My ongoing saga with the Police.
Discussion
Hello,
I am having somewhat of a neverending story with the Police and am looking for some advice. Apologies if this is long and drawn out,
In February of last year my vehicle was parked outside a property that is approximately 1/2 a mile up the side of a hill in relatively, the middle of nowhere. At about 08.30, I saw a Police van driving off down the hill at full pelt and I noticed a rather large (I.e. bloody huge) dent in my car.
Now with it in the middle of nowhere, seeing the Police van, I assumed that they might have some idea where that dent came from. I phoned the local station and was asked what infact I wanted them to do about it and just what am I accusing them of. Seeing that was going nowhere, I asked the owner of the property who was understandably also concerned why the Police were there at all.
Several phone calls later and the Police return, take one look at my car, write something down and drive off, even whilst I wave at them and point at my car with a confused look on my face. (Im sure I didnt look like too much of a nutter)
After lots of to and fro, I eventually receive a call from the local Police by a female I believe was an officer who told me "I'm sorry, I was driving the big van and didn't know I had hit your car" (which was written off eventually) They asked me if I wished to log this as an accident, which was surprising considering they had hit my car. Eventually I received a crime reference number and was told to give this to my insurers who would do the rest.
This is when the fun started.
My insurers immediately wrote off the vehicle (It was an old car, the dent was to the rear quarter and would've required half the car being cut off to repair it) , gave me a generous sum but kept £600 excess until the Police provided them with the Police report containing the registration number of the vehicle, and the name of the officer.
My insurers sent off the request for the police report and the £90 (Yes, my insurers have had to pay the police money to find out which Police staff member wrote off my car) in March, and well, thats where it stops.
There have been numerous letters, calls, emails etc from my insurers to the Police requesting when we would be allowed to see the Police report. The person handling my case at the insurers sound like they are about to top themselves from being passed around from department to department. I have phoned several times myself over the past 11 months and been passed around and generally treated like an idiot.
My insurers have suggested we go to the Motor Insurance Bureau, however the MIB informed them they a) needed the reg of the vehicle and B) weren't very fond of the idea of it being the Police they were pursuing.
I really am at a loss as to what to do now. The Police have cashed the £90 cheque for the police report and are now just ignoring me and my insurers. So really....what can I actually do? I am a reasonable guy and value the job the Police do and think they do it well, but at what point is waiting this long for a Police report ridiculous? Especially considering it was the Police who wrote my car off!
I've also lost my NCB and considering it's been nearly a year I have had to renew as having made a claim.
For those who didn't want to read the extended version: Police wrote off my car and are now ignoring attempts to find the details to claim on insurance.
Thanks for any help.
I am having somewhat of a neverending story with the Police and am looking for some advice. Apologies if this is long and drawn out,
In February of last year my vehicle was parked outside a property that is approximately 1/2 a mile up the side of a hill in relatively, the middle of nowhere. At about 08.30, I saw a Police van driving off down the hill at full pelt and I noticed a rather large (I.e. bloody huge) dent in my car.
Now with it in the middle of nowhere, seeing the Police van, I assumed that they might have some idea where that dent came from. I phoned the local station and was asked what infact I wanted them to do about it and just what am I accusing them of. Seeing that was going nowhere, I asked the owner of the property who was understandably also concerned why the Police were there at all.
Several phone calls later and the Police return, take one look at my car, write something down and drive off, even whilst I wave at them and point at my car with a confused look on my face. (Im sure I didnt look like too much of a nutter)
After lots of to and fro, I eventually receive a call from the local Police by a female I believe was an officer who told me "I'm sorry, I was driving the big van and didn't know I had hit your car" (which was written off eventually) They asked me if I wished to log this as an accident, which was surprising considering they had hit my car. Eventually I received a crime reference number and was told to give this to my insurers who would do the rest.
This is when the fun started.
My insurers immediately wrote off the vehicle (It was an old car, the dent was to the rear quarter and would've required half the car being cut off to repair it) , gave me a generous sum but kept £600 excess until the Police provided them with the Police report containing the registration number of the vehicle, and the name of the officer.
My insurers sent off the request for the police report and the £90 (Yes, my insurers have had to pay the police money to find out which Police staff member wrote off my car) in March, and well, thats where it stops.
There have been numerous letters, calls, emails etc from my insurers to the Police requesting when we would be allowed to see the Police report. The person handling my case at the insurers sound like they are about to top themselves from being passed around from department to department. I have phoned several times myself over the past 11 months and been passed around and generally treated like an idiot.
My insurers have suggested we go to the Motor Insurance Bureau, however the MIB informed them they a) needed the reg of the vehicle and B) weren't very fond of the idea of it being the Police they were pursuing.
I really am at a loss as to what to do now. The Police have cashed the £90 cheque for the police report and are now just ignoring me and my insurers. So really....what can I actually do? I am a reasonable guy and value the job the Police do and think they do it well, but at what point is waiting this long for a Police report ridiculous? Especially considering it was the Police who wrote my car off!
I've also lost my NCB and considering it's been nearly a year I have had to renew as having made a claim.
For those who didn't want to read the extended version: Police wrote off my car and are now ignoring attempts to find the details to claim on insurance.
Thanks for any help.
Log a formal complaint against the police: http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/complaints
I have spoken about the complaints route with my insurers and only want to use it as a last resort really. I have been told by the police they are aware of my case and it is with their fleet department.
The problem with a small claims case is well....who do I go for? the local Police are certainly the ones who committed the act but who at the local police force? I also have no witnesses to the actual act bar the Police officers who did it. The missing paperwork is down to Police Scotland, so do I make a claim against them for not providing the report in a reasonable timeframe?
I should add, I later found out a small inkling into why the Police were there, and they were looking for someone (not me) in relation to a rather sensitive crime, is it possible that their being there is part of something ongoing and that is why it's being sidelined?
The problem with a small claims case is well....who do I go for? the local Police are certainly the ones who committed the act but who at the local police force? I also have no witnesses to the actual act bar the Police officers who did it. The missing paperwork is down to Police Scotland, so do I make a claim against them for not providing the report in a reasonable timeframe?
I should add, I later found out a small inkling into why the Police were there, and they were looking for someone (not me) in relation to a rather sensitive crime, is it possible that their being there is part of something ongoing and that is why it's being sidelined?
I would disregard the small claims suggestion (how would that help?) and don't start with the IPCC. The problem you've outlined is an administrate one. It sounds like an odd one since insurers paying for collision booklets and them being released is 'daily business' for the relevant department.
If you think the delay is excessive, start by calling 101 and make a complaint. That will generate an incident which is categorised as a police complaint. A supervisor or at least Sergeant rank should contact you to discuss the matter. This will also give you a point of contact to be accountable. In the unlikely event this doesn't sort things, then move to the relevant force's Professional Standards department. You should be able to find a contact for them on the force's website.
If you think the delay is excessive, start by calling 101 and make a complaint. That will generate an incident which is categorised as a police complaint. A supervisor or at least Sergeant rank should contact you to discuss the matter. This will also give you a point of contact to be accountable. In the unlikely event this doesn't sort things, then move to the relevant force's Professional Standards department. You should be able to find a contact for them on the force's website.
La Liga said:
I would disregard the small claims suggestion (how would that help?) and don't start with the IPCC. The problem you've outlined is an administrate one. It sounds like an odd one since insurers paying for collision booklets and them being released is 'daily business' for the relevant department.
If you think the delay is excessive, start by calling 101 and make a complaint. That will generate an incident which is categorised as a police complaint. A supervisor or at least Sergeant rank should contact you to discuss the matter. This will also give you a point of contact to be accountable. In the unlikely event this doesn't sort things, then move to the relevant force's Professional Standards department. You should be able to find a contact for them on the force's website.
Hi, thanks for the advice,If you think the delay is excessive, start by calling 101 and make a complaint. That will generate an incident which is categorised as a police complaint. A supervisor or at least Sergeant rank should contact you to discuss the matter. This will also give you a point of contact to be accountable. In the unlikely event this doesn't sort things, then move to the relevant force's Professional Standards department. You should be able to find a contact for them on the force's website.
So when phoning 101 I have to clearly state I want to make a complaint? I have phoned 101 many times and been told that it is my insurers problem, but do I just make a general complaint?
It does seem to me to be a clerical error, however I have gone from understanding to annoyed now. From what I understand, it has gone to every single department under the sun currently.
Yes, just say you want to make a complaint. The more information you have the better. Especially if you're insurance company have told you what's going on.
There may be some boring insurance-related / policy / administrative reasons for the delay, but if there is it'd be nice to know if that's the case.
There may be some boring insurance-related / policy / administrative reasons for the delay, but if there is it'd be nice to know if that's the case.
La Liga said:
Yes, just say you want to make a complaint. The more information you have the better. Especially if you're insurance company have told you what's going on.
There may be some boring insurance-related / policy / administrative reasons for the delay, but if there is it'd be nice to know if that's the case.
Good stuff, Ill collate the info into an easy to say over the phone lot and give them a call tomorrow, thanks for the advice There may be some boring insurance-related / policy / administrative reasons for the delay, but if there is it'd be nice to know if that's the case.
La Liga said:
There may be some boring insurance-related / policy / administrative reasons for the delay, but if there is it'd be nice to know if that's the case.
11 f
king months for admin reasons???!!!Jesus, I hope I never have to deal with incompetence like this the next time I need help from the BIB (who've always been brilliant with me!)...
Not a dig at you LL...
La Liga said:
I don't know the full ins and outs of insurance.
If only the forum had a member who knew the industry well...
Once upon a time ..........If only the forum had a member who knew the industry well...
Instead we get absolute dross posted like the advice so far. It's quite funny though. This is why I've never offered any help on here on my subject matter, as the idiots get to shout louder and more frequently.
Mercury00 said:
How could you hit a car hard enough to write it off and yet claim you didn't know you'd hit it?? This story is like Making a Murderer!
I could see how they could've hit it without seeing it but they drove off. They did say they were struggling to find the keeper (that's why it apparently took a day to call me and admit fault) but myself and the owner of the property were both phoning the local Police telling them who's car it was. I'm not one to say they knew they had done it and drove off but everyone who's heard the story and seen where it happened has said it all looks iffy. Personally as they came back to take the reg and take notes, I really do think she just didn't know she had reversed into it.
As in the original post, the dent wasnt particularly mad, I could still drive the car, it was just old and wouldve needed a considerable chunk of the car cut of and welded back in to fix it.
but yes 11 months, I am starting to relate to Falling Down.
Jim1556 said:
La Liga said:
I don't know the full ins and outs of insurance.
If only the forum had a member who knew the industry well...
Indeed... If only the forum had a member who knew the industry well...
OP I had an issue dealing with the police and just rolled up at the local station asked to speak inspector in charge stating I wished to make a complaint. Within ten minutes somebody was about to speak to me and 10 days later it was resolved.
JacquesMesrine said:
La Liga said:
I don't know the full ins and outs of insurance.
If only the forum had a member who knew the industry well...
Once upon a time ..........If only the forum had a member who knew the industry well...
Instead we get absolute dross posted like the advice so far. It's quite funny though. This is why I've never offered any help on here on my subject matter, as the idiots get to shout louder and more frequently.
Police vehicle hits stationary parked car?
Why isn't that a Police Accident?
February 2015?
Some organisations like the police and Police & Crime Commissioners use time limits to dismiss complaints.
'We've received your complaint, but note that it was over a year ago now so we don't have to do anything other than acknowledge it and inform you of the one year time limit. Please complete and return our customer service form.'
Why isn't that a Police Accident?
February 2015?
Some organisations like the police and Police & Crime Commissioners use time limits to dismiss complaints.
'We've received your complaint, but note that it was over a year ago now so we don't have to do anything other than acknowledge it and inform you of the one year time limit. Please complete and return our customer service form.'
I'll do it over the phone, sounds like making an official complaint will get something sorted.
Ironically, I have seen the Police vehicle driving around tesco's car park in the following months, I did try and get the reg but no dice. Whenever I have got through to the local station I have been told data protection means they cant provide the details over the phone (fair enough) and that I have to apply for the report and hey presto well if you could please reply to the current one request, no sorry sir can't comment may take up to 4 weeks for a report to come through etc
Ironically, I have seen the Police vehicle driving around tesco's car park in the following months, I did try and get the reg but no dice. Whenever I have got through to the local station I have been told data protection means they cant provide the details over the phone (fair enough) and that I have to apply for the report and hey presto well if you could please reply to the current one request, no sorry sir can't comment may take up to 4 weeks for a report to come through etc
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