TCH Leasing has announced that since January 2014, 68% of end-of-contract vehicles supplied to its10 largest corporate clients have had zero damage recharges.

The remaining 32% experienced an average damage recharge of £133.

The results are based on the 10 largest fleets that TCH Leasing support, totalling 571 vehicles, a combination of commercial vehicles and cars.

Research from Fleet News' FN50 industry study found that 35% of cars returned to the UK’s 100 largest leasing companies incurred damage recharges at an average of £274.

In the past six months TCH Leasing has collected around 1,200 vehicles under the 'inspect and collect' process and to date, have received only four actual complaints.

TCH Leasing says it operates a transparent return policy.

On collection of all vehicles, it completes a full condition report and any damage is noted and photographed.

Both parties then sign the collection sheet and the client retains a copy, thereby eliminating any margin of error.

Upon return to TCH Leasing, the vehicle is then re-inspected by the remarketing team and any noted damage that is considered outside of the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear guidelines is evaluated, not for repair, but for reduction in resale value.

This is then communicated to the client, supported by the photographic evidence.

Mark Hammond, managing director of TCH Leasing, said: “TCH Leasing’s approach to the return of vehicles is an essential element of our service.

"We are acutely aware that end-of-contract charges can be extremely contentious and can destabilise what was otherwise a good relationship between the customer and the leasing company”.