Do you leave a note ?
Discussion
So this Saturday morning I return to my car parked in a public car park near my house .It has been brutally swiped. I sure this has happened to many on here. This was obviously quite a hit I presume the driver of the other vehicle felt it. Perhaps I am a bit old school in the fact if it had been me I would have actually got out parked up and left a note with my details I am naïve in doing this?
No. Just honest.
I left a note after a small car park ding. The owner was appreciative,
I *might* check the car was on askmid first before leaving all my details, but I'd still leave a way for them to get in touch.
I had someone drop a ladder across the bonnet of one of my previous cars. They drove off into the sunset, so having been on the receiving end, I feel your pain.
I left a note after a small car park ding. The owner was appreciative,
I *might* check the car was on askmid first before leaving all my details, but I'd still leave a way for them to get in touch.
I had someone drop a ladder across the bonnet of one of my previous cars. They drove off into the sunset, so having been on the receiving end, I feel your pain.
Most people will. Some won't. You were unlucky.
I had similar damage in the past, same brand as yours and also London, I did have a note.
The other party paid the bill- £600 ish for new replacement wing at a well regarded indie bodyshop, no damage mechanically but needed tracking done again.
I had similar damage in the past, same brand as yours and also London, I did have a note.
The other party paid the bill- £600 ish for new replacement wing at a well regarded indie bodyshop, no damage mechanically but needed tracking done again.
Unfortunately - There are two sides to this approach.
I once did leave a note and got completely screwed over by someone who thought I was their free ticket to have other bodywork done. I couldn't disprove I hadn't done it due to my admittance I was there. Whilst not correct I know; it sometimes makes me question what I'd do if I did it again (thankfully only done damage to someone's car once). There are dishonest victims too.
Edited - I would take photos of the impact with my car in place and photo the rest of the car, although that might not be sufficient as the victim may say I have set it up like that to look like I've done less damage!
I once did leave a note and got completely screwed over by someone who thought I was their free ticket to have other bodywork done. I couldn't disprove I hadn't done it due to my admittance I was there. Whilst not correct I know; it sometimes makes me question what I'd do if I did it again (thankfully only done damage to someone's car once). There are dishonest victims too.
Edited - I would take photos of the impact with my car in place and photo the rest of the car, although that might not be sufficient as the victim may say I have set it up like that to look like I've done less damage!
Edited by Stu08 on Monday 6th March 14:58
Yes. Absolutely.
I had similar happen to me OP when my previous car was parked in a hotel car park. Some
reversed into me and drove off, leaving the car needing £1,500 worth of work.
Luckily, there happened to be a public footpath that ran along the edge of the hotel grounds and a guy was walking to work at the moment it happened. He left a note with the hotel with his account of events and gave a statement to the insurers and police. The driver admitted fault and his insurer received a bill for more than £2k once all costs were accounted for.
I'm relatively fortunate in that I could have afforded to repair it myself however some people aren't able to do this and to potentially leave them without their primary method of transport because of your own stupidity is tremendously selfish.
On a related note, I still get calls to this day from companies who are offering to fight compensation claims on my behalf due to the "stress and inconvenience" caused by this event.
I had similar happen to me OP when my previous car was parked in a hotel car park. Some
reversed into me and drove off, leaving the car needing £1,500 worth of work.Luckily, there happened to be a public footpath that ran along the edge of the hotel grounds and a guy was walking to work at the moment it happened. He left a note with the hotel with his account of events and gave a statement to the insurers and police. The driver admitted fault and his insurer received a bill for more than £2k once all costs were accounted for.
I'm relatively fortunate in that I could have afforded to repair it myself however some people aren't able to do this and to potentially leave them without their primary method of transport because of your own stupidity is tremendously selfish.
On a related note, I still get calls to this day from companies who are offering to fight compensation claims on my behalf due to the "stress and inconvenience" caused by this event.
I've never been in the position of hitting an unoccupied car, but:
1) I once came back to my car in my work's car park to find the entire front corner caved in. The wing was decimated and the door was bent so far it couldn't open. Unfortunately CCTV didn't cover that bit of the large parking area. It must have been a truck to cause that amount of damage in a car park. No note left...
2) Wife's car was parked outside her office and a visitor attempting to exit the adjacent space scraped along the entire side of it, causing about £3,000 of damage. She tried to make a hasty escape with her bumper dangling off, but there was a witness who very kindly stopped her and made her leave contact details for my wife.
3) Wife also once witnessed someone slamming their door so hard into the empty car next to them, that it left a large vertical crease in the door. They didn't even look to inspect the damage, and didn't even bother driving away! This must be a daily occurrence to them
... Wife told them to leave a note so they did, but she didn't check the note so I'm guessing it didn't have genuine details on it...
I had a Lacetti for a couple of years which has paper-thin metal on the bodywork. It was spotless when I bought it, and utterly covered in craters and creases on every panel by the time I sold it. Never had a single note left.
1) I once came back to my car in my work's car park to find the entire front corner caved in. The wing was decimated and the door was bent so far it couldn't open. Unfortunately CCTV didn't cover that bit of the large parking area. It must have been a truck to cause that amount of damage in a car park. No note left...
2) Wife's car was parked outside her office and a visitor attempting to exit the adjacent space scraped along the entire side of it, causing about £3,000 of damage. She tried to make a hasty escape with her bumper dangling off, but there was a witness who very kindly stopped her and made her leave contact details for my wife.
3) Wife also once witnessed someone slamming their door so hard into the empty car next to them, that it left a large vertical crease in the door. They didn't even look to inspect the damage, and didn't even bother driving away! This must be a daily occurrence to them
... Wife told them to leave a note so they did, but she didn't check the note so I'm guessing it didn't have genuine details on it...I had a Lacetti for a couple of years which has paper-thin metal on the bodywork. It was spotless when I bought it, and utterly covered in craters and creases on every panel by the time I sold it. Never had a single note left.
Yes I absolutely would and I'm pretty sure by law you're meant to?
I think most people at some point will have had their car hit and the b*stards that did the damage simply drive off. My other half had her last car scuffed three times whilst parked and not a single note left. I would leave my contact details and let them get in touch, no doubt.
I actually recall standing outside a shop and watching one guy guiding a lorry back into a space. The driver managed to hit the car twice in the process, with a big metal bar puncturing two holes in the plastic bumper. I actually went over and pointed out that I'd spotted them hit the car. They jokingly went, "don't worry we can't do a runner in this thing".
Anyway, I noted the lorry reg as well as the car and went about my business to a couple of shops. Came back to find both vehicles gone but it was bothering me. So I nipped into the local police station on my way home to report it. I explained that I'm not saying the driver of the lorry hadn't left details but I was worried they wouldn't have done. Month or so later, I receive a letter from the car drivers insurance asking for a witness statement and details. The police had actually contacted the owner and passed on my contact details.
Few months after that I receive a really nice letter thanking me for making the effort to help and that she'd managed to successfully claim from the lorry drivers insurance.....of course, who tried to deny it!!
I think most people at some point will have had their car hit and the b*stards that did the damage simply drive off. My other half had her last car scuffed three times whilst parked and not a single note left. I would leave my contact details and let them get in touch, no doubt.
I actually recall standing outside a shop and watching one guy guiding a lorry back into a space. The driver managed to hit the car twice in the process, with a big metal bar puncturing two holes in the plastic bumper. I actually went over and pointed out that I'd spotted them hit the car. They jokingly went, "don't worry we can't do a runner in this thing".
Anyway, I noted the lorry reg as well as the car and went about my business to a couple of shops. Came back to find both vehicles gone but it was bothering me. So I nipped into the local police station on my way home to report it. I explained that I'm not saying the driver of the lorry hadn't left details but I was worried they wouldn't have done. Month or so later, I receive a letter from the car drivers insurance asking for a witness statement and details. The police had actually contacted the owner and passed on my contact details.
Few months after that I receive a really nice letter thanking me for making the effort to help and that she'd managed to successfully claim from the lorry drivers insurance.....of course, who tried to deny it!!
Honestly, I'd like to say yes, and I would have left a note without 2nd thought when I was younger(and did once actually when I just tapped the bumper of a local businesses van, they said there wasn't any damage and it was no problem).
But after several years working in retail and having a couple of cars absolutely ruined in work car parks with not but an apology, I think I'd just be 'part of the problem' why should I be out of pocket when nobody else bothers their arse, and there is always the bigger risk nowadays, of when someone takes the piss and forces you through insurance making for half a decade of dramatically increased motoring costs.
Luckily, other than when I was 17 in my first car, I haven't found myself in that situation.
But after several years working in retail and having a couple of cars absolutely ruined in work car parks with not but an apology, I think I'd just be 'part of the problem' why should I be out of pocket when nobody else bothers their arse, and there is always the bigger risk nowadays, of when someone takes the piss and forces you through insurance making for half a decade of dramatically increased motoring costs.
Luckily, other than when I was 17 in my first car, I haven't found myself in that situation.
caelite said:
why should I be out of pocket when nobody else bothers their arse, and there is always the bigger risk nowadays
This is where I am getting to now, even my other half has pointed out "I've never met someone who followed the rules get shat on so much", so fk it. My pride and joy was hit in work car park a few months ago (here if you want: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...) though nothing like as bad as the op. Bad luck OP
Hope you can get it sorted without too much fuss. I had my car crashed into, outside my Mums house in a quiet estate!! I know exactly who it was, but couldn't prove it unfortunately.
Cost me over £600.
I'd like to think I'd leave a note but it is a hard one, if it was just a bumper scuff, I'd leave note saying that I scuffed their bumper and would pay to have it repaired. I would then take a photo of the scuff with said note visible. Incase they tried to pull a fast one.
And as bad as it sounds it would depend on the car. If it was a car that already had lots of dents, scuffs etc, then probably not, but a clean unmarked car, regardless of type, then that's different.
I'd like to think most people were honest, decent people.
However I have SEEN many times people bump cars and drive off. Usually driving mid 2000's hatchbacks, Mondeos, Peugeots and the like.
In one case a very elderly couple in a Mercedes were reversing out of a space and hit an Audi hard enough for it to be pushed forward into the wall of the car park, and set it's alarm off.
They paused. Looked at each other, so they OBVIOUSLY knew what they had done, and then drove off.
I took note of the reg, left my contact number and said what had happened and that I'd be a witness. Never heard anything.
I suspect in 95% of cases people know exactly what they have done, and as they don't care about their car and don't take personal responsibility, then just drive off.
Cost me over £600.
I'd like to think I'd leave a note but it is a hard one, if it was just a bumper scuff, I'd leave note saying that I scuffed their bumper and would pay to have it repaired. I would then take a photo of the scuff with said note visible. Incase they tried to pull a fast one.
And as bad as it sounds it would depend on the car. If it was a car that already had lots of dents, scuffs etc, then probably not, but a clean unmarked car, regardless of type, then that's different.
I'd like to think most people were honest, decent people.
However I have SEEN many times people bump cars and drive off. Usually driving mid 2000's hatchbacks, Mondeos, Peugeots and the like.
In one case a very elderly couple in a Mercedes were reversing out of a space and hit an Audi hard enough for it to be pushed forward into the wall of the car park, and set it's alarm off.
They paused. Looked at each other, so they OBVIOUSLY knew what they had done, and then drove off.
I took note of the reg, left my contact number and said what had happened and that I'd be a witness. Never heard anything.
I suspect in 95% of cases people know exactly what they have done, and as they don't care about their car and don't take personal responsibility, then just drive off.
I know not quite the same situation but I hopped out of my pick up truck in the gym car park to see if a guy was leaving but like a tit I never fully put it in Park! it went back into reverse and as I stood at this blokes window asking him if he was leaving my truck crawled right into his wing!
Long story short I said I would pay for the damage and not go through insurance.. £1100 and a week later it was all sorted. I got it sorted so quickly for him because if I was in his position I would expect the same. I know many people would take weeks to sort this sort of thing out either coughing up or sorting the insurance!
Strong believer in do to others what you would expect back
Long story short I said I would pay for the damage and not go through insurance.. £1100 and a week later it was all sorted. I got it sorted so quickly for him because if I was in his position I would expect the same. I know many people would take weeks to sort this sort of thing out either coughing up or sorting the insurance!
Strong believer in do to others what you would expect back
In the early noughties I had a job that was half-an-hour away from home and, as I was young and tight, I used to park on a nearby street rather than the Pay and Display.
One morning, late as usual, I managed to bump the Mk4 Escort behind me with my Mk2 Golf as I parallel parked. I was the post boy and had to get in for 7.30am so there was no-one about. I checked both cars for damage and couldn't see any so didn't leave a note.
Turns out someone had seen me and I came back to an angry note on my windscreen. I started using the Pay and Display!
If there was serious damage I would've left a note. I recall bumping someone in a car park not too long ago and I left my business card. I got a call from the lady's husband thanking me for leaving a note but telling me not to worry as she was always bumping it herself!
One morning, late as usual, I managed to bump the Mk4 Escort behind me with my Mk2 Golf as I parallel parked. I was the post boy and had to get in for 7.30am so there was no-one about. I checked both cars for damage and couldn't see any so didn't leave a note.
Turns out someone had seen me and I came back to an angry note on my windscreen. I started using the Pay and Display!
If there was serious damage I would've left a note. I recall bumping someone in a car park not too long ago and I left my business card. I got a call from the lady's husband thanking me for leaving a note but telling me not to worry as she was always bumping it herself!
Never done a hit and run so no never had to leave a note, i did however have one left on a van when somone hit the mirror, i replaced the mirror and rang the chap to thank him for being so decent, if it was a bigger cost or repair i would have got him to pay but a tenna ? i recond he deserved to be let off for being honest and i told him so : but then i'm a nice person (or mug take your pick) i also buy food for the beggers outside tesco (reduced sarnies) 
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