DRS (ardent credit) debt email, volkswagen services, please help

joocyglutes

I had a lease agreement with Volkswagen services for 4 years. I returned the car in August this year, the BCA did the collection/inspection.
The BCA person emailed me the inspection letter, it had a total bill of £400, but he said it wouldn't be this much, as a lot would go down to fair wear and tear, that BCA weren't handling the final costs the leasing company would be doing it themselves.

So I contacted the BCA too just to query this, and they also confirmed this wasn't a final bill, and if there were any money to be paid I would be contacted in a few weeks.

Since then I have had nothing whatsoever, no email, no phonecalls, no letters, from the BCA or Volkswagen services. So I assumed it was all good. ( the car was in great condition for a 4 year old car)

Today I have received an email from the DRS (ardent credit) debt collection agency, saying I owe £1800 to volkswagen services. I don't know what to do, I'm so stressed with a custody battle with my kids at the moment which is also draining me financially and mentally, I just can't cope with the stress. Please help, what do I do?

macman

Ask VW why they put the debt out to a DCA without contacting you first? Ask DRS to prove the debt?
Have you changed addresses without informing VW Services?

AdrianC

joocyglutes said:

( the car was in great condition for a 4 year old car)

Is that with reference to your personal arbitrary feelings, or with reference to the BVRLA Fair Wear & Tear guide's documented and agreed standards?

It's clear that balls have been dropped in the communication due to covid, so something has got lost down the line. Could the circumstances around the custody battle have led to them having an old address for you, p'raps? I'd be starting by phoning VWFS - no, now - and asking them what's going on.

knightstyle

Do not fret about debt collectors.  You will not get a CCJ unless it goes to court and you loose no matter what they say.
So first send a SAR to BCA and DRS to find out exactly what went on since you got that email.
Also tell BCA you deny the debt and are getting advice on this debt, this will mean they must hold off on action for a month, this gives you time to get and examine the results of your SAR requests.
Make sure you send the SAR to the correct registered addresses.

AdrianC

There's no point in contacting BCA. They simply collected the car for VWFS. It's VWFS who your contract was with, and the letter about the debt has been sent out on their behalf.

joocyglutes

Thank you for your replies.
I have rang Volkswagen and they have said that there has been an error on their system and my address has therefore not updated so I haven't received any letters.

£500 was for refurbishment bills, but the advisor says he has a copy of the details of damage and he would agree that as the car was 4 years old it would be fair wear and tear, so has put that down to be queried.

The rest of the bill is for excess mileage, when the car was collected, the mileage was 36,000 the trip milage was 6490. Somehow, he took the trip mileage instead of total, and added a 0 onto it, as 64,000. I queried this straight away with the BCA and the advisor and they said it would be resolved. But it hasn't. I have the photo of the mileage and the text conversation with the BCA person confirming his mistake. 

AdrianC

So there y'go.

All explained, all queried, and all in the throes of being sorted.

Here's what VWFS charge for damage above fair wear and tear...
https://customer.vwfs.co.uk/content/dam/bluelabel/valid/www-vwfs-co-uk/documents/vwfs-damage-charges-guide-v4.pdf

...and here's what you agreed to abide by as fair wear and tear...
https://issuu.com/bfwsn67/docs/fwt_volkswagen_financial_services_2?e=2001091/12361092

SteveWade

There are organisations who, if you send them photos of any  bodywork damage, will do a desktop estimate of the repair cost

They already do this for insurance companies when they need to agree an estimate with a repairer. The estimate usually costs around £50 which is often far less than the leasing company (or hire company) would charge you for what is often an excessive cost of repair.

AdrianC

SteveWade said:

There are organisations who, if you send them photos of any  bodywork damage, will do a desktop estimate of the repair cost

They already do this for insurance companies when they need to agree an estimate with a repairer. The estimate usually costs around £50 which is often far less than the leasing company (or hire company) would charge you for what is often an excessive cost of repair.

The time to do that is before the car goes back - then you can decide whether to sort the issues yourself, or let the financier sort them post-return.

Once the car is returned, it's too late.