Exaggerated damage
Discussion
I pulled out of a spot the other night and might have caught another car. He had really boxed me in and as I got out, the front of my car caught the skip on the other side. I assumed that had caused the slight noise and thought nothing more of it, as my car is old and not particularly pretty. As I pulled away, I caught sight of a slight dent in the rear bumper of a 2008 Audi A6.
I checked my car and there is a small scuff at the front, where the skip hit it and nothing on the back where the other car would have made contact.
I managed to get his conact details from a landlord because he is a neighbour. I asked him if that dent had been there before as there was a possibilty that I had caused it.
He admitted that he had not seen the dent and he would check and get back to me. He has now come back with a MASSIVE quote, in the thousands. I am so annoyed with myself. I just think that he is taking the mickey. I was concerned because he quite clearly has a car that he cannot afford, on finance and I was willing to pay what I thought was a justifiable amount to make sure that he was not out of pocket.
What can I do? Refuse to pay (I cannot afford the large quote, in the thousands)? I do not (for obvious reasons) want to go through insurance. Given the fact that he had not seen the damage before, I may just deny it, but that seems underhand and similar behaviour to that which he is displaying.
I checked my car and there is a small scuff at the front, where the skip hit it and nothing on the back where the other car would have made contact.
I managed to get his conact details from a landlord because he is a neighbour. I asked him if that dent had been there before as there was a possibilty that I had caused it.
He admitted that he had not seen the dent and he would check and get back to me. He has now come back with a MASSIVE quote, in the thousands. I am so annoyed with myself. I just think that he is taking the mickey. I was concerned because he quite clearly has a car that he cannot afford, on finance and I was willing to pay what I thought was a justifiable amount to make sure that he was not out of pocket.
What can I do? Refuse to pay (I cannot afford the large quote, in the thousands)? I do not (for obvious reasons) want to go through insurance. Given the fact that he had not seen the damage before, I may just deny it, but that seems underhand and similar behaviour to that which he is displaying.
minerva said:
I pulled out of a spot the other night and might have caught another car. He had really boxed me in and as I got out, the front of my car caught the skip on the other side. I assumed that had caused the slight noise and thought nothing more of it, as my car is old and not particularly pretty. As I pulled away, I caught sight of a slight dent in the rear bumper of a 2008 Audi A6.
I checked my car and there is a small scuff at the front, where the skip hit it and nothing on the back where the other car would have made contact.
I managed to get his conact details from a landlord because he is a neighbour. I asked him if that dent had been there before as there was a possibilty that I had caused it.
He admitted that he had not seen the dent and he would check and get back to me. He has now come back with a MASSIVE quote, in the thousands. I am so annoyed with myself. I just think that he is taking the mickey. I was concerned because he quite clearly has a car that he cannot afford, on finance and I was willing to pay what I thought was a justifiable amount to make sure that he was not out of pocket.
What can I do? Refuse to pay (I cannot afford the large quote, in the thousands)? I do not (for obvious reasons) want to go through insurance. Given the fact that he had not seen the damage before, I may just deny it, but that seems underhand and similar behaviour to that which he is displaying.
Sounds like y'man is taking the piss - I bet he's after the money to "set it right" - Did you take a picture of the damage?I checked my car and there is a small scuff at the front, where the skip hit it and nothing on the back where the other car would have made contact.
I managed to get his conact details from a landlord because he is a neighbour. I asked him if that dent had been there before as there was a possibilty that I had caused it.
He admitted that he had not seen the dent and he would check and get back to me. He has now come back with a MASSIVE quote, in the thousands. I am so annoyed with myself. I just think that he is taking the mickey. I was concerned because he quite clearly has a car that he cannot afford, on finance and I was willing to pay what I thought was a justifiable amount to make sure that he was not out of pocket.
What can I do? Refuse to pay (I cannot afford the large quote, in the thousands)? I do not (for obvious reasons) want to go through insurance. Given the fact that he had not seen the damage before, I may just deny it, but that seems underhand and similar behaviour to that which he is displaying.
Failing that you could suggest that you go through insurance instead as you might find that by doing that, it keeps it all honest.
if you go down the insurance route, which you will probably have to do, then tell the insurance company everything of the damage!
My g/f got done a few years ago. She pulled out of a side road and hit someone slightly. They exchanged details she told insurance company then she forgot about it...
Anyway come renew time they gave her a
quote.
She called up and asked why and was tld that the guy she hit claimed for injuries, tow truck, excessive damage etc... This was not the case, the guy was not injured, the car did not need a tow as he srove away and minor cosmetic damage!
The insurance paid out thousands!!!
Can you go back to the same place and try look for his car and take pictures? This will realy help.
My g/f got done a few years ago. She pulled out of a side road and hit someone slightly. They exchanged details she told insurance company then she forgot about it...
Anyway come renew time they gave her a
quote.She called up and asked why and was tld that the guy she hit claimed for injuries, tow truck, excessive damage etc... This was not the case, the guy was not injured, the car did not need a tow as he srove away and minor cosmetic damage!
The insurance paid out thousands!!!
Can you go back to the same place and try look for his car and take pictures? This will realy help.
PLaying devil's advocate for just a second...
Regardless of whether you think it could be repaired/touched in, the bloke didn't damage it so why should he go down that route?
If you can't afford it, claim through your insurance. They'll inspect it and see if he's taking the mickey or not.
Frustrating, but you don't have a lot of choice. Just because he didn't see the dent, doesn't mean he has to put up with it.
FWIW, I've just had my Golf repaired on insurance for a non-fault claim. New rear bumper, NSR quarter and paint. £2k just for the repair. Then add hire car, etc.
minerva said:
As I pulled away, I caught sight of a slight dent in the rear bumper of a 2008 Audi A6.
Slight dent? That'll be a new bumper then. On a 2008 Audi, they are not cheap.Regardless of whether you think it could be repaired/touched in, the bloke didn't damage it so why should he go down that route?
minerva said:
I was concerned because he quite clearly has a car that he cannot afford, on finance
How do you know that? Do you know the guy and his finances or...?minerva said:
What can I do? Refuse to pay (I cannot afford the large quote, in the thousands)? I do not (for obvious reasons) want to go through insurance. Given the fact that he had not seen the damage before, I may just deny it, but that seems underhand and similar behaviour to that which he is displaying.
You can't do anything. You admitted to the bloke that you damaged his car and now he's come back with an expensive quote, you've gone cold.If you can't afford it, claim through your insurance. They'll inspect it and see if he's taking the mickey or not.
Frustrating, but you don't have a lot of choice. Just because he didn't see the dent, doesn't mean he has to put up with it.
FWIW, I've just had my Golf repaired on insurance for a non-fault claim. New rear bumper, NSR quarter and paint. £2k just for the repair. Then add hire car, etc.
Many years ago I enquired to the price of a Vauxhall Cavalier front bumper, and even back then there was no change out of £600.
It's 2008 Audi so he has gone back to the main dealer. Bumpers are replaced, not repaired, so just for the bumper it could be £1,000. If you put a dent in the bumper it's believable you may of possibly dented the real quarter. Add the cost of a similar size hire car and it all adds up.
Bit miffed at your comments at how he runs a car on finance he can't afford? For all you know it's paid for.
It's 2008 Audi so he has gone back to the main dealer. Bumpers are replaced, not repaired, so just for the bumper it could be £1,000. If you put a dent in the bumper it's believable you may of possibly dented the real quarter. Add the cost of a similar size hire car and it all adds up.
Bit miffed at your comments at how he runs a car on finance he can't afford? For all you know it's paid for.
Thank you for your replies.
I do not mean to cause any offence with the "finance" jibe. I think I was in a bit of a temper. I think that I will carry a camera around with me in future.
I think that the general jist of advice here is, as always, take it on the chin and do what you know is the correct think. I guess that is what I will do.
I do not mean to cause any offence with the "finance" jibe. I think I was in a bit of a temper. I think that I will carry a camera around with me in future.
I think that the general jist of advice here is, as always, take it on the chin and do what you know is the correct think. I guess that is what I will do.
Brand new genuine front bumper, ALL new clips, fittings, screws, brackets, gaskets, seals, bumper paint, bonnet stripped back to metal and paint, splitter paint, doors back to metal and painted, wings back to metal and painted, cost me £2,300 from a very reputable bodyshop that did a top class job.
£3,000 for what he needs sorting is a rip off of the highest magnitude.
£3,000 for what he needs sorting is a rip off of the highest magnitude.
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