I just realised why MBO are giving the new car/early good condition bonus now. Not so much about making our lives easier but changing the level of reserves they have to keep and report on their accounts.
When we take on a new lease, there is a potential that at the end of the lease even though the car may be returned in a very good condition, there may not be enough value in the car to pay for the good condition bonus. Therefore MBO previously put aside funds to cover the end of lease payment. Now MBO’s reserves are increasing again, they cannot be seen to be hoarding too much cash – hence the early dispersal of funds to reduce the amount of reserves being reported.
Which also explains why they can not give the money off the AP because of the way the leases are calculated and accounting rules.