Spare Key Charge - Hire Purchase Agreement

Nas88

Hi all,
Just wanted your thoughts following on from a vehicle inspection of my BMW. I have voluntary terminated the contract due to personal reasons.
Now the appointed Vehicle Collections Logistics company have carried out their inspection of the car. They have made me aware of a charge of £150.00 for a non operational spare key.
I told them I am not willing to pay for it as it isn't working, most likely due to a dead battery. He said he would return the report back to head office and they shall get in contact.
My argument was that the key was present as requested on collection term, it is not my problem if it isn't working. I haven't had to use it for the 3 or so years I've had the vehicle. 
Am I right to stand my ground on these terms? I don't think its reasonable to charge for a new spare key if the the original one was present on handover.

Any advice?

neilmcl

Nas88 said:

Hi all,
Just wanted your thoughts following on from a vehicle inspection of my BMW. I have voluntary terminated the contract due to personal reasons.
Now the appointed Vehicle Collections Logistics company have carried out their inspection of the car. They have made me aware of a charge of £150.00 for a non operational spare key.
I told them I am not willing to pay for it as it isn't working, most likely due to a dead battery. He said he would return the report back to head office and they shall get in contact.
My argument was that the key was present as requested on collection term, it is not my problem if it isn't working. I haven't had to use it for the 3 or so years I've had the vehicle. 
Am I right to stand my ground on these terms? I don't think its reasonable to charge for a new spare key if the the original one was present on handover.

Any advice?

Of course it's your problem if you hand back something that no longer works. You could well be correct in that it may simply be the battery in which case you should get them to justify their charge.

DUTR

Nas88 said:

Hi all,
Just wanted your thoughts following on from a vehicle inspection of my BMW. I have voluntary terminated the contract due to personal reasons.
Now the appointed Vehicle Collections Logistics company have carried out their inspection of the car. They have made me aware of a charge of £150.00 for a non operational spare key.
I told them I am not willing to pay for it as it isn't working, most likely due to a dead battery. He said he would return the report back to head office and they shall get in contact.
My argument was that the key was present as requested on collection term, it is not my problem if it isn't working. I haven't had to use it for the 3 or so years I've had the vehicle. 
Am I right to stand my ground on these terms? I don't think its reasonable to charge for a new spare key if the the original one was present on handover.

Any advice?

My thoughts are lose your attitude! 
For the price of a replacement battery you'd rather have a fight and or pay £150, good luck and take care.

Nas88

DUTR said:

Nas88 said:

Hi all,
Just wanted your thoughts following on from a vehicle inspection of my BMW. I have voluntary terminated the contract due to personal reasons.
Now the appointed Vehicle Collections Logistics company have carried out their inspection of the car. They have made me aware of a charge of £150.00 for a non operational spare key.
I told them I am not willing to pay for it as it isn't working, most likely due to a dead battery. He said he would return the report back to head office and they shall get in contact.
My argument was that the key was present as requested on collection term, it is not my problem if it isn't working. I haven't had to use it for the 3 or so years I've had the vehicle. 
Am I right to stand my ground on these terms? I don't think its reasonable to charge for a new spare key if the the original one was present on handover.

Any advice?

My thoughts are lose your attitude! 
For the price of a replacement battery you'd rather have a fight and or pay £150, good luck and take care.

What attitude? I presented my reasons in a calm way to him, I understand that he has to note down anything wrong with the vehicle. 
I did say to them I wouldn't be too fussed on paying for a replacement battery. But to pay for a new spare key which was already present? Come on, you have to at least see it from my side of the surprise of being slapped with a 150 charge?

DUTR

Nas88 said:

DUTR said:

Nas88 said:

Hi all,
Just wanted your thoughts following on from a vehicle inspection of my BMW. I have voluntary terminated the contract due to personal reasons.
Now the appointed Vehicle Collections Logistics company have carried out their inspection of the car. They have made me aware of a charge of £150.00 for a non operational spare key.
I told them I am not willing to pay for it as it isn't working, most likely due to a dead battery. He said he would return the report back to head office and they shall get in contact.
My argument was that the key was present as requested on collection term, it is not my problem if it isn't working. I haven't had to use it for the 3 or so years I've had the vehicle. 
Am I right to stand my ground on these terms? I don't think its reasonable to charge for a new spare key if the the original one was present on handover.

Any advice?

My thoughts are lose your attitude! 
For the price of a replacement battery you'd rather have a fight and or pay £150, good luck and take care.

What attitude? I presented my reasons in a calm way to him, I understand that he has to note down anything wrong with the vehicle. 
I did say to them I wouldn't be too fussed on paying for a replacement battery. But to pay for a new spare key which was already present? Come on, you have to at least see it from my side of the surprise of being slapped with a 150 charge?

Well your opening post didn't read that way to me, after all, your situation is not my problem! Do you see now?
I would imagine a replacement key is a little more than £150, but then some posters seem to like the conflict of some fight rather than a swift and amicable resolution.

Grumpy_chap

Why didn't the OP replace the battery before returning the car?

neilmcl

Grumpy_chap said:

Why didn't the OP replace the battery before returning the car?

To check everything was working and in order before handing your car back would be far too sensible 

AdrianC

The contract requires both keys, as you were provided with at the start.

You have handed back one working key, and one non-functional lump of plastic and metal. If it doesn't work, is it even a second key for that car?

Saying "I'm not paying because it's there, and you didn't say it needed to work" is petulant at best.

burlingtonfl6

By your argument someone could return the car with a knackered engine and just say '' I'm not paying because it's there''

Hermione_Granger

Nas88 said:

Hi all,
Just wanted your thoughts following on from a vehicle inspection of my BMW. 

Any advice?

But you forgot to mention that you only want thoughts or advice that back up your opinion that you did nothing wrong by handing back a non working key.

Penelopa.Pitstop

I returned car a few days ago. Guy checked both keys, one didn't work, so I went home to bring spare battery and changed it straight away. All well and no issue. If you didn't bother to check it, then I guess you will have to pay a fee or try to dispute it.