Criminal damage to my car - what next?
Discussion
Looking for some advice, my car was damaged by someone kicking it last Saturday evening, big dent in the side.
The person who did it was arrested at the scene, the police took my details but I've heard nothing yet.
So,
- Should I have been contacted by now or is it too soon?
- Should I tell my insurance company?
- Should I get quotes to fix the damage now or wait until I hear from the police?
Any insight into this by anyone who's had this happen to them would be very much appreciated.
The person who did it was arrested at the scene, the police took my details but I've heard nothing yet.
So,
- Should I have been contacted by now or is it too soon?
- Should I tell my insurance company?
- Should I get quotes to fix the damage now or wait until I hear from the police?
Any insight into this by anyone who's had this happen to them would be very much appreciated.
Assuming you want it to be repaired, get quotes and pass to your insurers. Or get quotes and have it fixed; I certainly wouldn't be waiting of the outcome of anything else. What's the chances of getting recompense? It's usually somewhere between slim and nil, unfortunately.
Have you got a crime reference number for the incident?
Have you got a crime reference number for the incident?
littleredrooster said:
Assuming you want it to be repaired, get quotes and pass to your insurers. Or get quotes and have it fixed; I certainly wouldn't be waiting of the outcome of anything else. What's the chances of getting recompense? It's usually somewhere between slim and nil, unfortunately.
Have you got a crime reference number for the incident?
Not strictly accurate.Have you got a crime reference number for the incident?
The attending officers should really have given you a crime ref there and then or at least dropped one in the post. If they've arrested the guy responsible, it will largely depend on his disposal...by that I mean, if he's never been in trouble before they may issue him a caution (although they should take into account the views of the IP before administering one). If not cautionable, then he'll be charged. You should then receive a comp form from the police which you fill in and send back. If (and he should be) he's found guilty at court/pleads guilty the Mag will order him to pay compo...Now here's the down side. The majority of people who act in this manner are of low/no income (I do not class dole money as income) and as such, they can be ordered to pay the comp in stupidly small amounts, so you might find yourself receiving cheques for £1.63 every month for the next 20 years.
Mk3Spitfire said:
The majority of people who act in this manner are of low/no income (I do not class dole money as income) and as such, they can be ordered to pay the comp in stupidly small amounts, so you might find yourself receiving cheques for £1.63 every month for the next 20 years.
Not sure it's the legal term, but a man of straw. I got someone to investigate the twit who rode a motorbike into the back of my car while I was stationary at the traffic lights and he was assessed as not worth suing. Yes, I'd have had an easy task getting judgement - but the money? Not a chance.In my case, which was several years ago (and in Scotland), man in his late teens out his face on something decided to try and jump over our car as we were pulling away on green at traffic lights in Glasgow city centre, he didn't make it and his knee went into the top of the rear quarter.
He was arrested (not at the scene, but later that evening) and we were 'awarded' a £250 compensation order, but were told not to chase up the court if we didn't receive anything. We received a couple of payments in the post within a few weeks of the court case (which he plead guilty on the day of the court case, thus me and the Mrs had to take a day off work for ultimately no reason) - probably about £30 in total - then nothing for probably 5 years.
Then all of a sudden the payments started again, no explanation, and kept coming until the £250 was paid.
OP - try one of those paintless dent removal guys, they might be able to get the dent out without the car having to go into a bodyshop. They typically charge £50-80 per panel.
He was arrested (not at the scene, but later that evening) and we were 'awarded' a £250 compensation order, but were told not to chase up the court if we didn't receive anything. We received a couple of payments in the post within a few weeks of the court case (which he plead guilty on the day of the court case, thus me and the Mrs had to take a day off work for ultimately no reason) - probably about £30 in total - then nothing for probably 5 years.
Then all of a sudden the payments started again, no explanation, and kept coming until the £250 was paid.
OP - try one of those paintless dent removal guys, they might be able to get the dent out without the car having to go into a bodyshop. They typically charge £50-80 per panel.
Mk3Spitfire said:
littleredrooster said:
Sorry - which bit wasn't accurate? You've just about said the same as me...
The bit where you said virtually no chance of compo...if he's charged, chances of compo are high.Mk3Spitfire said:
The majority of people who act in this manner are of low/no income (I do not class dole money as income) and as such, they can be ordered to pay the comp in stupidly small amounts, so you might find yourself receiving cheques for £1.63 every month for the next 20 years.
I doubt it.My friend had his car hit with a metal pole about 6 years ago. The man was prosecuted (turns out the man was having a domestic with the wife and decided to take the pole to friends car rather than her face) and ordered to pay for repair of the damage to the rear quarter, 2 dents and paint damage, he was ordered to pay just over £500.
To this date he has received around £75. When he first got awarded the money it would come in £5 here, £10 there, then stop, my friend would contact the courts again, the man would get a nudge and then it would start up again for a few months only for it to ultimately then again stop.
In the end the court officer told my friend not to bother them again as he obviously was not going to pay and if he wanted to force the man to pay he would need to go to court again...
To this date he has received around £75. When he first got awarded the money it would come in £5 here, £10 there, then stop, my friend would contact the courts again, the man would get a nudge and then it would start up again for a few months only for it to ultimately then again stop.
In the end the court officer told my friend not to bother them again as he obviously was not going to pay and if he wanted to force the man to pay he would need to go to court again...
ymwoods said:
My friend had his car hit with a metal pole about 6 years ago. The man was prosecuted (turns out the man was having a domestic with the wife and decided to take the pole to friends car rather than her face) and ordered to pay for repair of the damage to the rear quarter, 2 dents and paint damage, he was ordered to pay just over £500.
To this date he has received around £75. When he first got awarded the money it would come in £5 here, £10 there, then stop, my friend would contact the courts again, the man would get a nudge and then it would start up again for a few months only for it to ultimately then again stop.
In the end the court officer told my friend not to bother them again as he obviously was not going to pay and if he wanted to force the man to pay he would need to go to court again...
The problem with a lot of these violent aggressive pricks is that they are penniless council dwellers and play on that when asked compensate for their actions. They are complete ungrateful for the benefits that they receive and if there was some way to get it stopped out of their benefits it would be a step forward.To this date he has received around £75. When he first got awarded the money it would come in £5 here, £10 there, then stop, my friend would contact the courts again, the man would get a nudge and then it would start up again for a few months only for it to ultimately then again stop.
In the end the court officer told my friend not to bother them again as he obviously was not going to pay and if he wanted to force the man to pay he would need to go to court again...
Mk3Spitfire said:
littleredrooster said:
Assuming you want it to be repaired, get quotes and pass to your insurers. Or get quotes and have it fixed; I certainly wouldn't be waiting of the outcome of anything else. What's the chances of getting recompense? It's usually somewhere between slim and nil, unfortunately.
Have you got a crime reference number for the incident?
Not strictly accurate.Have you got a crime reference number for the incident?
The attending officers should really have given you a crime ref there and then or at least dropped one in the post. If they've arrested the guy responsible, it will largely depend on his disposal...by that I mean, if he's never been in trouble before they may issue him a caution (although they should take into account the views of the IP before administering one). If not cautionable, then he'll be charged. You should then receive a comp form from the police which you fill in and send back. If (and he should be) he's found guilty at court/pleads guilty the Mag will order him to pay compo...Now here's the down side. The majority of people who act in this manner are of low/no income (I do not class dole money as income) and as such, they can be ordered to pay the comp in stupidly small amounts, so you might find yourself receiving cheques for £1.63 every month for the next 20 years.
All these criminals do not work yet seem to have an iphone 5s, flat screen tv's computers and all the latest gadgets at home. If they have no actual cash why not elevate the compo to high court via fee and send in the sheriffs to recover goods to the value of. I don't see why they should be allowed to get away with it. if they were to lose their latest goodie to the baliff perhaps it might teach them to behave in a more acceptable manner.
Similar happened to me, though back in 1999ish.
Can't recall the exact mechanics (if I ever knew), but the 'scrote' wrote me an apology ("it was so out of character" etc) and ended up paying the ~£200 repair bill. Memories are sketchy, but I think it was all coordinated by the police. My guess is that it was some kind of 'deal' to avoid prosecution; scrote in question was a student attending a well respected university and a criminal record would most likely have had severe repercussions.
Edit as memories come back:
I was informed by a very pleasant WPC who called round (car was parked on a street). I provided a statement along the lines of 'car was not damaged when left & I did not give anybody permission to damage it'. Can't recall how I got the repair bill passed on, but can only assume it was via police. Not sure whether that would happen today...
Can't recall the exact mechanics (if I ever knew), but the 'scrote' wrote me an apology ("it was so out of character" etc) and ended up paying the ~£200 repair bill. Memories are sketchy, but I think it was all coordinated by the police. My guess is that it was some kind of 'deal' to avoid prosecution; scrote in question was a student attending a well respected university and a criminal record would most likely have had severe repercussions.
Edit as memories come back:
I was informed by a very pleasant WPC who called round (car was parked on a street). I provided a statement along the lines of 'car was not damaged when left & I did not give anybody permission to damage it'. Can't recall how I got the repair bill passed on, but can only assume it was via police. Not sure whether that would happen today...
Edited by onedsla on Monday 28th July 15:54
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