US BANK lease termination

Our end of lease was approaching and we have NEVER had any charges for =

turning in vehicles for a decade until this last Toyota leased via US =

Bank. Our car was inspected in Nov '06 with nickel-dime knicks and dents =

that added up to $800 with a contract termination fee of a few hundred. =

I still don't understand that one since we made all the payments =

eventhough we were turning the vehicle in a month early (paid the last =

payment ahead of time). I signed off on these charges, put 21 more miles =

on the car since the inspection to replace the tires myself to save =

$140. At this point the 2003 RAV4 only had 33,000 miles. Car turned in =

in Dec '06. We recieved the bill for the $800 charges. 3 months later =

we recieve a bill for $7,800 out of the blue, saying the engine was =

totalled and had to be replaced from locking up. These charges of course =

are crazy. The inspection at our home showed the car in fine running =

shape, and over 4 years we had NO problems with the car's performance. =

These so called damages were supposedly discovered when the car was =

convieniently examined out of the state by a Bert Wolfe Toyota =

dealership in Charleston WV. I of course could not verify or even be =

given the opportunity to remediate the damage/purchase the vehicle =

outright. I did the oil changes myself, writing down some of the dates =

in the maintenance manual (which stayed with the car) but did not keep =

our folder of records after recieving the bill in Jan'07 stating =

"remaining balance on your lease". Months of fighting them and =

requesting information has met with "the situation will be researched", =

promises of calling back, and not granting requests of ANY information =

regarding inspection, repairs, or where the car actually is. I am doing =

all the footwork myself. A purchased online VIN# check showed NO damage =

reported on the vehicle. Does anybody know what could possibly happen if =

I refuse to pay these bogus charges? I would like to avoid lawyer fees =

which would cost quite a bit, just to prove my case. I keep seeing the =

same tactics and excuses used on us by US BANK regarding end of lease. =

We are dealing with what I believe to be the office in Cincinnati, OH. =

Michael K.