Car Park hit and run

[ferrisbueller]

My friend has come back to his car in a supermarket car park and found the rear quarter scraped and dented. No note or anything left on the car. They've done a proper job on, it. The first quote he's had is £800. The supermarket in question won't provide any CCTV as they only provide it to the Police.

Is there anything he can do here, or is he screwed? Being relatively young, an insurance claim is going to hammer is premiums.

[trickywoo]

Unfortunately nothing can be done from there. You’d need an independent witness to get anywhere.

[Southerner]

Report to plod and direct them to the supermarket’s CCTV, shirley?! Fail to stop/report etc etc, no?

[trickywoo]

Southerner said:

Report to plod and direct them to the supermarket’s CCTV, shirley?! Fail to stop/report etc etc, no?

Are the police going to get involved for a non injury prang on private land?

[davek_964]

Southerner said:

Report to plod and direct them to the supermarket’s CCTV, shirley?! Fail to stop/report etc etc, no?

Somebody did that on one of the owner groups I'm on a year or so back (happened in a pub car park). They even had some other fairly compelling evidence of who it was.

Police did get CCTV but nothing happened. I think they made some excuse about not being able to prove exactly who the driver was from the CCTV or something similar.

[ferrisbueller]

trickywoo said:

Southerner said:

Report to plod and direct them to the supermarket’s CCTV, shirley?! Fail to stop/report etc etc, no?

Are the police going to get involved for a non injury prang on private land?

I think not but have already suggested he report it.

[Southerner]

trickywoo said:

Southerner said:

Report to plod and direct them to the supermarket’s CCTV, shirley?! Fail to stop/report etc etc, no?

Are the police going to get involved for a non injury prang on private land?

In an ideal world, the answer might be: “Well, it’s a crime isn’t it?”.

I realise we don’t live in that world, but personally I’d be pissed off if they couldn’t even be arsed to try.

[Aretnap]

trickywoo said:

Southerner said:

Report to plod and direct them to the supermarket’s CCTV, shirley?! Fail to stop/report etc etc, no?

Are the police going to get involved for a non injury prang on private land?

Supermarket car park is a public place for the purposes of the relevant legislation. Though I doubt they'll want to trawl through CCTV footage for the sake of a minor (in the grand scheme of things) parking accident.

[ferrisbueller]

Southerner said:

trickywoo said:

Southerner said:

Report to plod and direct them to the supermarket’s CCTV, shirley?! Fail to stop/report etc etc, no?

Are the police going to get involved for a non injury prang on private land?

In an ideal world, the answer might be: “Well, it’s a crime isn’t it?”.

I realise we don’t live in that world, but personally I’d be pissed off if they couldn’t even be arsed to try.

The supermarket's lack of interest is sad. You know if he parked for too long he'd get a ticket pronto. (And yes, I know they farm that out to a third party).
When someone stoves his car in they couldn't give a st.

[thetapeworm]

Aretnap said:

trickywoo said:

Southerner said:

Report to plod and direct them to the supermarket’s CCTV, shirley?! Fail to stop/report etc etc, no?

Are the police going to get involved for a non injury prang on private land?

Supermarket car park is a public place for the purposes of the relevant legislation. Though I doubt they'll want to trawl through CCTV footage for the sake of a minor (in the grand scheme of things) parking accident.

I had similar happen outside the house with good CCTV of the accident and 4K CCTV from a neighbour of the car in question arrivingand leaving along with the numberplate, a clear view of the driver and knowledge that the driver had dropped a neighbour off just before the damage was done.

The neighbour refused to answer the door but the police still traced the driver and spoke to them. They said they didn't know they'd hit the car despite mine being lifted up in the footage and the driver pausing, looking around and leaving with some speed.

The police offered to mediate and said they could ask the driver to phone and apologise but said I'd just have to go through my insurance as they wouldn't do anything around the obvious driving without due care or leaving an accident.

Just tell them to get some other quotes and see if a smart repair is possible.

[ferrisbueller]

thetapeworm said:

Just tell them to get some other quotes and see if a smart repair is possible.

It's not going to be a smart repair. The metal is pushed in and creased. Will need stripping, pulling out and then painting.

[Bright Halo]

It begs the question what is the point of supermarkets having cctv if you are not allowed to use it?

[Dohnut]

Bright Halo said:

It begs the question what is the point of supermarkets having cctv if you are not allowed to use it?

So they can fine you for parking for too long.

[bergclimber34]

Cameras are nearly always there for them to make money from them, no other reason, and perhaps some crime prevention but only on their terms, not yours they could not give a toss.

[Jack ketch]

I believe you have the right to request CCTV footage of yourself so why not ask for it. If only to put their nose out a bit. You never know they may invite a viewing at their premises and provide the opportunity to get to see the git who damaged the car. Nothing lost.
Rick

[Zero Fuchs]

I've recently been in an accident where a guy opened their door into my moving car. Fortunately I've a dashcam but the insurer mentioned CCTV as I was outside a Tesco express with CCTV.

Apparently no supermarket will give the public access to CCTV for privacy reasons. But you need to get a contract number and pass it onto your insurer. They have the legal rights to footage so it needs to requested by them directly.

Unsurprising about the police. My daughter was involved in a hit and run. She phoned the police and they weren't interested. I turned up to help move her car as the rear end was wrecked. Took it to the nearest car park and found the offending car dumped. Phoned the police again to tell them we'd found the offending car and they just said to report it online. fking useless.

Edited by Zero Fuchs on Tuesday 21st January 21:28

[skyebear]

By any chance is your friend's car on a finance agreement?

As annoying as the damage is if they can live with it often come the time to hand the car back, the damage charges from the finance company can be reasonable.

[ferrisbueller]

Jack ketch said:

I believe you have the right to request CCTV footage of yourself so why not ask for it. If only to put their nose out a bit. You never know they may invite a viewing at their premises and provide the opportunity to get to see the git who damaged the car. Nothing lost.
Rick

Would a Subject Access Request cover it?

[ferrisbueller]

skyebear said:

By any chance is your friend's car on a finance agreement?

As annoying as the damage is if they can live with it often come the time to hand the car back, the damage charges from the finance company can be reasonable.

Not on finance, no. Most likely outcome at present is that he's going to have to eat it. The damage is through the paint, so will need to be sorted.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Ask who their data controller is and submit a written subject access request. If they refuse report them to the ICO