Council grass cutting damaged my car

Council grass cutting damaged my car

Author
Discussion

mr alan

Original Poster:

4,318 posts

190 months

Friday 15th September 2017
quotequote all
I know that sounds like a Jeremy Kyle topic but.

We live adjacent to a piece of council owned grass area and path and this morning while the grass cutting was taking place I heard a loud bang. Thought nothing of it but going outside an hour later I saw a dent and a huge stone chip in the front wing of my car and a stone lying on the driveway suddenly it became obvious what had happened. I contacted the local council and they sent someone round this afternoon who took photos of the damage told me to get to quotes and they will pay and he apologised on behalf of the council. Frankly I'm in shock. I can't quite believe that they will pay for the damage that they have clearly caused without a fight.

Riley Blue

20,952 posts

226 months

Friday 15th September 2017
quotequote all
Accidents happen, they'll be insured aginst such eventualities.

Chester draws

1,412 posts

110 months

Friday 15th September 2017
quotequote all
there was a recent story where the same happened - car owner took council to court - ruling was it was an accident and the council didn't have to pay.

lets see if I can find it!

that was easy. people say the PH search is rubbish!

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...

ianstoker

55 posts

155 months

Friday 15th September 2017
quotequote all
Fair play to them, but I suspect it happens a lot more than than it is reported

Conscript

1,378 posts

121 months

Friday 15th September 2017
quotequote all
I park on a suburban road during the day whilst I'm at work, which has a wide pavement with a grass verge which comes all the way to the kerb line. I must admit, if I see the maintenance teams out before I park, I tend to try and find somewhere else - a couple of times I've returned to my car after they've visited during the day, and found it covered in grass cuttings. Not a big deal, but I must admit, I do worry in case they get a bit close with the strimmers that they might strike the side of the car.

However, pleasing that they are willing to just take it on the chin. Being a council, I expected nothing but gross inefficiency.

Edited by Conscript on Friday 15th September 16:52

mr alan

Original Poster:

4,318 posts

190 months

Friday 15th September 2017
quotequote all
I know I'm quite astonished but actually very pleased. I have sent the pictures to Chipsaway and they say £200 and I've been to a local body shop this afternoon and they say roughly the same. What's peoples thoughts on Chipsaway quality?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Friday 15th September 2017
quotequote all
mr alan said:
What's peoples thoughts on Chipsaway quality?
Depends entirely on how good the local franchisee is.

paintman

7,687 posts

190 months

Friday 15th September 2017
quotequote all
^^^^. Risk is you might get a franchisee who's been doing it for years or you could be a newby's first live job after training.
Do you feel lucky?

RenPug

630 posts

168 months

Friday 15th September 2017
quotequote all
mr alan said:
I know that sounds like a Jeremy Kyle topic but.

We live adjacent to a piece of council owned grass area and path and this morning while the grass cutting was taking place I heard a loud bang. Thought nothing of it but going outside an hour later I saw a dent and a huge stone chip in the front wing of my car and a stone lying on the driveway suddenly it became obvious what had happened. I contacted the local council and they sent someone round this afternoon who took photos of the damage told me to get to quotes and they will pay and he apologised on behalf of the council. Frankly I'm in shock. I can't quite believe that they will pay for the damage that they have clearly caused without a fight.
Very common occurrence although it's usually glass damage. Our local council had an account with us and just used to pass us the customers details to get the glass replaced. Spring is the worst time as the grass has normally been left over Winter and debris builds up, the first couple of cuts normally spits all that debris out the mower or strimmer etc.

mr alan

Original Poster:

4,318 posts

190 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
Sytner have quoted £1000 a local body shop have quoted £500 and Chipsaway have quoted £220. I will push for the work to be done at Sytner as that's where I got the car from three weeks ago

Shakermaker

11,317 posts

100 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
mr alan said:
Sytner have quoted £1000 a local body shop have quoted £500 and Chipsaway have quoted £220. I will push for the work to be done at Sytner as that's where I got the car from three weeks ago
Do they actually do it on site at Sytners, or do they farm it out and put a price on top?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
Shakermaker said:
mr alan said:
Sytner have quoted £1000 a local body shop have quoted £500 and Chipsaway have quoted £220. I will push for the work to be done at Sytner as that's where I got the car from three weeks ago
Do they actually do it on site at Sytners, or do they farm it out and put a price on top?
I know for a fact that Sytner have at least one bodyshop, nationally, because a mate works there.

Shakermaker

11,317 posts

100 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
I know for a fact that Sytner have at least one bodyshop, nationally, because a mate works there.
That's OK then, would be that if they don't have a shop, and the council are funny about paying, then get the quote direct from the place they sub it out to if that might be cheaper. But who knows.

Hopefully this all gets sorted nice and quickly

mr alan

Original Poster:

4,318 posts

190 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
The quotes have been submitted let's see what they say here is a picture of the bullet hole

mr alan

Original Poster:

4,318 posts

190 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all

mr alan

Original Poster:

4,318 posts

190 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
"Bullet hole"?

BTW, is the stone responsible for the distinctly variable-width shutline there and the poor paint match, too? Or is that how it came from Sytner?

KTF

9,804 posts

150 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
mr alan said:
The main agent wants a grand to fix that?

TwigtheWonderkid

43,346 posts

150 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
Accidents happen, they'll be insured aginst such eventualities.
Their third party liability cover will only cover them for their negligence, and it's doubtful if they were negligent in this case. So their insurance won't cover them and they are settling as a gesture of goodwill towards the OP as one of their customers.

r11co

6,244 posts

230 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
KTF said:
The main agent wants a grand to fix that?
Quite! I suspect you told them that 'the council' were paying for it without question so they are taking the opportunity to gouge.

PS. My local tame coachbuilder has never taken more than £300 for a complete bonnet respray and he is an artist at it. Reckon a wing would be even less.