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Fleets are being warned to be clever about smart repairs, after Arval claimed botched work is costing hundreds of pounds per vehicle.
The leasing, fuel and fleet management company says the problems fall into two categories: driver or smart repairer inflicted. Drivers trying to cure light damage to a door with a touch-up pen could cause further damage costing £150-£175 to fix when the car's returned to the leasing company, while poor smart repairs can cost fleets a huge amount more than that.
"While smart repair is a valuable tool in any fleet's repair arsenal, bad smart repairs can do more harm than good," said Scott Holland, Arval's head of remarketing. "It's natural for drivers to try and touch up scratches, particularly if they are likely to be recharged for any damage by their employer. However, attempts to hide scratches with touch-up pens will not get past the trained remarketer's eye."
Holland is more emphatic about the growth in the smart repair business. "Good quality smart repair can save fleets significant wear and tear costs. However, the huge growth in smart repair vendors in recent years has inevitably led to concerns about the training and standards of one-man operations," he said. Arval is concerned about repairs being undertaken in unsuitable locations and conditions, such as wet supermarket car parks.
"Fleets should ensure that any smart repair is undertaken by recognised franchised repairers, who have received comprehensive training and will only attempt dry repairs," said Holland.
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