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We, like everyone else I talk to in the fleet industry, are having problems getting courtesy cars for our drivers. I know there has always been an issue, but with the shortage of cars over the past couple of years, this has made the situation even worse.
Our drivers are now covering more miles, the servicing need for our vehicles is becoming more regular. However, even booking a vehicle in for service isn't straightforward anymore. We often have to wait a while to get an appointment, that suits both the garage, and our drivers. Trying to get a loan car is another story, as it's nearly impossible to get an appointment! 'Maybe in two to three months' we are often told, by which time, the vehicle is due for its next service, and the wait is even longer! Put it off, and you are in danger of falling foul of warranty stipulations, which make it null and void if you miss services.
Yes, many garages offer nice cosy work areas with free Wi-Fi, plus tea and coffee served in cups and saucers - just so drivers can work while they wait for their cars to be serviced or repaired. But what do you do, if your drivers, like ours, need to be out and about - going to jobs on-site, and talking to people face to face? They need to be in a car, doing what they are supposed to be doing! The way forward it seems, is to try and book our vehicles in well ahead of when a service is due - just to ensure we can get a courtesy car!
A few months ago, I had to hire a car for one of our drivers as their car had to be returned. With no sight of its replacement coming, in days, weeks, or months, our leasing company handily (I thought!) sorted a rental car for us. It duly arrived with scratches on the bodywork, chunks out of the alloys, and a damaged front plastic spoiler. Fortunately, I took some photos of it, and sent them to the leasing company.
Spin forward a few weeks, and out of the blue, the salesman's new car arrived! I phoned him, we arranged a collection date, and at this point he sheepishly told me the loan car was, in his words, 'in a bit of a mess'. I couldn't wait to find out what 'in a bit of a mess,' meant.
A mess it certainly was, the interior was a disgrace, as he hadn't even bothered attempting to clean it. Soil on a seat, no doubt from a spilt bag of peat. Hair extensions on the back of one of the front seats, dubious stains on the door cards, and the roof lining was absolutely filthy. Elsewhere, there were empty cans rolling about on the floor, but thankfully no cigarette packets, ash or anywhere to be seen. So, at least he'd read that rule! I asked him what on earth he'd been doing, and why hadn't he tried to clean 'this mess.' In his words, 'he'd been busy,' and you know, he said 'it's just life.' Goodness only knows what his house is like, and we have this sort of person working for us. I'd sack him immediately, but apparently, he does a good job.
I spent nearly £100 on a valet, and they did a good job on it, in fact it was almost back to normal. The leasing company picked it up, returned it to the rental company, and all was good. Or so I thought, until last week! It was then, that I received an invoice from our leasing company for £500. This was for repairs to scratches, scuffed alloy wheels, and a damaged front valance. I immediately called our leasing company, explained how the car arrived originally and that we had sent in pictures of it. Anyway, she was brutally efficient, with no people skills and wouldn't budge saying we owe £500, and 'that's that, that's how it is!'
I was fuming and took it further up the chain, until I finally spoke to one of their senior people. He very quickly and quietly said, 'leave it with me, I'll sort it, and don't worry.' Very quickly he did, so efficiently and effortlessly and we all lived happily ever after.
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