FAO BiB - An unusual situation
Discussion
Driving to work early on friday morning (about half five ish) along a deserted dual carriage way at about sixty. In my periferal vision i noticed a car at the side of the road, completely totalled, with two bemused looking people next to it. "Im first on the scene" i thought, "i should pull over and check they are ok".
Mid way through this thought process.....BANG!!!..... "oh shit, ive hit something" so i pulled over anyways.
I ran over to them, made a quick check that they were ok, before removing the object i had hit from the carriage way, to save anyone else hitting it.
It turned out to be a wheel from their car. So.... i tried to establish whether these guys had called the police, but they skirted round the issue. I tried to get insurance details from them, again, more skirting.
The came over to my car and asked about the damage. I had a quick look and noted that my tire was torn apart, my front splitter bollocksed, and the side of my m tech kit ripped off. (i'm not lax power i promise)
I told them i needed their details as the damaged may be up to a grand (more likely to be a few hundred). One of the guys then reached in his pocket and gave me a grand cash. Obviously,i was flapping big time thinking i was mixed up in serious gangsta stuff.
I took the money. they then told me they had been drinking, and i shouldnt call the police.
They then abandoned the car and ran.
I was assessing my options when the police turned up (someone else had called them). I told them what had happened and about the money. They took the money off me
anyways blah blah blah....
I had to make a statement etc.
But my question to all you BiB is..... am i likely to get this money back as "technically" its mine.
I know i proably didnt have to surender it, but i was shook up, a little worried and i think it was the right thing to do.
So, what will happen to the cash? It got logged as evidence rather than lost property.
If they catch the guys, will they get it back instead? I'm only TPFT, and dont particlarly want to bother with insurance companies and the like.
Thoughts please?
MrF
Mid way through this thought process.....BANG!!!..... "oh shit, ive hit something" so i pulled over anyways.
I ran over to them, made a quick check that they were ok, before removing the object i had hit from the carriage way, to save anyone else hitting it.
It turned out to be a wheel from their car. So.... i tried to establish whether these guys had called the police, but they skirted round the issue. I tried to get insurance details from them, again, more skirting.
The came over to my car and asked about the damage. I had a quick look and noted that my tire was torn apart, my front splitter bollocksed, and the side of my m tech kit ripped off. (i'm not lax power i promise)
I told them i needed their details as the damaged may be up to a grand (more likely to be a few hundred). One of the guys then reached in his pocket and gave me a grand cash. Obviously,i was flapping big time thinking i was mixed up in serious gangsta stuff.
I took the money. they then told me they had been drinking, and i shouldnt call the police.
They then abandoned the car and ran.
I was assessing my options when the police turned up (someone else had called them). I told them what had happened and about the money. They took the money off me
anyways blah blah blah....
I had to make a statement etc.
But my question to all you BiB is..... am i likely to get this money back as "technically" its mine.
I know i proably didnt have to surender it, but i was shook up, a little worried and i think it was the right thing to do.
So, what will happen to the cash? It got logged as evidence rather than lost property.
If they catch the guys, will they get it back instead? I'm only TPFT, and dont particlarly want to bother with insurance companies and the like.
Thoughts please?
MrF
I wonder if the money was stolen?
People are pefectly entitled to pay for damage repairs at the roadside, surely. However the fact he chucked you a grand in cash without even a second thought - when anyone else would have at least attempted to negotiate with you - seems to indicate it wasn't his money!
People are pefectly entitled to pay for damage repairs at the roadside, surely. However the fact he chucked you a grand in cash without even a second thought - when anyone else would have at least attempted to negotiate with you - seems to indicate it wasn't his money!
Does seem a bit odd to me. Did you get a receipt? If the guys weren't running from a robbery etc, I'm not sure if the police can hold onto the money, just because the circumstances are a bit odd.. can they? Best wait for a BiB to comment 
>> Edited by john_p on Sunday 7th December 20:41
>> Edited by john_p on Sunday 7th December 20:41
You did the right thing........without question.
Providing these guys havent been doing Robberies and the like and the money has been deposited at the Police Stn as found property then if its not claimed (within 6 months i believe)then its yours.
Presumably you got the Officers details etc etc, then i would contact him and find out what has happened to it and how long you will have to wait.
Seems to me (without knowing the exact details other than those supplied and also what the scroat has told you) then the money will be yours, you will just have to wait a while.
But seriously, congrats on your honesty (either way and whatever happens to the money)....
Providing these guys havent been doing Robberies and the like and the money has been deposited at the Police Stn as found property then if its not claimed (within 6 months i believe)then its yours.
Presumably you got the Officers details etc etc, then i would contact him and find out what has happened to it and how long you will have to wait.
Seems to me (without knowing the exact details other than those supplied and also what the scroat has told you) then the money will be yours, you will just have to wait a while.
But seriously, congrats on your honesty (either way and whatever happens to the money)....
alans said:
Should have trousered the grand and keeep stumm mate.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
To be fair, it was half five, i'd just hit a wheel at 60mph, two intimidating guys had just paid me hush money - which i didnt even know was real. I wasn't thinking straight!
It was right by an airport as well, so i didnt want to get done on CCTV.
>> Edited by mrflibbles on Monday 8th December 19:30
tonyrec said:
Providing these guys havent been doing Robberies and the like and the money has been deposited at the Police Stn as found property then if its not claimed (within 6 months i believe)then its yours.
Is it found property though? The guy gave him the money as payment for damage to his car. OK we don't all carry about £1k in cash and settle with someone for that much at the roadside, but even if the guy was covering up a bit of drink driving, on what grounds can the police take away the money?
I'd ring up the police station each day and hassle them until you get your money back
john_p said:
Providing these guys havent been doing Robberies and the like and the money has been deposited at the Police Stn as found property then if its not claimed (within 6 months i believe)then its yours.
Is it found property though? The guy gave him the money as payment for damage to his car. OK we don't all carry about £1k in cash and settle with someone for that much at the roadside, but even if the guy was covering up a bit of drink driving, on what grounds can the police take away the money?
I'd ring up the police station each day and hassle them until you get your money back
I asked this myself - it isnt classed as found property as it was given to me as payment. I think he said it was classed as evidence.
He certainly filled out one of those evidence tags, and i signed something to say it could be used in court if need be.
They'll be looking to trace it to an offence I'd imagine. Why not phone the officer up who took it and ask him what's going on? It seems reasonable to me that you'd be interested in getting it back because the chances of you getting compensation any other way are slim.
By the way if the car was stolen the owners insurance is obliged to pay out in the event of a crash, without it affecting the owners no claims!
By the way if the car was stolen the owners insurance is obliged to pay out in the event of a crash, without it affecting the owners no claims!
Sound advice from all! in my view one way to approach this problem is to write a letter to the police outlineding the accident and ask how enquiries are going trying to trace the owner of the vehicle and therefore insurance details. You could also mention about the money that was seized from you and enquire whether it can be returned when all crime enquiries have been completed. The letter will be logged upon receipt and allocated to the proper person to deal with. You should get a reply in a week even if its to acknowledge your letter! In the mean time get an estimate for the damage and include that you never know your luck you may get the insurance to cough up for your damage and the BiB return the dosh cos its Xmas,.
SpudGunner said:
By the way if the car was stolen the owners insurance is obliged to pay out in the event of a crash, without it affecting the owners no claims!
Does that mean you could get your car fixed by the insurers AND keep the £1000 cash?
Sounds like a good deal to me!
take the day off work tomorrow and have a laugh! 
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