Benefit in kind help needed!!

West

West

West

Soldato
Joined
22 Dec 2004
Posts
9,185
Location
Rugeley, Staffs
Hi all,

I have been using my companies BIK Lease scheme for a good number of years now (10+yrs) and never encountered anything like this, just wondering if anyone could help me.

2 months ago my car, 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe stopped working with a Hybrid system fault, the car bricked and would not start at all.

Hyundai assist came out, looked and said, we'll recover it but it was registering as a high temperature fault with the HV Battery.

A Part had to be flown over from South Korea which took a number of weeks but assured that this should rectify it, it didn't, a further repair took place and again, no joy.

This was about 4 weeks ago, and again, they're now waiting for 2 further parts to come from SK.

Having spoke to my fleet administrator company, I asked them to speak with the lease company to discuss termination of the lease due to the time its taking to complete a proper repair and with 2 already failed attempts I've tried to argue that I feel the car isn't fit for purpose and with the parts on back order again with no idea when they're likely to come in with no guarantee of a fix.

The fleet company were happy to put this to the lease company and Hyundai UK, the manufacturer were happy to agree with the process and they also spoke to the lease company and they both told my fleet company to advise me the rejection process had been started.

To this point my company and fleet authorised me to start the order process on a new car which is now nearly completed.

Roll forward to this week, the lease company have back tracked and said they dont believe there is sufficient cause to reject the car based on the 2 failed repairs but have told me today they're still working in the background to find a resolution.

Whilst I understand my rights are different due to the type of lease this is, does anyone have any experience of this happening and just share their experiences for me?

Thanks.
 
I was expecting tax efficiencies but this is just a company car scheme.

Get your company to lean on the scheme provider. Their weight will move more than your word ever will.
 
aaronyuri said:
I was expecting tax efficiencies but this is just a company car scheme.

Get your company to lean on the scheme provider. Their weight will move more than your word ever will.
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I have sent this very email today to our coordinator who has been informed throughout the whole thing.
 
Ultimately these schemes are there to provide you with a working, fully maintained vehicle (i.e beyond even what a regular maintained lease would do). You are effectively being punished via BIK (although currently relatively small) and as such if you are not receiving the benefit you are paying for then it simply "isn't your problem" how it gets resolved, someone from your provider needs to get into it pronto.

I'd flip the tone at this point and make it clear it's their responsibility to either provide you with the working vehicle you are paying for (noting it doesnt need to be the current one) or get you a new one asap. It is not up to you to figure out the best way to do it or reject the car etc, make it their problem. Involving your employer is a good start
 
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rodenal said:
Ultimately these schemes are there to provide you with a working, fully maintained vehicle (i.e beyond even what a regular maintained lease would do). You are effectively being punished via BIK (although currently relatively small) and as such if you are not receiving the benefit you are paying for then it simply "isn't your problem" how it gets resolved, someone from your provider needs to get into it pronto.

I'd flip the tone at this point and make it clear it's their responsibility to either provide you with the working vehicle you are paying for (noting it doesnt need to be the current one) or get you a new one asap. It is not up to you to figure out the best way to do it or reject the car etc, make it their problem. Involving your employer is a good start
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Thanks.

So I've upped the ante as I said above requesting our coordinator who works with the fleet company to see if they have any business to business pushes they can make.

I have also spoken with both the fleet management company and lease company today.

The fleet guys say they're working hard to advocate on my behal to the lease company as well as me pushing them directly on the fact that nothing seems to be progressing.

Today lease company saying they're discussing possibilities to come to a resolution (what this means I dont know) But they're looking for some sort of resolution potentially. I've told them I have a new order waiting at this point and would prefer to pursue this than wait potentially months on end for a fix.

The last the fleet company had though after going to the table with them and Hyundai that they would start the process but are now saying its not possible and I don't know why. The fleet guys have heard nothing since.

I have said in the long email I've sent to our coordinator today that I have argued that the car isn't fit for purpose as well as they're still taking my money each month for a car I haven't got. Whilst being kept mobile its in a lesser car.
 
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Even the lesser car could hurt you though as depending on the fuel type it could be costing more to run day to day and more importantly could have a significantly worse BIK. This should really be adjusted albeit in practice it is unlikely to be noted for a short period.

Either way your employer should at this point (as they will ultimately have the overarching framework and contract with the provider) be threatening to stop paying / invoke whatever remedy exists between them and provider.

For you it's simple as you've pointed out, you are paying monthly and via BIK for a product that is not as agreed. Your case is simple, someone needs to provide the car or terminate AND recover monies paid for unusable time to date. Don't forget it's the Gross cost that the provider gets, making it even more obscene

See how your email lands and channel your inner grumpy old man
 
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West said:
Ouch.
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If you let them take the **** out of you then they will. You are still paying them money at the end of the day. Fielding your e-mails/calls is nothing. Your company threatening to review the scheme provider and consider other options because their employees aren't receiving a good experience, on the other hand, is a big ******* problem.

Don't hang about. Get your company to throw its weight around and you'll see things happen very quickly.
 
Had some further conversations today,

So, the least company have said that they are willing to accept the termination, they said they will reaffirm this position with the fleet guys today, but yet to hear anything else back from that as of yet.

Brief email with our fleet coordinator, said he's looking into how he can help me as well, however, the fleet should be pursuing the cancellation if it's been offered, so we're still at this point not sure why that's not taken place. My guess the fee in all honesty! however, I've asked him also to speak to fleet to push this as his word is going to be more than mine I think at this point, he has also pointed out those in similar situations, they have gone forward with this without any issue!

I'm going to give them tomorrow to try and sort it and go back to them again see what has been said between them all
 
And I thought Kia/Hyundai were supposed to be reliable.

All these modern EV and PHEV systems are far too complicated :(
 
mjt said:
And I thought Kia/Hyundai were supposed to be reliable.

All these modern EV and PHEV systems are far too complicated :(
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ngl, was a big part of my decision when I ordered it!

Very disappointed.
 
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Furthur update today,

Another repair has failed on the vehicle with parts that were flew from Korea dealers are back speaking to Hyundai Technical.

Had more back and forth with most parties today and the lease company are holding strong that they're not making it a lost cause..

My company are now wading in with their accounts team and have asked for a full history and timeline to escalate.

I have spoken to the dealer and asked how many goes do they want at it before they give up because I think 3x attempted and 3x failed is plenty personally

Theyre liaising with their technical team to make that decision.

The wait goes on...
 
mjt said:
And I thought Kia/Hyundai were supposed to be reliable.
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From my limited pool of Hyundai / KIA owners I know the reliability ship seems to have sailed.

Things like the KIA Ceed we abuse as a company car with it's whopping 1.0 petrol engine lugging around a C-Segment estate just keep ploughing into 6 figure mileage without any issue. Newer EV and hybrid stuff seems to be less resilient from what I've witnessed.
 
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Latest update from the dealer..

Their Technical Team at present still not willing to rule it a lost cause or condemn it. They think a HV Fuse has gone as a result of one of the previous fixes, however, until its restripped and assessed they're not 100%

They have however, voiced concern over the time and level of fixes it has taken to get to this point (which again, works in my favour I feel)

Goes back into the workshop tomorrow and through till Monday to investigate. However, if it is this fuse there is a possibility it may get the car back to a usable state.

My company have advised due to the amount of time/fixes there is a precedent to get the car rejected on their level, however he isn't making any promises but is hopeful of sorting it, it just won't be easy!!!

I've given them the information passed today and will speak with the chap on Monday to see where we are at.

Told them categorically even if they fix it, I want out as i have 0 confidence in the vehicle and were at risk of if something else happens down the line being back to square 1.

I soldier on...
 
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Been in touch with the dealer today.. so far the parts...
  • HPCU – approximately £4,800
  • Oil Pump Module – approximately £1,920
  • High Voltage Fuse – approximately £97
  • Inverter Kit – approximately £1,890.20
This brings the parts costs alone to in excess of £8,700. Taking into account the labour we have to be in 5 figures for these repairs now

All repairs have so far failed with the inverter kit being the latest attempt. Theyve stripped the car back more than once as well.

My work and going to give them till the end of play today to get their proverbial shizz together and I think from whats being said, theyre going to ply some pressure.

The lease company day because fleet got the car through their own dealer network, they are only responsible for the finances and fleet have been provided with the termination costs. As soon as its paid.. im released

Let's see if they pay....
 
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lordrobs said:
From my limited pool of Hyundai / KIA owners I know the reliability ship seems to have sailed.

Things like the KIA Ceed we abuse as a company car with it's whopping 1.0 petrol engine lugging around a C-Segment estate just keep ploughing into 6 figure mileage without any issue. Newer EV and hybrid stuff seems to be less resilient from what I've witnessed.
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The early KIAs and Hyundais were solid cars based on proven designs. Nothing fancy, but they worked.

The currently EV/PHEV/Hybrid technology is great (if you like that sort of thing) until something goes wrong. If the dealer technician’s magic box of knowledge can’t diagnose what’s going on and you can’t get a team of manufacturer R&D boffins parachuted in to investigate, you are boned.
 
West said:
Been in touch with the dealer today.. so far the parts...
  • HPCU – approximately £4,800
  • Oil Pump Module – approximately £1,920
  • High Voltage Fuse – approximately £97
  • Inverter Kit – approximately £1,890.20
This brings the parts costs alone to in excess of £8,700. Taking into account the labour we have to be in 5 figures for these repairs now

All repairs have so far failed with the inverter kit being the latest attempt. Theyve stripped the car back more than once as well.

My work and going to give them till the end of play today to get their proverbial shizz together and I think from whats being said, theyre going to ply some pressure.

The lease company day because fleet got the car through their own dealer network, they are only responsible for the finances and fleet have been provided with the termination costs. As soon as its paid.. im released

Let's see if they pay....
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That is crazy! It is very hard to see how many modern cars will progress down the used car hierarchy to second, third, fourth... Owners. Who would want to pick up a car for £10k used which can throw the same again as a repair bill?!

My Astra is in a similar boat. The software is flakey, build quality questionable but for 42000 miles it has never let me down. Would I buy one as a used purchase at 3 years old? Hell no! Well... I would if it was throw away money but the reality is that it shouldn't be thrown away money as soon as the warranty expires.

Time has ticked by on our Polo and we've always looked to replace cars at 10 years old. We will be hanging on to this one for the foreseeable as it is the only safe financial option!

The only exception being MHEV and anything Toyota which is just bulletproof as proven by the number of Gen 2 Prius you still see as near half million mile minicabs.

Edit - the world of technician training for motor vehicle technicians is part of our customer base and all the feedback we get is that the trade as a whole is MASSIVELY under skilled when it comes to EVs and Hybrids.
 
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