Car keyed all the way down one side!! Insurance claim time??
Discussion
Well yesterday I left work early to find the lovely sight of my fianceé's car (that I had been using this week as my own has blown its radiator!) all keyed down one side. I am absolutely devastated, as is my OH. She loves that car. It happened in the work car park at a place I am currently contracting.
I hold my hands up to having parked in a manner which probably blocked somebody in, but had foolishly thought that being a company car park, I would simply get asked to move it if anybody needed to leave before me. I planned to go and move it at lunchtime anyhow.
As it happens, I ended up having to work through lunch to meet a deadline. I ended up leaving early instead. That was when I found the damage.
Now, I know it is wrong to block someone in, and must admit I'd be fuming if it was the other way around, but to do this to someone's car? Seriously?! All I can think of is that one of the cheeky b
ds from one of the other companies that keep parking in this car park (with no right to do so) has done it, as surely anybody from the company I'm at would have contacted reception to ask for it to be moved?
Not sure what to do next. Police gave me a crime number this morning, which is about all that's going to happen going by what the lady on the phone said. If I find out about any witnesses or CCTV myself, THEN they will investigate.
I expected as much, to be honest.
Looks like insurance next as we can't afford to have the car resprayed ourselves. Can't imagine a paint shop could do much with it besides a respray? It's a 13 year old car, so probably won't look right if one side is done on its own. Either way, it will cost us via a claim.
Wish I could find out who the scumbag was that did it.
I hold my hands up to having parked in a manner which probably blocked somebody in, but had foolishly thought that being a company car park, I would simply get asked to move it if anybody needed to leave before me. I planned to go and move it at lunchtime anyhow.
As it happens, I ended up having to work through lunch to meet a deadline. I ended up leaving early instead. That was when I found the damage.
Now, I know it is wrong to block someone in, and must admit I'd be fuming if it was the other way around, but to do this to someone's car? Seriously?! All I can think of is that one of the cheeky b
ds from one of the other companies that keep parking in this car park (with no right to do so) has done it, as surely anybody from the company I'm at would have contacted reception to ask for it to be moved?Not sure what to do next. Police gave me a crime number this morning, which is about all that's going to happen going by what the lady on the phone said. If I find out about any witnesses or CCTV myself, THEN they will investigate.
I expected as much, to be honest.
Looks like insurance next as we can't afford to have the car resprayed ourselves. Can't imagine a paint shop could do much with it besides a respray? It's a 13 year old car, so probably won't look right if one side is done on its own. Either way, it will cost us via a claim.
Wish I could find out who the scumbag was that did it.
- I was going to add the photos of the damage but the filter here won't let me access the image uploader or any suitable websites. bks. Will add them this evening.
Depends on the car and its value I guess?
If the value is low then I'd be tempted to touch it in as best as you can and just live with it. Claiming on insurance for a repaint could write it off, at best you'll still have your excess and increased premium to pay.
If its a car thats worth a few quid then you'll have to claim I guess.....
If the value is low then I'd be tempted to touch it in as best as you can and just live with it. Claiming on insurance for a repaint could write it off, at best you'll still have your excess and increased premium to pay.
If its a car thats worth a few quid then you'll have to claim I guess.....
It's a 13 year old car, they are likely to write it off if the value is low.
You could go down the route of a chips away repair, for the price of your excess (or slightly more) the quality is good if you get someone who knows what they are doing. My car has had one and you can't tell that it's been repaired.
One of my cars has key gouges on the bonnet and down the side (was like that when I bought it). I just live with it, it's "character".
You could go down the route of a chips away repair, for the price of your excess (or slightly more) the quality is good if you get someone who knows what they are doing. My car has had one and you can't tell that it's been repaired.
One of my cars has key gouges on the bonnet and down the side (was like that when I bought it). I just live with it, it's "character".
It's an A6 4.2 Quattro V8. Lovely old car. Worth around £2500 (that's what we have it for sale at, but some of them are a little bit higher).
I'm a bit skeptical about a Chips Away repair. Not sure how much they could cover it and blend it in?
I'm a bit skeptical about a Chips Away repair. Not sure how much they could cover it and blend it in?
Edited by TroubledSoul on Friday 6th September 10:20
I won't pontificate about knowingly blocking another vehicle although I'm sorely tempted.
Get a smart repairer to have a look at it. There is a lot that can be done. Large insurance body shops can't be bothered to faff around with scratches. They would rather paint the whole side of the car. Easier for them - monumentally more expensive for you.
Get a smart repairer to have a look at it. There is a lot that can be done. Large insurance body shops can't be bothered to faff around with scratches. They would rather paint the whole side of the car. Easier for them - monumentally more expensive for you.
Most chips away types will only take on jobs they can do well, and if they can't do it they probably know a man who can, my Mrs had some damage to her car sorted by a small body shop and the guy there happily recomended a dent guy for a ding on my car, by the sounds of it they will happily pass jobs either way as it keeps the costs down and the customer happy.
Chips away are fine.
Had a lady go straight on in a right-turn only lane at traffic lights, straight on, in fact, into the side of my car.
Left a nice long gouge along the door and a scrape at the top of the rear wheel arch.
Called chips away, they came and did the repair, and it's blended perfectly, would never know the scrape nor gouge had happened.
Car is a 135i coupé, 2009, so if they can blend that fine I'm sure a 13 year old A6 would be fine too.
Had a lady go straight on in a right-turn only lane at traffic lights, straight on, in fact, into the side of my car.
Left a nice long gouge along the door and a scrape at the top of the rear wheel arch.
Called chips away, they came and did the repair, and it's blended perfectly, would never know the scrape nor gouge had happened.
Car is a 135i coupé, 2009, so if they can blend that fine I'm sure a 13 year old A6 would be fine too.
Like I said, I hold my hands up to having parked in a tttish manner, but I really wouldn't have done it if I'd thought it would cause any more inconvenience than a quick word at reception.
I will look into Chips Away or a local equivalent first then, before going to the insurance. I do suspect they would write the car off.
ttish manner, but I really wouldn't have done it if I'd thought it would cause any more inconvenience than a quick word at reception.I will look into Chips Away or a local equivalent first then, before going to the insurance. I do suspect they would write the car off.
TheTurbonator said:
Can't you remember what car you blocked in? If you can, I'd be finding out who's it is and then having quiet words or returning the favour.
Someones been going around keying cars at our work too, god help him if he gets found out as he's upset a few people.
Afraid not. I was late for work and in one hell of a rush so didn't take the other cars in. Someones been going around keying cars at our work too, god help him if he gets found out as he's upset a few people.
Op, do you know anyone handy with a polishing machine and a touch up pen? When i worked as a valeter i touched in a 3" scratch on a silver merc then lacquered it and buffed it. Customer couldn't find the scratch after that. I know yours is a full side but it still could be done. If you were in leeds area i'd have a bash at it for you.
If ita a dark colour try to Find your local SSR franchise holder some of the chips away guys have it look up
Sprayless scratch repair
I have done it on a few older dark colour cars it takes away 90% of the scratch
Last time I did 2 doors on a Volvo was about £90.
I would also take a photo and have the office admin person that looks after car parking etc send the photo to all in that office and see if anyone knows who did it quite likely to have happened before and worth making a fuss about ( might stop them doing it again).
Sprayless scratch repair
I have done it on a few older dark colour cars it takes away 90% of the scratch
Last time I did 2 doors on a Volvo was about £90.
I would also take a photo and have the office admin person that looks after car parking etc send the photo to all in that office and see if anyone knows who did it quite likely to have happened before and worth making a fuss about ( might stop them doing it again).
philmh said:
Op, do you know anyone handy with a polishing machine and a touch up pen? When i worked as a valeter i touched in a 3" scratch on a silver merc then lacquered it and buffed it. Customer couldn't find the scratch after that. I know yours is a full side but it still could be done. If you were in leeds area i'd have a bash at it for you.
I am in Leeds actually. Near Garforth!I am going to get a quote from the Chips Away guy but you are more than welcome to take a look for me and let me know if you think it can be done?
Now I'm normally skeptical about these things, but unless the video has been faked, this might do the job:
http://www.fixitpro-pens.co.uk/
http://www.fixitpro-pens.co.uk/
TroubledSoul said:
It's an A6 4.2 Quattro V8. Lovely old car. Worth around £2500 (that's what we have it for sale at, but some of them are a little bit higher).
I'm a bit skeptical about a Chips Away repair. Not sure how much they could cover it and blend it in?
That will have been written off before you even put the phone down to the insurers, thats a minimum 4 panel pain job if its the length of the car and that won't be cheap through an insurance bodyshop.I'm a bit skeptical about a Chips Away repair. Not sure how much they could cover it and blend it in?
Edited by TroubledSoul on Friday 6th September 10:20
The advice here has all been good regards alternatives.
swisstoni said:
Get a smart repairer to have a look at it. There is a lot that can be done. Large insurance body shops can't be bothered to faff around with scratches. They would rather paint the whole side of the car. Easier for them - monumentally more expensive for you.
Yup. Some chav scrote did the same to our Grand Scenic a few years ago, and the local chips away guy did a sterling job. Cost us £300 cash (all four panels on the offside), which I seem to recall was only £50 more than the insurance excess, and saved NCB hassles etc.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff