Damage to "Leeds Audi" Loan car!?!?!?

[Von Maximo]

Finally got around to checking Saturdays mail and a nice letter from Leeds Audi saying that I've damaged an alloy wheel on an A6 loan car when I had mine in for some work. They want £110!

I wouldn't really mind if I had damaged it, but I'm 100% certain that I caused no damage to the vehicle during my possession. And I'm pretty certain that when the service lady disappeared she did so to check the vehicle over. So why was I not informed when I was there? Are they trying to pull a fast one? Where do I legally stand?

Haven't spoken to anyone there as yet as they don't work Sundays

Anybody else had any experiences like this before?

 

[warren_S5]

are you not supposed to sign a form to say you agree with the state of the car when you collect it. If you have signed it and it was there (but you missed it), your knackered.

 

[Staz]

There's no way I'd be paying. If they had a legal position on it imagine all the dodgy little rental places! You'd get a letter weeks later saying that you broke whatever and you owe a bazillion pounds as it was special paint or whatever.

They can't touch you, let them try.

 

[Von Maximo]

are you not supposed to sign a form to say you agree with the state of the car when you collect it. If you have signed it and it was there (but you missed it), your knackered.

Yeah, agree with that. Although you don't really think of going outside and checking it before you sign the form. Just as they should check/inform you when returned. And you don't really insist on it if you know you haven't done any damage! lol

Although previous experience at Doncaster audi they did actually inspect the car before and after when i was physically watching. With hindsight perhaps I should have just taken it to them as they were very good

 

[TMP-Audi]

Sending a demand via post is very very poor customer service, they should have informed you at the time of handover.

When I curbed a courtesy car from my local BM dealer, I fully epected to have to pay (when they inspected the car and spotted the damage )....but the workshop manager came out and said they can refurb themselves so no charge, now that is customer service.

As for you dealer, this damage could easily have happened after you returned the car, so push back and don’t pay...

 

[warren_S5]

I suppose you are within your rights to say:

"has the car been driven since I gave it back"

if they say of course then it could have been done the first time it was driven away - unless they can prove it was you and it has NEVER been driven since it may make it harder for them to pursue.

 

[markwiggy]

No way can they prove you did the damage, tell them to do one !!

Mark

 

[dipstic]

Thats why I get mine checked before it goes in for any work with the service reception and agree on any issues and more important checked when I collect it.Same with any car from the dealer or hire company.

 

[A3]

No way can they prove you did the damage, tell them to do one !!

Mark

it can quite easily be proven..only if they did a check prior to giving the car out..and then another check when the vehicle was given back to them

but both of those checks would need to have been documented and signed by both you and the dealer..

 

[ADEY]

Surely its all down to paperwork
Did you/they inspect the car on return?
If not they cannot prove you caused the damage
Deny

 

[bacardi]

Whetstone Audi tried the same thing with me when my car was in for the second steering rack on the POS A4 they loaned me -


After the amound of BS I'd had from them I told them to go whistle

2 years later, many many more visits, absolutely nothing

tell them to prove it

 

[Staz]

it can quite easily be proven..only if they did a check prior to giving the car out..and then another check when the vehicle was given back to them

but both of those checks would need to have been documented and signed by both you and the dealer..

That's the point A3

 

[Kontraband]

yeah, its already been said... tell them to prove it or go **** themselves!

 

[a3norwich]

Ask to see the document that you signed when you handed the car back (which they wont have), cross check this with the document you signed when you took it out, check the mileage (is it correct, has it been used?), then ask to see the document (if any) of the next customer to check it out, noting the damaged wheel of course.

You could be REALLY fussy and ask to see ALL the checkin/out docs for the vehicle over its life at the dealership. If they are BS/quality/blah blah audited they should have them. If they are unable to do so, you could argue that it took place at any time.

You might also like to point out that a 16 y/o car cleaner may have damaged it when they moved it...

It's all about good faith at the end of the day. You know if you damaged it or not. If you didn't, say you didn't and take offence if they accuse you. Quote "I beg your pardon, are you calling me a liar?", in the middle of a busy dealership goes down well!

 

[Staz]

Ask to see the document that you signed when you handed the car back (which they wont have), cross check this with the document you signed when you took it out, check the mileage (is it correct, has it been used?), then ask to see the document (if any) of the next customer to check it out, noting the damaged wheel of course.

You could be REALLY fussy and ask to see ALL the checkin/out docs for the vehicle over its life at the dealership. If they are BS/quality/blah blah audited they should have them. If they are unable to do so, you could argue that it took place at any time.

You might also like to point out that a 16 y/o car cleaner may have damaged it when they moved it...

It's all about good faith at the end of the day. You know if you damaged it or not. If you didn't, say you didn't and take offence if they accuse you. Quote "I beg your pardon, are you calling me a liar?", in the middle of a busy dealership goes down well!

I wouldn't bother lifting a finger. Just let them try and take you to court, then they'd have to prove all that there, if they ever bothered taking it that far. Unless you have a form signed by you, stating that they saw the damage and you agree that you are responsible they can't touch you.

 

[sibby]

Wouldn't go in all guns blazing.

Only you know if you really did damage it or not, so none of us can comment on that. However it does seem their staff missed out a basic process of inspecting and approving the condition of the returned car and noticed the damage later so have sent you this notice.

One thing I have discovered with a lot of Audi staff up to team leader/manager level is that they have no clue on legal issues/basic courtesy, at least in my experience anyway. The higher level staff are well clued and better at understanding.

Anyway, if you had a good experience with them; I would give a call and speak to whoever the name of the person is at the end of the letter. If that fails and he or she starts treating you like rubbish just end the conversation politely and write up a letter explaining your side of the story and how the vehicle was checked out and approved to be in the same condition as you collected it.

Would not worry too much, technically they cannot do a thing and 99.9% likely not to pursue through court.

 

[Ian_C]

Glasgow Audi charge £75 a wheel

I had two done, then promptly went out and did a slight kerb the other day arrrrrrghhhh

 

[a3norwich]

I wouldn't bother lifting a finger.

Wouldn't go in all guns blazing.

Errr, assumes they are pursing you in the matter.

You don't need to bother at all; they need to "make a case". Any legal eagles here? Ahh, yes...

 

[sibby]

The reason I say that a3norwich is that if you have had a good experience (barring this letter) you will want to go back to them, therefore not want to be unwelcome there. That's why a courtesy call to whoever you delt with would be a good start.

If you want to throw legal terms and behave like that right away instead of trying the nice way then yes; ignore it and wait for something else.

I understand law, really I do but it is better for a person to go through the nice way first.

 

[Von Maximo]

Update,

All sorted! Got my message across that no way the damage happenned during my posession Service guy said he'd cancel the charge and appologised.

Next time I borrow a car I'll definetely make more of a deal to the inspection of the vehicle before and after!

 

[Staz]

You couldn't have asked for a better result hey? Next time my advice will be to do exactly that. I'm sure there will be a next time for someone!

 

[bacardi]

The reason I say that a3norwich is that if you have had a good experience (barring this letter) you will want to go back to them, therefore not want to be unwelcome there. That's why a courtesy call to whoever you delt with would be a good start.

If you want to throw legal terms and behave like that right away instead of trying the nice way then yes; ignore it and wait for something else.

I understand law, really I do but it is better for a person to go through the nice way first.

how much grief would you want to take from a dealer before you stopped taking your car back to them?

When my old dealer tried this with me, that was the last time the car went there, trying to charge a customer for something they didn't do is bang out of order and something you would expect from a back street outfit, not an Audi dealer, why should you be nice to them?

 

[a3norwich]

The reason I say that a3norwich is that if you have had a good experience (barring this letter) you will want to go back to them, therefore not want to be unwelcome there. That's why a courtesy call to whoever you delt with would be a good start.

If you want to throw legal terms and behave like that right away instead of trying the nice way then yes; ignore it and wait for something else.

I understand law, really I do but it is better for a person to go through the nice way first.

Absolutely. However, I think, to be honest, the dealer set the tone in the first place and were certainly "trying it on". They in no way respected any previous relationship they had with their customer to take this view and course of action. Von Maximo asked for opinions. It is up to his good judgement (and his relationship with his dealer) how he proceeds. I'm sure he's a big boy and can make his own decisions, as is evident from the result...!