I've just received an invoice for £1,000 for repairs to a van I hired way back (relatively speaking) in February

I hold my hands up to having damaged the vehicle as i clipped a post and scratched a side panel.

But where my query comes is that I returned it on Feb 3 and according to the invoice they've sent through it was taken to the garage 3 months later

I'll pay for the damage I caused, but if the van has been in use by the company for 3 months since, what's to say the damage hasn't got worse??

It really bugs me they wait until June to bill (and request payment in 10 days) and 3 months to actually repair the thing. Anything could have happened in that time, small dents and slightly more damage not caused by me, yet I'm expected to pay for it.

Do I have any cause for redress as they can't show that ALL the damage was caused by me, or that by waiting to put it in for repair it has made it worse or added damage to it and therefore cost me more?

As I said, I'll pay for the damage I caused, but 3 months on the road could do all sorts of things to a van to make it worse.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can give on this.