Car rental company tries to charge me for pre-existing damage, how should I contest it? (England)
I recently rented a car for a few days from a well-known rental company. When I returned it, they pointed out damage to the tyre sidewall (a small tear/chip, roughly the size of a £2 coin) and said they would charge me for a tyre replacement.
I did not notice any damage when I collected the car. I did a walkaround and recorded a video on my phone, but the quality was poor and the chip was not obvious on the small screen. I signed the return statement noting the new damage, and they emailed me a copy. They also said I should expect an additional bill for the tyre replacement, although they released my deposit.
After reviewing the video carefully on a laptop, I can see that the damage was already present when I collected the car, and it appears to match the photos they attached to the return statement.
What would be the best way to contest the charge if and when the bill arrives? Should I email them now with screenshots from my video and explain that I signed the return statement only because I did not realise the damage was pre-existing? Should I wait until the bill arrives, or is there a better approach?