Hello fellow hackers! I had returned my ES350 lease 2 months ago and just got a bill for lease end charges that I’m having a hard time processing. Autovin completed the inspection and they listed some damages as “previous repair” when my vehicle has never been in an accident. I had brought the vehicle in for a scratch repair 1 year into my lease on the driver side door and that was done through my local dealership so there is a vehicle service history tied to that. Spoke with a representative and she supposedly “reviewed” the charges with a “resolution specialist” and are sticking with their decision. I have attached some photos and would like your knowledgeable input. Am I at the mercy of Toyota/Lexus financial? I honestly don’t see any damages from the photos. Any help or insight is appreciated!
How much are they billing you? And was a pre-turn-in inspection done?
Thanks for the quick response! Regretfully, I did not complete a pre-inspection before return. They are charging me ($328 hood) ($204 left front fender) ($236 left rear door) ($244 left gas panel) ($204 right front fender).
That is a lot more than
Was this a loaner or new? Unfortunately you may be SOL… not much you can fall back in here
It was brand new when I leased it. The originating dealer had disclosed of hail damage prior to me signing and they repaired it. I just feel cheated (no scratch, dings, dent) when I don’t see any damages from the photos to back their claims. From a bit of searching around, people have been charged less for worse damages.
Looks like a bunch of BS they are trying to pull off. I wouldn’t let that go easily.
Wow, I had a real bodywork on my Mercedes (two accidents, fix and full repaint, door and bumper) and no charges on lease end.
Does the lease agreement have an arbitration clause?
I’ve seen the threat of arbitration used successfully for other types of financial services accounts.
In those cases, aside from the initial filing fee (a couple hundred dollars) the other party is on the hook for the cost of arbitration, which can be thousands of dollars upfront alone.
Often the other party will relent to avoid paying thousands in arbitration costs to recoup hundreds, and when that happens they drop their claim and you get your filing fee back.
DISCLAIMER: I have no idea if this is equally effective for a car lease as it is for, say, a credit card matter, but it’s worth a look.
I literally cannot see anything in those pictures indicating damage. What am I missing?
$1200 in repairs for that sounds bonkers to me. That would turn me off leasing another lexus for sure if I were in your shoes.
how much was on the autovin assessment??
This is why you always return the car dirty as hell, that car is way too clean
those pictures look like a brand new car to me lol or am I getting old?
I’ve attached the complete “chargeable” autovin assessment report for your peruse. There are other charges that I agree with as it clearly show damages but the charges they assess as “previous repair” are the costly ones and the photos I provided above indicates nothing. This is ridiculous and I don’t know how to escalate this issue.
Can’t help but feel scammed, especially when I leased another vehicle with them as well…Definitely will not be going with them in the future or recommend anyone to Lexus.
I actually haven’t wash the car in months, so it’s not that clean.
Definitely would turn me off if I had gotten the report earlier. Too bad I already have another lease (RX450h) with them so I will definitely turn tails and buy it out instead at lease turn in.
“previous repair” what a load of BS so they are saying if you get your car repaired you still get charged?
I am severely OCD and I can’t even see anything in those photos on my phone at least. I’d keep calling and wouldn’t let up until someone in a position of authority gets on the phone with you and explains exactly what in those photos is chargeable. If that car really did get returned in good shape, this is ridiculous.
If they’re referring to the previously repaired hail damage before you got it, I’d see if you have that in writing anywhere
So, all the repairs are from hail damage, existing prior to you leasing the vehicle? Is any of that disclosed on the lease or sales contract? Is the dealership where you returned the car the same dealer that performed the pre-sale repairs? If you have proof Lexus performed these repairs prior to sale you should able to get this all waived by Lexus Financial.
Also, an Autovin report shows what is chargeable. It does not mean it will be charged. Has Lexus sent you a bill for all of this?