Lease car return - should I pay the end of lease charges upfront and argue later

wisp324

Hi, having recently returned a lease car, I have now received a fairly heft invoice for corrective work. The company in question have a poor reputation based on comments posted elsewhere for spurious and excessive charges. I have challenged the costs but whilst they decide what their response is, I'm mindful that the invoice will be due either by direct payment or through the DD set up for the monthly payments. The question I have is whether I should pay the charges as with a caveat that he amount is in dispute or hold out. If I take the first route and the company fails to provide sufficient evidence, can I make a claim through the small claims court? If I refuse to pay, my concern is, again based on reputation, they will pursue the debt regardless of any ongoing correspondence and there may be a detrimental effect to my credit rating etc. Thank you.

BOWFER

Do you have plenty of pictures of the car to help with your dispute?
if it were me, I'd send an email saying the invoice is in dispute - paying them first is just asking to be ignored.

AdrianC

There will only be a detrimental effect to your credit rating if a CCJ is recorded against you.

That means that they've taken you to court, you've lodged your defence but lost (or didn't bother lodging one), and then not paid up within 28 days...

Never mind their reputation... was the damage actually present?
And did it indeed fall outside the limits shown in the very well documented BVRLA guide?

Penelopa.Pitstop

If you pay, you will be ignored. Company will have no motivation to talk to you any more.
Is it Pink Leasing by any chance?

Herzlos

If you pay up, then you'll need to take them to court to get the money back and they'll claim they took it as full and final settlement.
Keep the money until the dispute is closed.

wisp324

Thank you all,
Plenty of pictures taken although in these circumstances, too many is not enough!
Interesting point re the damage being present. The car had a pre collection inspection that picked one small item up. The collection day picked nothing up after a 30 minute inspection bar a couple of surface scratches which the lease company ignored. Conditions were clear and dry. The photos they have supplied show clear damage that I have proof of didn't exist on collection. The collection agent would not have missed it. Damage to the windscreen has now been taken off the invoice as I asked if it met BVRLA guidance. It didn't. Why was it invoiced? .Further damage has been added with photos which do not reflect what the report states at all.
Penelopa Pitstop - spot on. 
I had thought of paying and taking them to the small claims but given your advice, I'll be challenging further.. Thanks again.