Lease Return Experience - unable to get response

[kalsy1211]

I am having trouble getting hold of Lease return to get back to me. what could me next step?

Tesla Loyalty Team Member reached out to me in December 2021 regarding my leased car. We agreed that he will work with me to match the Delivery date of my new model 3 with return of leased model 3 as early termination. We also agreed that if delivery is earlier than lease expiry then he will make sure there is no early termination charges, and if new model 3 gets delivered after lease return date then i can continue to extend lease at same terms.

I got early deliver ( 2 month before lease expires ). I reached out to loyalty and they basically told me that Team member that I worked with is not in same department. They explained the process of early termination. I followed the process and looped in Lease return, customer support, loyalty team and requested to match the date so when i go to Tesla facility ( Fremont CA ) to pick the New car I can also drop the lease return. They made sure that they keep on requesting info ( Pics and more ) so it does not happen. At this point I do not care about waiving the early termination fees.

It is been two weeks now that I have taken delivery of new car ( ofcourse in the hope that someone from lease return will help me ). I am mailing them every day to give me time for inspection, but no response.

what could be my next step ?

 

[deepak khosla]

Did you figure out how get response from them?

 

[mdahiya]

In the process of returning the leased model 3, experience have been terrible. I had model 3 leased and extended period (3.5) miles are still low (20K less than what I am entitled to). I had scheduled for inspection the day it opened but they can schedule it for 3-4 days before the end of lease period. Inspector comes and add charges for following items:-
1. Tire tread less than 4/32 .. no exception even if you have extended lease or not. $1296
2. Scratch minor one also included - $2540
3. Scrap on tire wheels - 255

I got the tire replaced with used one but good tread life 70% or so .. also found out that one of the scratch related line item is not even from my car. Re-shared images and details with inspector but he is refusing to entertain anything and insist all pics are from my car only and he even didn't show me that piece during inspection and I can't find it on my car also. Also no response for the tire replacement/adjustment so far..

No person to contact on queries and issues and horribly slow response to emails. So far this turning out to be nightmare .. anyone else had a success on the above cases on how we can connect with them or fast-track these queries??

 

[DocHolliday]

$2540 for a scratch?

 

[mdahiya]

Yes, for 2 scratch this one and similar to this one on the door also.

 

[VT_EE]

Yes, for 2 scratch this one and similar to this one on the door also.

That is some serious BS. Yet another reason I will never lease a vehicle.

 

[mdahiya]

Just to update here everyone on the current state of affairs.
1. Finally I was able to return my vehicle at sales office without much hustle from the sales office team - 2 days ahead. They took in the vehicle and didn't ask me to clear payments before accepting vehicle.
2. Intake vehicle specialist was still in denial mode that one the damage he has attached to my car is not from my car and not responding to tire change invoice also. He stopped responding altogether.
3. I declined to make payment until they prove me that there is such a damage on my car and also adjust tire related expenses.
4. Finally lease team made those adjustment and bill came to $3100 or so ..out of that $2450 is for excessive wear and tear from the above the posted pic kind of scratches (outside with full paint job it was getting done in $1200) .. but time wasn't on my side to get it done outside.
Overall I felt pinched in multiple ways.

1. I scheduled appointment on the day it opened. They can't schedule in person appointment due to availability instead of me asking to do it more earlier and only gave you 2-3 days to now pay whatever they ask or you might get in other late fee or extra payment for 1 more month.
2. No, change on tire level even if you have extended period of lease. I actually don't understand this rule at all, this should be customer choice what level they keep on.
3. Charges for excessive wear tear can't be adjusted based on outside estimates.. repair or give whatever they ask for? .. Should I be entitled to get repair receipts after the fix as I had paid sales tax also on those fixes in the final amount. No answer to these items from tesla team.

My vehicle value was around 5k+ greater then total amount owned on the vehicle if purchased as per Tesla itself but still no good to me. Brought it 6 month before covid so miles were pretty low .. 32k only where I was entitled for 52k (15K per year lease) of miles.

Overall Tesla ownership is ok as longs as you don't need to talk to a person to clear your doubts, negotiate or find common ground as good luck finding them, this was the biggest pain point. Everything is a via email and they will respond to it on their will and time, no time to comeback is committed. All terms and conditions are online and they can change anytime as I don't see any revision or audit trail on changes in terms and conditions.

My Recommendation - to get inspection at least done 2 weeks before or have the tires checked for tread and fix anything that needs to be fixed as per their guidelines as there seems to be no negotiation or human understanding here but bots who looks for their profits only and no empathy.

 

[hendo42]

I ended up have a good lease return experience. It started out bad but ended being ok. I returned my M3LR 6 months early with 45500 miles. For some reason my early termination quote in November was $4,800. The car was valued $28,000 with $32,000 owed. A week later my payment was made which gave me another quote. This time only $700! I ended up with a worn tire and some curb rash so the final bill was $1200. Not bad. It would have been $500/mo of mile overages if I continued the lease with my commute. I was also able to purchase a new M3SR with the $3750 discount (Dec delivery) and NJ 2K rebate.