Hi there,
I handed my car back using the half rule. I was worried because I had one problem with the car occur before it was to be returned so I just got that fixed. Now the car was four years old so it had the odd stone chip but other than that it was decent condition.
My thoughts were, seen as how I bought it second hand from garage, how could the finance company differentiate what wear and tear occurred before I purchased it to after? So I just washed and hoovered it as if I was selling it and took a few photos as evidence of condition.
I brought it down to the auction place where some guy with his clipboard walked around the car and then drove it down to the back of the yard for further examination.
Waiting for nearly an hour I was then presented with a report from a different guy stating "both front wings and the bumper replace". I was shocked and said what are they on about the car is excellent and never been crashed. He wasnt sure either if it meant that it needed to be replaced or had been replaced, however, they had a price of about 2,000 at bottom of the report. He replied that sorry he is only the messenger but his friend got a similar report but they never followed up.
I naturally told him the car was going back cos I couldnt afford it so there is no way I would be paying that. I never heard anything after that. I also saw the car on carzone with a dealer so I assume once it was bought by the dealer it was no longer a problem for me.
So I would say just have it in the condition you would expect if trying to sell it yourself and you should be ok. I signed a voluntary termination which and not a voluntary surrender. on the recorded phonecall I made sure the lady clearly stated that the VT was different to the VS and in no way affected your credit.
So now I am happy and slightly better off each month. I hope it works out well for you also.