Discussion
So, someone who I assume to be a promising young footballer type has decided to key the LH rear quarter panel on my car.
Now if anyone says kids these days are lazy and don't do things properly, they are very much mistaken as there are 2 scratches down to primer, and never mind being felt with a fingernail, they can be felt with a finger!
I've attacked it with some normal polish but obviously it's far too deep to sort it.
I do have a touch up paint kit for stone chips but I'm not sure it's even worth attempting, so I think I need to get the professionals in.
Can people like Chipsaway do a decent job on that kind of thing these days?
Anyone have any recommendations around Bedford/Milton Keynes for a decent place to go?
I don't know exactly when it happened, but I suspect it's some time in the last week. Is it worth reporting stuff like this to the police?
Now if anyone says kids these days are lazy and don't do things properly, they are very much mistaken as there are 2 scratches down to primer, and never mind being felt with a fingernail, they can be felt with a finger!
I've attacked it with some normal polish but obviously it's far too deep to sort it.
I do have a touch up paint kit for stone chips but I'm not sure it's even worth attempting, so I think I need to get the professionals in.
Can people like Chipsaway do a decent job on that kind of thing these days?
Anyone have any recommendations around Bedford/Milton Keynes for a decent place to go?
I don't know exactly when it happened, but I suspect it's some time in the last week. Is it worth reporting stuff like this to the police?
That's the issue - I have absolutely no idea who did it. So I'm just assuming it was some random little scrote.
I don't have any on street parking wars or anything like that, so it looks like it's been done randomly, either in my work car park (very unlikely) or somewhere like a supermarket.
I can't even narrow down the date/time unfortunately - First saw it yesterday so just assuming it's happened in the past week or so. It's pretty obvious so I would have spotted it if I walked past that side of the car.
I don't have any on street parking wars or anything like that, so it looks like it's been done randomly, either in my work car park (very unlikely) or somewhere like a supermarket.
I can't even narrow down the date/time unfortunately - First saw it yesterday so just assuming it's happened in the past week or so. It's pretty obvious so I would have spotted it if I walked past that side of the car.
It is criminal damage without a doubt and I dont mean to sound harsh but unless you have a camera pointing at the car or a witness to the incident the crime will be raised and filed more or less immediately. Report the incident as that is your right if you wish but be prepared to give up an hour or two for statements etc. Unfortunately cr*p like this is more often than not unsolvable. I was talking about keying cars with my colleague last night and both agreed that its one of the most rediculous and infuriating jobs that we deal with simply because its pointless. The 'offender' gains nothing as they dont even see the victim of the incident so get their 'buzz' from someones misery. Someone did my car last year so I completely understand and my sympathy to you.
Personally (as well as professionally) I would report it as you never know. They may have arrested some idiot around the corner for something similar. I appreciate its a few hours out of your life that may ultimately be pointless but live in hope.
Personally (as well as professionally) I would report it as you never know. They may have arrested some idiot around the corner for something similar. I appreciate its a few hours out of your life that may ultimately be pointless but live in hope.
Looks like two parallel scratches, so two keys held in the hand? Could it have been an accident, from someone pushing past? I had a similar scratch years ago right down the door and rear panel, turned out it was from a kid on a bike and the top scratch was the handlebars and the lower scratch the brake.
carmonk said:
Looks like two parallel scratches, so two keys held in the hand? Could it have been an accident, from someone pushing past? I had a similar scratch years ago right down the door and rear panel, turned out it was from a kid on a bike and the top scratch was the handlebars and the lower scratch the brake.
I did wonder, but the scratches seem very deep to be accidental. You'd have to apply some pretty heavy pressure to manage it.Still, thinking about it, I would prefer it to have happened that way than a deliberate keying from some little scumbag!
falkster said:
This really makes my blood boil. I used to think it was jealousy as the first time I'd ever experienced it was someone doing it to my dads jag about 20 years ago but have seen it on any number of cars.
It's got to be some mindless coward that does something like that!!
It's a 5 year old Skoda so probably not jealously! I know they've improved in recent years but still...It's got to be some mindless coward that does something like that!!
blank said:
carmonk said:
Looks like two parallel scratches, so two keys held in the hand? Could it have been an accident, from someone pushing past? I had a similar scratch years ago right down the door and rear panel, turned out it was from a kid on a bike and the top scratch was the handlebars and the lower scratch the brake.
I did wonder, but the scratches seem very deep to be accidental. You'd have to apply some pretty heavy pressure to manage it.Still, thinking about it, I would prefer it to have happened that way than a deliberate keying from some little scumbag!
one of the most pointless and cowardly crimes. The perpetrator knows there is little chance of being caught, and the nicer/more visible the car the more chance of it happening and the more chance it will affect the owner..
back when I used to manage city centre Nightclubs my car used to get done weekly, sometimes daily!..from scrotes barred or with some other 'disrespect' issue, that they didn't have the balls to speak to someone about face to face..it doesn't happen so much now I live in rural Surrey!..
..if you try and think about who could have an axe to grind it is difficult to put yourself in the mind of the type of person who would do this..it will probably be some perceived issue that a normal person wouldn't even contemplate..eg..ex-boyfriend of a girl you are/were seeing who thinks its your fault they split up years ago, a guy you bumped into in the street and who you apologised to..etc..etc..
..definitely worth reporting to the Police though, They may have a long-standing suspect in the area, more cars may have been done at the same time, they may have alreadyt caught somebody somewhere in the area who they may be able to speak to about it..of course probably not..but worth it anyway. If enough people report vandalism/minor crime in an area you may at least get a more frequent Police patrol..
..I would advise purchasing a decent car cover for your car if it is parked in the street on a regular basis, the type that has a locking strap is preferable. It acts as an effective deterrant to random vandalism/theft, as well as the obvious benefit of protecting your car from the British climate..
back when I used to manage city centre Nightclubs my car used to get done weekly, sometimes daily!..from scrotes barred or with some other 'disrespect' issue, that they didn't have the balls to speak to someone about face to face..it doesn't happen so much now I live in rural Surrey!..
..if you try and think about who could have an axe to grind it is difficult to put yourself in the mind of the type of person who would do this..it will probably be some perceived issue that a normal person wouldn't even contemplate..eg..ex-boyfriend of a girl you are/were seeing who thinks its your fault they split up years ago, a guy you bumped into in the street and who you apologised to..etc..etc..
..definitely worth reporting to the Police though, They may have a long-standing suspect in the area, more cars may have been done at the same time, they may have alreadyt caught somebody somewhere in the area who they may be able to speak to about it..of course probably not..but worth it anyway. If enough people report vandalism/minor crime in an area you may at least get a more frequent Police patrol..
..I would advise purchasing a decent car cover for your car if it is parked in the street on a regular basis, the type that has a locking strap is preferable. It acts as an effective deterrant to random vandalism/theft, as well as the obvious benefit of protecting your car from the British climate..
The ChipsAway chap in Northampton is a very enthusiastic 944 owner call Paul Smith, and I can strongly recommend his work.
http://www.chipsaway.co.uk/paulsmith
Worth travelling a bit to get to. Tell him Oli with the S2 recommended him ...
Oli.
http://www.chipsaway.co.uk/paulsmith
Worth travelling a bit to get to. Tell him Oli with the S2 recommended him ...
Oli.
Toaster Pilot said:
If the Police are anything like around here they'll take some details and promise someone will be in touch and then you'll hear nothing.
At least that's what happened when I had a number plate stolen a couple of weeks ago
the first you will hear about that is when about 8 of them are at your front door ready to knock it in regarding you driving off at a petrol station!At least that's what happened when I had a number plate stolen a couple of weeks ago
billzeebub said:
the first you will hear about that is when about 8 of them are at your front door ready to knock it in regarding you driving off at a petrol station!
I know Although if they use a car actually worth stealing petrol for then it'll be fairly obvious it wasn't me - I only have a 35 litre tank
Gary11 said:
chips away and the like use inferior products that do not last
Nowadays waterborne paint and 2k clear, actually, (and a lifetime warranty, in the case of ChipsAway). For reference, I own a bodyshop. I also run a ChipsAway business. We provide the same durability and quality guarantee on both sets of repairs. The difference between bodyshop and SMART in the modern marketplace? Arguably there isn't one. The ABPclub, the organisation that advises and represents the auto body repair industry has this to say about SMART in its guide for bodyshops in 2011, which recognises absolutely that the offering can be delivered to professional, durable standards - only dinosaurs who feel threatened by a changing marketplace cling to the old prejudices:
Viewed with some suspicion by bodyshops, SMART repair
and traditional bodywork repair, were two quite separate
industries. However, in recent years with work volumes in a
continuing downward trend, and the realisation that a sizeable
chunk of repairs are being lost to mobile repair operators,
SMART repair is now seen as a valuable revenue stream by
many bodyshops.
The process, when delivered by a skilled SMART repair
technician, offers a fast, low cost solution for motorists with
minor vehicle damage. Alloy wheel rim repair, chips and
scratches, interior plastics, leather and
velour repairs, paintless dent removal, plastic repairs and
windscreen blemishes all come under the SMART umbrella.
It is estimated that 40% of vehicles have minor cosmetic
damage. Offering a SMART repair service can be a valuable,
additional revenue stream. SMART repairs are an attractive, faster,
cheaper and effective solution to resolve unsightly blemishes
and maximise car residual values.
In the last two years, we have seen the UK’s biggest network,
Nationwide, and a number of other large groups, including
Just Car Clinics and Seward, invest in mobile vans to offer
light repairs. Although at the moment, SMART repair is
predominantly aimed at the private and fleet sectors, more
and more insurance companies are engaging with the SMART
repair sector to repair minor damage vehicles.
The methods used for SMART are different to traditional
techniques and require specialist tools and equipment.
Recognising what is and what is not a SMART repair is an
important part of training, and technicians should keep within
their scope to maintain standards of quality.
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