I bumped a car today and didn't leave a note...

[Blown2CV]

I was once in a bodyshop getting a quote for sorting a car park dent to my first new car. Whilst I was standing next to my car talking to the guy, an old lady parked her car next to mine and proceeded to open the her door right into mine. I did lose my cool a bit and may have told her off. The paint shop guy seemed to not be massively keen on me after that, but as we are confessing, I only feel a little bit bad about it.

[longshot]

My car got doored a few days back.
1st time and the car is 12 years old now.

I wasn't impressed to say the least especially as looking at the gouges in the dent, they did it twice.

[GC8]

goneape said:

This is even worse than doing it yourself and shrugging it off. If you feel that strongly about it, you could have either told them they need to sort it out or left the guy a note yourself, giving your details as a witness; if they genuinely can't afford to do the decent thing, perhaps you could help them out in the short term, since they are your friends? FFS, the way you've described the situation, it sounds like you're at least as bad as them.

Do be quiet, you self-important self-righteous wally.

[Blown2CV]

Washed the car yesterday and whilst doing so I noted that I've managed a whole 13 months and no-one has yet damaged it. Must be a record.

[GC8]

You shouldnt tempt providence...

[Escy]

MitchT said:

More likely they saw the badge and thought "rich bd can afford to have his car bumped". My BMW is worth about £1k but people with £25k Fords still look at me like I'm an excessively-bonussed banker.

You must be delusional if you think anyone looks at an E36 BMW and thinks "rich bd". Sounds like you are reading more into the badge than anyone else and it's tragic...

[Rh14n]

It shouldn't really matter what kind of car the 'victim' is. What is a £1000 shed to you may be someone's pride and joy if they've had to scrimp, save and borrow to buy it.

[JockySteer]

I did something very similar a couple of years back in a supermarket carpark. Very gently biffed someone's car when I was reversing. Unfortunately for me, a middle aged lady was walking past and saw me do it, so I got out and did the whole 'whoops, you couldn't have written it' face to her and went and stood next to the car I hit as if I were waiting for the owner. She took what felt like an age to walk around the corner and the second she had, I bolted into my car and off I went. No damage to mine or the other car as far as I could see.

It was a rush of blood decision to drive off, and if there's such thing as karma, then I'll just keep my fingers crossed!

Edit: in fact, I reckon karma was served as I was rear ended at a Mcd drive-thru a couple of months later

Edited by JockySteer on Sunday 9th August 16:07

[basherX]

I take the view that it's a basic question of integrity. And, indeed, doing the right thing sometimes pays off. Having reversed my S4 into an XKR in a local car park called the guy up (his business was advertised in the window) and after he'd had a chance to get a quote received the following:

"Hello Basherx


Couldn’t reach your mobile today, so a mail instead.

I’ve spoken to a few paint shops including my local man and the lowest price I can get is £485 to remove and repaint the bumper. In my opinion this ‘punishment’ doesn’t fit the ‘crime’. I’m assuming you’d not put this through your insurance.

So, I’ve done an initial cut-back of the damage and temporarily ‘whiffed it over’ with a Ford nearish colour just to hide the bruise. I’ve ordered an exact Jaguar colour match aerosol and some clear-coat and bought the primer filler. I’ll do the repair /repaint myself without removing the bumper and blend it in best possible to the original finish. I’m happy with that.

If you’d care to cover just the cost of the materials which will be c. £60, then I’d be happy to call that job done. Thank you for your integrity in calling me the other week.

I look forward to your reply in due course.

Regards

A very nice guy"

Very reasonable so he got a bottle of red I'd been saving for Christmas as well as the cash as I did feel awful about it

Not quite as good from my part: I'd agreed to px my car that very day and made a point of reversing as close to the wall when we came to the handover so that the new scuff wasn't clear....still I'd already had cash knocked off for another rear bumper scuff ("needs some paint") so I didn't feel too bad....

The replacement has parking sensors.

[Escy]

JockySteer said:

Edit: in fact, I reckon karma was served as I was rear ended at a Mcd drive-thru a couple of months later

Edited by JockySteer on Sunday 9th August 16:07

Only if they ran off

[RobinBanks]

Escy said:

You must be delusional if you think anyone looks at an E36 BMW and thinks "rich bd". Sounds like you are reading more into the badge than anyone else and it's tragic...

Last year at work someone came along with an M-reg 318i which was in perfect condition. Very low spec.

But I heard a few comments about him like "flash bd" and "I wish I could afford a fking BMW"

These are people with brand new Citroens and Volkswagens and chips on their shoulders

[daytona365]

Ask yourself, do you really want a lot of hassle/possible expense/difficult reinsurance due to a very minor bump to a total stranger who would these days possibly either clump you one, demand recompense for whiplash/emotional trauma or demand that the police are called ?.........You did the right thing !

[jimmy156]

daytona365 said:

Ask yourself, do you really want a lot of hassle/possible expense/difficult reinsurance due to a very minor bump to a total stranger who would these days possibly either clump you one, demand recompense for whiplash/emotional trauma or demand that the police are called ?.........You did the right thing !

You are the reason i hate parking in car parks. Grow a spine.

[Troubleatmill]

ATEOTD .... You just do the right thing.

You take a few photo's.
You leave a note - with your contact details.
It will sort itself out.
( Clearly the OP isn't going to foot the bill for a whole panel respray etc )

The injured party may well say - "Thanks for your honesty - no probs... don't worry about it."
Or.. they may try it on.... but you have the photo's to mitigate it.

Odds are that a reasonable compromise agreement is met.

I really do not understand what it is with folks that are desperate to get one over on another.
e.g.. Party A damages Party B's property - but doesn't own sufficient cahonas to be a man and be honest.

It saddens me that we are regressing to pond life status.

This is just another nudge in that direction.

[jamieduff1981]

The OPs victim's car was probably wrecked because of every other spineless waster that smacked it and fled previously.

Not sure what's worse - fleeing in the first place, returning with a note and judging the victim unworthy of the note or soliciting on a car forum for other pussies to tell them they did the right thing.

[wack]

A neighbours son knocked on my door looking terrified

I've just hit your car

Oh Ok, is the bumper hanging off

No but I've scraped it

Cart on , forget about it

One of the joys of driving a car you hate

The relief on his face was immense

[Sargeant Orange]

Pistonheads:


"If anyone so much as touches my car, even with a feather & they don't leave a note then they & their immediate family should be locked up or deported"



"If I bump another car it really does depend on the condition of said car & I and I alone will be sole judge of whether they deserve a note"

[Ilovejapcrap]

750turbo said:

Purity14 said:

Probably continued to do my homework, just in case my form tutor got mad when holidays were over.

Yo do know that the OP has been here far longer than you?

so guy makes a joke in jest I'd assume about being a little kid etc.

And you return with he's been ere longer than you.


Can you not see the irony in that ?

[TheBALDpuma]

Just to clarify, I am usually the kind of person to leave a note. I have also been clumsy the last couple years.

Last year at Centre Parcs I dropped my mountain bike, and it clipped a van - it left a 5mm chip in the paint, and I left a note. The guy contacted me, we agreed he'd sort it and send me the bill, and he never did.

Earlier this year I was getting out my OHs car and my dog jumped out with me, bashing the door and sending it into the neighbouring car. Again, I left details but never heard anything back.

This time around when I went back the rear bumper was so covered in scuffs I honestly couldn't tell if I had scuffed it, or if they were all already there. This was out of character for me not to leave a note, but in all honesty I couldn't tell if I'd marked it or not! This car genuinley on it's very last legs, can't imagine it was worth more than scrap value - not like an old beemer in good nick as others have said, a properly grotty inside and out, shed.