Returning Hitachi Capital lease car with damage - how much for end of lease charges?

Biggus_Dickus

Money_Grabber13579 said:

You aren’t the only one that gets left with damage from a considerate driver!

https://youtu.be/BEFjrGdEAYQ

Oh dear;...the fact that you can hear what’s happening but can’t quite see it makes that vid almost too painful to watch.

OP,...perhaps best if you don’t look. 😱

neilmcl

Tykey said:

neilmcl said:

Tykey said:

Hi all, looking for advice please.

I have a vehicle that is coming to the end of its lease with Hitachi Capital in two weeks. It's been a 4 year lease and is in pretty decent condition, well under the mileage, so I wasn't expecting much in the way of end of lease charges. That is, until yesterday...

I returned to the car in a car park to find dents in the driver-side doors, front and back, where another vehicle has clearly hit it leaving the space next to mine. It's on the swage line, so doesn't look like an easy repair.

I've had a quick look online and gathered a quote from a mobile dent removal company, and it's come back as approx. 5 hours work, £618 including VAT.

My question is, any idea what kind of charges might be levied for the damage? Do they charge for the estimated cost of repairs (even though it's unlikely it will be repaired I guess, they will just go to auction with the damage?). Or do they charge an amount to cover the depreciation of the value caused by the damage? I suppose what I'm asking is, presuming I can even get it booked in somewhere to repair in time, what is going to cost me less? The repairs, or taking a risk with the charges?

Many thanks in advance for anyone who has previous experience.

Find another dent removal co., that sounds way too expensive for a few dents. I had a couple of dents on my driver's door done for around £100 from Dent Devils.

Never had to use a SMART repair before, so I wasn't sure if that was in the ballpark. They were just the first local ones I found online, so I'm getting another couple of quotes. Will give Dent Devils a go, thanks.

I've attached an image of the damage. As I said before, on the swage line so I understand it's a more difficult (i.e. more expensive!) repair.

That looks a bit more than a standard dent removal, plus there's paint damage which they don't do and you'll get charged for that too. Take that to a dealer and they'd probably advise two new doors as it would be cheaper than the subsequent repair.

You could take a chance and see what the lease co. charges as it will likely be less than the max, decent repair cost but by then it will be too late to do anything about it.

Tykey

neilmcl said:

Tykey said:

neilmcl said:

Tykey said:

Hi all, looking for advice please.

I have a vehicle that is coming to the end of its lease with Hitachi Capital in two weeks. It's been a 4 year lease and is in pretty decent condition, well under the mileage, so I wasn't expecting much in the way of end of lease charges. That is, until yesterday...

I returned to the car in a car park to find dents in the driver-side doors, front and back, where another vehicle has clearly hit it leaving the space next to mine. It's on the swage line, so doesn't look like an easy repair.

I've had a quick look online and gathered a quote from a mobile dent removal company, and it's come back as approx. 5 hours work, £618 including VAT.

My question is, any idea what kind of charges might be levied for the damage? Do they charge for the estimated cost of repairs (even though it's unlikely it will be repaired I guess, they will just go to auction with the damage?). Or do they charge an amount to cover the depreciation of the value caused by the damage? I suppose what I'm asking is, presuming I can even get it booked in somewhere to repair in time, what is going to cost me less? The repairs, or taking a risk with the charges?

Many thanks in advance for anyone who has previous experience.

Find another dent removal co., that sounds way too expensive for a few dents. I had a couple of dents on my driver's door done for around £100 from Dent Devils.

Never had to use a SMART repair before, so I wasn't sure if that was in the ballpark. They were just the first local ones I found online, so I'm getting another couple of quotes. Will give Dent Devils a go, thanks.

I've attached an image of the damage. As I said before, on the swage line so I understand it's a more difficult (i.e. more expensive!) repair.

That looks a bit more than a standard dent removal, plus there's paint damage which they don't do and you'll get charged for that too. Take that to a dealer and they'd probably advise two new doors as it would be cheaper than the subsequent repair.

You could take a chance and see what the lease co. charges as it will likely be less than the max, decent repair cost but by then it will be too late to do anything about it.

Yes, the quote I've had so far have said it will need: Large dent repair - Use of miracle pull equipment to straighten panel, small Filler applied, live colour match and anti-scratch clear coat application- de-nib, machine polish to like new finish.

Like you say, it's just weighing up the risk. If I take the risk and they hit me with massive charges, then it's too late for me to get the car back and do the repairs myself.

Tykey

The_Fat_Controller said:

If you regularly use a particular car dealer, ask the service or sales manager who they use to remove dents from their trade-ins.
I was buying a new car and selling my old one privately, but even so the sales manager got his "dent guy" to repair an annoying dent for a discounted price.

Thanks. I've also requested a quote from the authorised bodywork co. that the dealer uses.