July 2007 Smoking Ban

The smoking ban is almost upon us. On the 1st July 2007, it will be bannned to smoke in a public space.

How Does This Affect Company Car Drivers/Owner Drivers?

Quite simply, if you use your vehicle for work, (be it a company car, or your own) and you, for example.carry a workmate to work in the mornings, technically speaking this is now a public space.Being as this is now a public place, smoking will be banned within the vehicle come July of this year.

What Are My Options?

Mainly this will affect employers more than the company car driver. The best course of action is to revise your company car policy, and create a company car handbook.

Following this, we suggest you apply No Smoking stickers to the dashboard of ALL vehices that are shared, and all commercial vehicles.

Company Car Policy and Handbook

Very soon, Alpha Leasing will be providing all employers with a free software solution to managing their fleet, be it 1 car or 1,000 cars.

Part of this software package will be the ability to create, edit and manage company car policy's and handbooks.

How to get accepted for Personal Car Finance

Have you ever been turned down for Car Finance or a Lease Agreement and wondered why?

There are two main reasons for being declined, Non – traceability, & Credit Rating.

Non - traceability means that the Finance Company can’t see that you exist – you are not on the electoral roll, and this means that as far as they are concerned you either have something to hide or don’t want to be found! Not necessarily true, but it is how it affects their assessment of you.

Credit rating means that provided that you have the right credit score, everything else being equal, you will be accepted, and conversely, a low credit score as a result of missed payments, arrears, defaults, & CCJ’s (County Court Judgements) etc will inevitably mean that you will be declined.

Perversely, ‘no credit’ can be almost as bad as poor credit. The finance companies will use your credit rating to help them make a decision as to your general reliability, and overall ability to make the monthly payments. If you have no credit, they do not have any indicator as to how reliable you are likely to be.

Likewise, if you have a very high level of debt, in terms of credit cards, loans and Mortgages, you could still get declined on the grounds that you are considered to be over committed.

It is a good idea to get hold of a copy of your own credit file before applying. In these days of increased identity fraud, it is worth checking to make sure that there is nothing showing against you that you were unaware of. In this way you can avoid unnecessary searches against you by the finance companies. Multiple simultaneous searches, by numerous funders, will adversely affect your credit score.

You will do better to select a Leasing Company you are happy to work with, and let them help you. A reputable Company will help you to get the best deal, and will place your proposal with the funder most likely to accept you for finance, provided you are honest about your situation upfront, and reveal anything that may affect you getting an acceptance.

In the world of Car Finance, a good credit score will help you to get the best deal. If you know that your credit history is not what it should be, you should expect to pay a premium (typically around 30%) to get the car you want.

Ted Crofts Client Care Advisor tc@alphaleasing.co.uk Tel: 01926 810330 ext.203 Fax: 01926 816645

Frequently asked Questions

How does a personal lease work?

We only provide brand new vehicles and specialise in designing a vehicle solution specifically for you and can source any vehicle across the whole of the UK car market place. Because of our volume acquisition we also negotiate fantastic special offers to be delivered direct to your door. Whether you want to acquire your first car, or drive something suitable for the family Alpha can help. You may wish to consider total economical packages, executive comfort and style motoring, sports engineering and performance, convertibles or just plain outrageous head-turning luxury. Whatever your preference we can advise you on availability, savings etc.

How does a business lease work?

Alpha Leasing provides tailor made solutions to the business community. Whether you are a sole trader or a PLC Alpha Leasing can provide specific vehicles designed to suit your requirements.
We can also provide bulk purchases of vehicles for fleet purposes and help you to design your in-house employer benefit scheme.
Whatever your requirement our advisors can help you to design the best solution for you and your business.

What term can I lease for?

The simple answer is any term up to four years. As a general rule of thumb, the longer the term, the cheaper the monthly figure will be. The exception to this would be shorter term special offers.

How does the finance work?

Whether you are a corporate user or an individual, once you have decided which vehicle and term is appropriate for your needs and have received a quotation from one of our advisors, you will be proposed for finance. This is a very simple document to complete, and allows us to select a finance company with whom we can arrange your funding line. Your information is forwarded to one of 13 Corporate Funding Companies, without obligation, who provide to us exceptionally competitive rates. Normally within 24 hours the funding company will advise us as to your status. Sometimes the funding company may require additional information in order for them to make a decision on your proposal. Once all the relevant information has been received, you will either be accepted or declined and you will be advised accordingly.

How do I order a vehicle?

Once your funding line has been agreed you are now in a position to order your vehicle. We will discuss with you delivery date and location that you want the vehicle to be delivered to. We will require proof of address such as a utility bill, and a copy of your driving licence. You will then be sent an order form. Once this has been completed and returned to Alpha, along with an administration fee of £30, you are now obligated to go ahead with the arrangement. If you decide at a later stage not to go ahead for any reason other than contract change or delayed delivery, once the vehicle has been ordered, then you will be liable to pay a £500 cancellation fee.

What happens if my application is declined for finance?

It is a fact of life that bad credit problems affect a significant percentage of the population. We understand that just because you may have experienced this yourself, it does not make you a bad person. It also should not mean that you have to go without the benefit of driving a new vehicle. For this reason we have a specialist finance department exists to help people or companies that have previous or existing CCJ’s, payment arrears, current or previous credit issues. We have strong relationships with adverse lenders as well as vehicle suppliers and we can provide not only the necessary finance but also the vehicle. If you are declined for finance under the normal criteria one of our advisors will contact you and talk you through the options available to you.

Do all your vehicles have a warranty?

All of our vehicles come with a full Manufacturers warranty.

Is breakdown recovery included?

Most of our vehicles also have breakdown recovery included. The specifics of the contract will differ from one manufacturer to another, however generically the contract is designed to be able to offer you the facility to be relocated in the event of a breakdown. Please talk to your advisor about specifics.

What is a maintenance contract?

A maintenance contract can be added to the monthly cost of leasing your vehicle.
It is designed to cover you for the extra costs that you may incur with the normal costs of running your car.

How much does it cost?

This depends on the cost of the vehicle that you are leasing. Your advisor will be happy to provide you with a quote.

What does a maintenance contract include?

The specifics of maintenance contract will differ slightly from one funding company to another. It will typically include:
Servicing or maintaining the vehicle in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations
Undertaking repairs or maintenance necessary to keep the vehicle in good repair and condition i.e. tyres, exhaust etc

What is not included?

It does not normally cover:
Accidental or malicious damage
repairing stains, burns or tears in seats, head linings or carpets
repairing damage to the engine, gearbox, clutch, axle, suspension, steering or brakes caused by excessive use or failure to use or operate the vehicle in accordance with the manufacturers instructions
repairing any accessories added by or at the request of the customer
replacing worn tyres worn unevenly or through improper use which includes kerbing, excessive braking, steering misalignment and pothole damage) or whose walls are split which includes kerbing, excessive braking, steering misalignment and pothole damage or whose walls are split or damaged
repairing dents scratches or chips in the bodywork or rust aggravated by lack of attention

Do you include insurance?

We do not include insurance on any vehicle supplied by ourselves. It is important that you seek independent advice to arrange your car insurance
Do I have to tax the vehicle?
On a contract hire or personal contract hire arrangement the vehicle is taxed for the length of the contract. You do not need to do anything. On delivery your vehicle will be taxed, and you will simply be posted your new tax disc a week prior to the expiry date of the last. On a personal contract purchase agreement the vehicle comes taxed for the first twelve months. You will be responsible for taxing the vehicle for the remainder of the term.




Office hours are between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday. I look forward to helping you find, and fund, an appropriate vehicle.

Contract Hire Overview

Contract Hire:
You simply hire a vehicle from Alpha Leasing, for an agreed period at a contracted monthly rate.With contract hire, Alpha Leasing retains the ownership of the vehicle throughout the contract and at the end of the contract hire period, the vehicle is returned to us. Contract Hire is the perfect option if a company wishes to reduce the financial risk and admin hassles of running their own fleet. Alpha Leasing take care of everything for you, including, buying, servicing and the disposal of the vehicles at the end of the contract hire period.

Benefits: Contract Hire Fixed monthly payments improve cashflow and ease budgeting burdens. With contract hire, all of the financial risks are met by the vehicle leasing company, leaving you secure in the knowledge that you need only make a fixed payment each month.Vehicles that are leased under contract hire, are owned by Alpha Leasing, and do not appear on your balance sheet as a capital asset. This improves your company's borrowing ratio. Administration of the fleet is kept to a minimum, under contract hire, as Alpha Leasing are responsible for sourcing, buying, servicing and disposing of the contracted vehicles

PCP Explained

PCP (Personal Contract Purchase)PCP is an abbreviation for Personal Contract Purchase. PCP is a relatively new way to finance your desired new or nearly new vehicle. The PCP allows you to contract into an agreement over a set period of time, with an agreed maximum mileage.Benefits: PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) PCP offers a lower cost and is a more flexible alternative to other finance packages. The PCP also offers much greater flexibility at the end of the term, the driver can choose from these options: Return The CarWith PCP, when the contract term comes to an end, the driver can advise us and simply return the car with nothing else to pay, subject to it being in a reasonable condition. The advantage of this approach is that there is no need to pay the Optional Final Payment. Where a vehicle is returned in a condition that is considered by us to be below the anticipated standard for age and mileage at the end of the contract, charges may be applied to bring the vehicle to the required condition. Keep The Car PCP allows the driver to own the car outright, by paying the Final Optional Payment.
Summary: Benefits Of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP): Fixed Monthly payments, Option to Purchase at the end of contract, Minimal Deposit necessary 1-3 Monthly payments subject to credit status, Ability to increase deposit to reduce monthly payments, Flexible contract terms with & without maintenance.

What happens when the car goes back?

I am often asked - “what happens when I return the car?” My clients are worried that they will be stung with an expensive repair bill, and that the Dealer / Funder will try and get more money out of them by charging for every little mark on the paintwork.

The truth of the matter is that reputable companies will use official guidelines, outlined in a handy booklet produced by the BVRLA - called the ‘Industry Fair Wear & Tear Guide for Drivers of Contract Hire & Leased Vehicles’

You are advised to keep a full maintenance & servicing record, and return the details with the car, together with details of any security codes used for audio equipment.
Return spare keys including keys for locking wheel nuts, as originally supplied.
Ensure the vehicle is returned in a clean & tidy condition – ideally have it valeted before return. Ensure ashtrays are emptied and litter cleared.

Washing the car regularly, and polishing around 4 times a year will provide additional protection to the bodywork, reducing the effects of stone chips and traffic grime and making routine cleaning easier.
Have any damage put right before you return it. It will be cheaper to do it yourself than return it in a damaged state and let the leasing company repair it and bill you for the repair.

Minor dents & light scratches assessed as fair wear and tear are normally accepted, provided the base coat has not been penetrated and there is no corrosion. Chips cracks or holes in the windscreen would not be acceptable.
All lights must work, with no holes in the covers of light units. Door mirrors must not be missing, cracked or damaged.
Minor scuffing, in relation to the age of the car on Wheels and wheel trims is acceptable, but not dents or damage (this includes the spare). All tyres must be legal at time of return, again including the spare, and tyres must be compliant with manufacturer’s regulations.

In Short, look after the car whilst it is in your care. If you take care of it, and put things right as they occur, you will be unlikely to have any unpleasant surprises when you return it.
Ted Crofts Client Care Advisor tc@alphaleasing.co.uk Tel: 01926 810330 ext.203 Fax: 01926 816645

How to get the best out of leasing

If you are looking for a deal, you will find that by being flexible in your approach, you will make some great savings. At Alpha Leasing, all of our advisers are here to help you benefit from the lowest prices in the Market.

Be open - minded about the car you want. At the end of the day, we can provide you with any car currently listed. If you want a specific car, in a particular spec, with a list of factory fitted options, we can get it for you, but it won’t necessarily represent a bargain. You will pay for the choice. As the price of car leasing is based on future residual values, plus interest, then it is worth bearing in mind that very few ‘options’ actually add value – one of the few that does is Metallic Paint. We will get you a very competitive price for any car, but if you want a 'type' of car rather than a specific one, you will probably get a better rate – but you will need to be able to move quickly.

Great deals do come along from time to time, but as they offer fantastic value for money, they tend to get snapped up. When a new or ‘improved’ model is introduced by a manufacturer, (even though the changes to the new model can be fairly insignificant) the manufacturer may want to move stocks to make room for the new version. The manufacturers offer us significant discounts due to our volumes, and we are able to pass these savings on to our clients. This means that the ‘depreciation’ element on the car is much reduced, as the residual value remains strong.

Inevitably, the ‘New’ model is more expensive, and also, being a new model, there are usually no discounts to be had, at least not for the first year or so, and then they will not be as good until they come to replace the model, or make changes to the range. This means that the overall depreciation is greater, and this is reflected in a higher price.

If you are serious about leasing a car, and not just browsing, be honest with your Broker. Be realistic about your expectations, and be open about your budget. Tell us when you need the car for – and plan ahead. It may be that some cars are only available on factory order, and could take around 8 weeks – others may be readily available from stock, and as long as you have everything required (proofs of ID, driving licence, Deposit etc), you could be driving around in it in 2 to 3 weeks. We will work with you to get you the best deal we can, but be prepared to move quickly in order to secure your bargain. Once you have found it, we will ask you to complete a proposal. This will enable us to secure the finance for the deal. If you have concerns about your credit worthiness, let us know early in the process – we do have a non-status division for clients with less than perfect credit.

Once the proposal has been accepted we will then be able to secure your car for you by completing an order.

Happy Motoring
Ted Crofts Client Care Advisor tc@alphaleasing.co.uk Tel: 01926 810330 ext.203 Fax: 01926 816645

Car Leasing - Brief Explanation

Contract Hire (Business)

Definition: Contract Hire You simply hire a vehicle from Alpha Leasing, for an agreed period at a contracted monthly rate. With contract hire, Alpha Leasing retains the ownership of the vehicle throughout the contract and at the end of the contract hire period, the vehicle is returned to us. Contract Hire is the perfect option if a company wishes to reduce the financial risk and admin hassles of running their own fleet. Alpha Leasing take care of everything for you, including, buying, servicing and the disposal of the vehicles at the end of the contract hire period.


Benefits: Contract Hire Fixed monthly payments improve cashflow and ease budgeting burdens. With contract hire, all of the financial risks are met by the vehicle leasing company, leaving you secure in the knowledge that you need only make a fixed payment each month. Vehicles that are leased under contract hire, are owned by Alpha Leasing, and do not appear on your balance sheet as a capital asset. This improves your company's borrowing ratio. Administration of the fleet is kept to a minimum, under contract hire, as Alpha Leasing are responsible for sourcing, buying, servicing and disposing of the contracted vehicles.

Alpha Leasing.

Leasing is the cheapest and easiest way to drive a new vehicle. Alpha Leasing commits to large number of vehicles every month and this makes Alpha's buying power incredible. We can get any available vehicle in the U.K and aim to beat any genuine price on the market. What makes Alpha different from most is we actually quote on real vehicles with real discounts and up to date residual values, so once finance is approved that's the price you pay. We speak directly to each customer in order to give accurate and up to date information as this industry can change on a minute by minute basis.

We aim to offer an unbeatable service with the customers best interest as the priority. Honesty is what Alpha Leasing was created for and this is never in question.

Real cars, real deals for real people !

The problem with Adverse Credit

Unfortunately, adverse credit is difficult to shake off, and will affect your credit file for a period of 6 years. Very often people don’t realise that something they may consider as trivial, has far reaching implications on their ability to fund a car through a car lease (from something as simple as missed regular payments on a credit card, right through to Defaults, CCJ’s, IVA’s and Bankruptcy). The best deals in the market are usually funded by the Finance companies with the strictest criteria. If you don’t measure up to their requirements, you will be declined – it is as simple as that, and this will affect one in 3 proposals for car finance - so you will be in good company.

Here at Alpha leasing, we have a number of options designed to help people get back into a car. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss your options with you, to see which is the best route for you, but the end result is that we do have a guaranteed acceptance route, and there are many drivers with adverse credit who have benefited from it.

Unfortunately, what poor credit does is limit your choices – you are usually forced into a compromise - either on the vehicle, your budget or both. We have a wide range of cars available through a number of different funders, depending on your personal circumstances. Once we have talked these through, I will be able to tell you what you will be able to get, and how much it is going to cost. If you are happy with this, provided you do your bit, and respond promptly and honestly, we will do our bit and get you into a car. The one thing we want to do is help you start to restore your credit history, and get back on track for prime rate funding.

Typically, non-status funders require a prove-able 3 year address history – (it really helps if you are on the electoral roll, and also have recent utility bills), they will require proof of your ID – a copy of your driving licence (both parts if the new type), or a copy of your passport, and finally proof of affordability – Pay-slips and Bank Statements, and then we can get you into a car. You may need to pay a larger initial payment - for example a prime deal may be based on 3 payments upfront, whereas on a non-status deal this may be 6 up front, but this varies depending on the company, and the perceived risk.

The bottom line is - yes we can help - so if you want to discuss your options, call me on the number below, or alternatively send me an e-mail with your phone number and a time I can call you, and I will give you a call. I am normally in the office from 09.00 -6.00pm Monday to Friday.

Ted CroftsClient Care Advisortc@alphaleasing.co.ukTel: 01926 810330 ext.203Fax: 01926 816645

Should I have maintenance included?

This is a common question often asked by my customers, in response:

A fully maintained lease offers complete peace of mind and financial security as the monthly figure you pay incorporates the total cost of routine servicing and maintenance. This way all servicing, tyres (normally excluding punctures), brakes and exhausts are covered with no additional cost. Should you go over your mileage allowance the pence per mile penalty will also incorporate maintenance. Therefore you should have no unexpected costs over the duration of the lease.

This is extremely beneficial to high mileage users, typically 20-30k per anum.

Lower mileage users, up to 20k per anum, should also consider non-maintained contracts on their own financial merit. This is due to one main factor:

Recent changes in European law (Block Exemption) mean you have the right to take your vehicle anywhere you choose for servicing. Providing the servicing garage use OEM parts and adhere to the manufacturers servicing schedules.

This greatly affects lower mileage leasing customers as dealership prices can be higher than other smaller or local garages.

Therefore my advice would always be to measure up the money saved from having the vehicle maintained yourself, to the peace of mind of a fully maintained contract. Higher mileage users may find the convenience aspect of a maintained contract appealing, whereas lower mileage users would see benefit in the money saved.

Should you wish to discuss this or any other aspect of leasing please do not hesitate to call/e-mail:

TEL: 01926 810 330 ext 215
nm@alphaleasing.co.uk

Nick Marshall
Leasing Specialist
alphaleasing.co.uk

Savings with Leasing Explained

I had a Client who wasn't clear how much she would save with Leasing, So I sent her the Email Below:

To recap the figures;
If you were to Purchase the vehicle you would pay £23344.98 incl vat (on the road)
after covered 60000 miles in 3 years the vehicle would be worth £7155, this means that you will pay in depreciation £16189.98, Excluding Finance charges and Road Fund Licence.
To Lease the vehicle the cost per month is £353.61 incl vat, this means that you will pay £13437.18.
Purchase cost (incl RFL) = £16609.98
Lease cost incl finance charges = £13437.18
Lease Saving is £3172.80 incl vat, don't forget that if you were to purchase the vehicle, you would face Finance charges, which could be quite high, so doing things this way will save you even more, I anticipate that even with low rate finance, you would pay over £2969 in interest charges, so that would mean a saving of £6141.80.
So Leasing works really well in terms of Costing and works really well in terms of convenience.
We will deliver the vehicle to your door (as long as you are within mainland uk) and collect the vehicle after the contract has expired.