselves, they say that if I’m disputing the mileage then I need to take this up with AFS direct ! ..... surely Leasys should be doing this as I was not privy to their settlement discussions ?

I have contacted AFS and they say they told Leasys the vehicle had done 24,750 miles but they can’t confirm where this figure came from and have a note on their system saying a photo of the mileometer was not provided due to the car having a flat battery ....... Hmmmmm?

BodyOfBones

Is this the same car from 6 weeks ago on another thread?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5925057/lease-car-written-off-by-waitrose-delivery-van

SimonG_UK

BodyOfBones wrote: »

Is this the same car from 6 weeks ago on another thread?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5925057/lease-car-written-off-by-waitrose-delivery-van

I’m afraid so ..... it’s been a bit of a nightmare to say the least 😔
I gave up trying to lease a new car and bought a second hand car as a temp solution.