Reporting car park scrape

[blank]

I saw someone's bad attempt at parking today, leave a nice scrape on the corner of one of the adjacent cars.

After I'd parked up (out of their way!) I walked over as they had abandoned the space as being too tight. I told the driver that he'd damaged the other car and he said "oh dear I didn't realise, I'll have to leave them a note once I've found somewhere else to park". I went off and when I came back an hour or so later there was no note on the damaged car, so I've just reported it online to TVP.

What I'm wondering is whether the police will do anything, and if not, is there a better mechanism of reporting such incidents?

I don't have any details of anyone, but do have both registration numbers.

[evoivboy]

Should have left a note with your number on the damaged car as a witness, police won't give a dam

[TwigtheWonderkid]

evoivboy said:

Should have left a note with your number on the damaged car as a witness, police won't give a dam

Well they have enough to do, without holding back millions of litres of water.

[clockworks]

I saw a similar carpark incident a few years ago. I left a note on the damaged car.
The owner called me that evening, and I gave them all the details.

A few days later, the insurance company asked me for a statement. Filled in and returned.

A couple of months later, I was asked by the police to give a statement, and if I would be prepared to go to court as a witness.

Eventually got a letter from the police saying that the driver had pleaded guilty, not needed as a witness.

[moorx]

evoivboy said:

Should have left a note with your number on the damaged car as a witness, police won't give a dam

This.

OH and I were in a car park a few years ago where there was a driving instructor with student. I presume they were practising parking. Unfortunately, during the course of this, the learner reversed into someone's very nice SUV. They then drove forward, the instructor got out, had a look and got back in the car and carried on. My OH challenged them and also looked at the other car (there was damage). The instructor tried to brush it off and told us he was ex police and had determined there was no reason to leave a note. So I said 'well you won't mind if I leave one then' and did so. I also took a note of the details of both cars (and the driving school) because I could see from a permit in the damaged car that they worked for the same place as me and knew that I could contact them via that route if he removed the note I'd left.

He then came over to my car and started taking photos of it saying 'well if someone's going to report me, I want to know who'.

The owner of the other car did phone us and thank us. She had contacted him and he'd tried to weasle his way out of it, but had to pay for the damage in the end.

[reddiesel]

moorx said:

This.

OH and I were in a car park a few years ago where there was a driving instructor with student. I presume they were practising parking. Unfortunately, during the course of this, the learner reversed into someone's very nice SUV. They then drove forward, the instructor got out, had a look and got back in the car and carried on. My OH challenged them and also looked at the other car (there was damage). The instructor tried to brush it off and told us he was ex police and had determined there was no reason to leave a note. So I said 'well you won't mind if I leave one then' and did so. I also took a note of the details of both cars (and the driving school) because I could see from a permit in the damaged car that they worked for the same place as me and knew that I could contact them via that route if he removed the note I'd left.

He then came over to my car and started taking photos of it saying 'well if someone's going to report me, I want to know who'.

The owner of the other car did phone us and thank us. She had contacted him and he'd tried to weasle his way out of it, but had to pay for the damage in the end.

Well done you fella , I loathe these ex coppers that give it the big one . I was in McDonalds just after the lockdown was lifted and in walked this Bloke with some Lady . On his feet were a Northamptonshire pair of heavy brogues that judging by their condition he must have bought that day .
I watched him beckon to the Manager and he duly came across to the side to speak with him . I then saw the Bloke with the shoes flash his Police Identification to the Manager before they both had words . His presumably wife or girlfriend stood alongside him .
The conversation shortly ended and I was then surprised to see them both leave without purchasing anything . Knowing the Manager I asked if he was ok to which he replied yes . It turned out that during Covid McDonald's had been giving free hot drinks to emergency staff but with lockdown this had now ended . The Off Duty Copper had walked in , flashed his warrant card to secure free coffees for him and his lady friend then strode out in a huff with nothing when the Manager had informed him he would have to pay like everyone else . You had to laugh .

[Paul Dishman]

reddiesel said:

Well done you fella , I loathe these ex coppers that give it the big one . I was in McDonalds just after the lockdown was lifted and in walked this Bloke with some Lady . On his feet were a Northamptonshire pair of heavy brogues that judging by their condition he must have bought that day .
I watched him beckon to the Manager and he duly came across to the side to speak with him . I then saw the Bloke with the shoes flash his Police Identification to the Manager before they both had words . His presumably wife or girlfriend stood alongside him .
The conversation shortly ended and I was then surprised to see them both leave without purchasing anything . Knowing the Manager I asked if he was ok to which he replied yes . It turned out that during Covid McDonald's had been giving free hot drinks to emergency staff but with lockdown this had now ended . The Off Duty Copper had walked in , flashed his warrant card to secure free coffees for him and his lady friend then strode out in a huff with nothing when the Manager had informed him he would have to pay like everyone else . You had to laugh .

Obviously wasn't the Chief Constable as he'd have flashed his pretend Falklands medal

[Nibbles_bits]

Did you ask them to give their name and address, the name and address of the owner of the vehicle and the identification marks of the vehicle?

If you didn't, then at the point they drive off, they haven't committed an offence.

If however they don't report it to the Police, in person, as soon as practicable, in any case within 24hs, THEN they commit an offence.

I would report it to the Police.

[Borghetto]

Last year I clipped a parked car in the supermarket car park. I pulled into a nearby bay and went back to see what damage i had caused. I didn't have any paper with me and the biro I had was on its last legs ink wise. I did have a paper supermarket receipt and so used the back of this to give my phone number and reg no. This I left under the a wiper. About an hour later a women rang me identifying herself as the cars owner. She told me her husband was certain the phone number was false. I told her I would ring her back with my insurance details. When i rang her number, her husband answered and suggested that the damage wasn't massive, so would i be prepared to just pay for the repair and save us both having an accident on our insurance records. I agreed that if the repair costs weren't to high I'd be fine with this. The cost were £380, which was at the top of my expectations, so I paid his nominated repairer directly and the matter was closed. This matter was caused by my impatience and I now drive with much more care in car parks, so really it was an expensive, but needed lesson learned.

[Nibbles_bits]

Borghetto said:

Last year I clipped a parked car in the supermarket car park. I pulled into a nearby bay and went back to see what damage i had caused. I didn't have any paper with me and the biro I had was on its last legs ink wise. I did have a paper supermarket receipt and so used the back of this to give my phone number and reg no. This I left under the a wiper. About an hour later a women rang me identifying herself as the cars owner. She told me her husband was certain the phone number was false. I told her I would ring her back with my insurance details. When i rang her number, her husband answered and suggested that the damage wasn't massive, so would i be prepared to just pay for the repair and save us both having an accident on our insurance records. I agreed that if the repair costs weren't to high I'd be fine with this. The cost were £380, which was at the top of my expectations, so I paid his nominated repairer directly and the matter was closed. This matter was caused by my impatience and I now drive with much more care in car parks, so really it was an expensive, but needed lesson learned.

And you'll tell your insurance company when it's time for renewal. Won't you?

[Wacky Racer]

Nibbles_bits said:

Borghetto said:

Last year I clipped a parked car in the supermarket car park. I pulled into a nearby bay and went back to see what damage i had caused. I didn't have any paper with me and the biro I had was on its last legs ink wise. I did have a paper supermarket receipt and so used the back of this to give my phone number and reg no. This I left under the a wiper. About an hour later a women rang me identifying herself as the cars owner. She told me her husband was certain the phone number was false. I told her I would ring her back with my insurance details. When i rang her number, her husband answered and suggested that the damage wasn't massive, so would i be prepared to just pay for the repair and save us both having an accident on our insurance records. I agreed that if the repair costs weren't to high I'd be fine with this. The cost were £380, which was at the top of my expectations, so I paid his nominated repairer directly and the matter was closed. This matter was caused by my impatience and I now drive with much more care in car parks, so really it was an expensive, but needed lesson learned.

And you'll tell your insurance company when it's time for renewal. Won't you?

Would you in these circumstances? I certainly wouldn't.

[Nibbles_bits]

It's been flogged to death, but what is the wording on "most" insurance applications? -

"Have you had an accident in the past year? Regardless of whether you made a claim or not"

[Dog Star]

Nibbles_bits said:

It's been flogged to death, but what is the wording on "most" insurance applications? -

"Have you had an accident in the past year? Regardless of whether you made a claim or not"

I’ve fallen off loads of dirt bikes while green laning. Imagine if I declared all those accidents!!!!

[Nibbles_bits]

Dog Star said:

Nibbles_bits said:

It's been flogged to death, but what is the wording on "most" insurance applications? -

"Have you had an accident in the past year? Regardless of whether you made a claim or not"

I’ve fallen off loads of dirt bikes while green laning. Imagine if I declared all those accidents!!!!

Exactly. I've had 2 no fault accidents at work, in a company vehicle. Why should I declare them?

Buy that's what the insurance companies ask.

[Tommo87]

Nibbles_bits said:

Dog Star said:

Nibbles_bits said:

It's been flogged to death, but what is the wording on "most" insurance applications? -

"Have you had an accident in the past year? Regardless of whether you made a claim or not"

I’ve fallen off loads of dirt bikes while green laning. Imagine if I declared all those accidents!!!!

Exactly. I've had 2 no fault accidents at work, in a company vehicle. Why should I declare them?

Buy that's what the insurance companies ask.

What if you convince yourself that it was deliberate. And pay for it outside of insurance.

(Nonsense is what nonsense does).

[Foss62]

Tommo87 said:

Nibbles_bits said:

Dog Star said:

Nibbles_bits said:

It's been flogged to death, but what is the wording on "most" insurance applications? -

"Have you had an accident in the past year? Regardless of whether you made a claim or not"

I’ve fallen off loads of dirt bikes while green laning. Imagine if I declared all those accidents!!!!

Exactly. I've had 2 no fault accidents at work, in a company vehicle. Why should I declare them?

Buy that's what the insurance companies ask.

What if you convince yourself that it was deliberate. And pay for it outside of insurance.

(Nonsense is what nonsense does).

I’m surprised that the regulators still allow insurance companies to ask questions about incidents that neither result in claims nor affect the insured’s legal driving record.
Clearly individuals will differ greatly in what they consider is relevant. There are even more possibilities for nonsense in home insurance - dropped a plate in the kitchen? Cracked a section of guttering with a ladder?

[Dog Biscuit]

I reversed into a post van when exiting our driveway.

I got out and my car was fine but a dent was on the van

Postie just said 'I'm sure that dent was already there' with a smile and drove off.

Got away with that one

[Nibbles_bits]

Dog Biscuit said:

I reversed into a post van when exiting our driveway.

I got out and my car was fine but a dent was on the van

Postie just said 'I'm sure that dent was already there' with a smile and drove off.

Got away with that one

I used to do some work in the Royal Mail workshops. Their drivers don't (or didn't) give a 💩 what they did to the vans.

[Dog Biscuit]

Nibbles_bits said:

Dog Biscuit said:

I reversed into a post van when exiting our driveway.

I got out and my car was fine but a dent was on the van

Postie just said 'I'm sure that dent was already there' with a smile and drove off.

Got away with that one

I used to do some work in the Royal Mail workshops. Their drivers don't (or didn't) give a ?? what they did to the vans.

Yeah, he didn't seem overly concerned. His van already looked like it had been used as a practice van by the fire brigade.