Just rang them up and they said they'd close the file if I sent them an email setting out my version of events.

Thanks very much for the replies - I probably should have contacted them first, but to be honest, I somewhat panicked when I received what appeared to be a letter before claim for $1,257 and was wondering if I should begin drafting a proper letter of defence.

(Fortunately said credit card has since expired, so no worries there!)

It just makes me wonder a) why they waited 4 months, and b) how the hell they managed to spend $1,257 fixing a crack and a scuff!