the best policy?

[ochdamh]

I was reversing into a space in a very narrow street this morning, when I found myself idly wondering why the hatchback to my right was bouncing up and down. The noise like somebody squashing a biscuit tin gave it away. Being a complete numpty, I hadn't been watching my front end, and the wee hatch was firmly lodged on my bumper. In my half-asleep state I was fairly giving it some welly for the second or two while I couldn't figure out why I wasn't going anywhere , and that didn't help the outcome, which is a well-f**ked rear door for the hatchback and a nice two-tone bumper for me. (at this point I feel I must point out that 1. I was just moving motor off yellows into permit space, hence legit half-asleepness and 2. however ignominious, this is my first incident involving another vehicle in 15 years, m'lud) Anyway, I left a note with my details and skulked off. That was 8.30am and the note, I see, is still there. What I also see is that the car I hit is rather badly parked, quite far out into the (very narrow) street at an angle, and also sports a deep grimy crease across both doors and the boot about a foot above my handiwork. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Irresponsible (never mind about me!) owner, previously-disastered car, etc, etc. I tried to do the decent thing, but now I feel uneasy - the owner might try to take advantage of my honesty/stupidity and nail me for the whole lot. In any case how to separate out the existing damage from new, and put a figure on it?
Far be it from me to say it, but me scraping the car hasn't reallly made any odds to it. Therefore should I go and swipe the note while I still can? I do live on this street and there was a witness, but he also saw me write the note. I think. I'd be interested to hear any thoughts on this.

 

[Howard]

Best way to think of it is to imagine the other car was yours, would you like someone to run into it and try and get away with it ?

It might be a POS to you but maybe its all he can afford, perhaps he can't afford to fix the other dents, maybe the dents were in it already and thats why he bought it cheap ..... you just don't know

Own up, do the right thing..... if you've not had an accident in 15 years then you should have protected no-claims by now so nothing to lose ...

 

[ochdamh]

Nice one Howard. You're right. Apart from the fact that I'd be sh1tting on my own doorstep, it's karma, innit? also, you have the same car as me, so you must know what you're talkin about I have left the note be, and will face the consequences of my terrible deed.

 

[GrahamC230K]

I drove into a tatty fiesta once while parking. The owner was watching. I just looked at him and walked off. Both his and mine faces said it all, and the scrape I put on his car was nothing compared to the rest of it.

Personally, I would take some pics to prove the height of your damage, then swipe your note back. Just me.

 

[Howard]

So, Graham, you looked him square in the face and he did nothing ? I know what i would have done if it had been my car ......... but then i have cared about all the cars i have ever had, some people are just into cars and others not i guess.

Graham - you are a dirty rotten scoundrel !!! LOL !!

 

[PJH]

Personally, I would take some pics to prove the height of your damage, then swipe your note back. Just me.

I would take pics and hoped that it would rain and ruin the note.....

Edit:- If the car hasn't moved in a couple of days, I'd remove the note anyway.

 

[sparkyspost]

IMHO,

I think you did the right thing in putting a note there. However I would have been a bit cagey about it and said to come and give me a shout, maybe a pay-as-you-go mobile = expendable (sorry too many spy books/films), as you don't wanna be going through your insurance agency for something that the guy might not care about.
Or he could be a right b@st@rd and try it on or even just a mental case - theres plenty of them on day release!

You might also be able to give him 50quid rather than hundreds to get it fixed.
It might really be abandoned, and you don't want just anyone gettting your details.
Check the tax disc, if theres not one, then either they are dodgy or its abandoned.
Same for residents parking permit, and expiry dates.

I've been on the offending (your) side only once, shortly after passing my test, and in my eagerness to get going, I didn't keep an eye in my rear view mirror at the car parked on the street next door.
As I reversed out of the drive, for some reason, I didn't brake much, and allowed the car to continue rolling back as I changed into first, something I never did. Of course I rolled into the car behind, braking their rear light.

Went next door, as it was their visitor and sorted it out. Well my dad did.

You never know who might have been watching you.


I have however had a number of prangs into my cars over the years, the best being, whilst stopped at a roundabout, a lorry drove into the back of me, catching the back right half of my car and driving me into the car in front. He didn't even stop for the roundabout, and kept going disappearing without a trace.
A couple of grands worth of damage, and me with no more 'no claims bonus' on the insurance.

Anyway enough waffle from me....

Hope it works out for you.

Cheers

Sparky.

 

[ochdamh]

Hmmm. Looking at it in the cold grey light of dawn the situation seems quite trivial. The note's still there, the damage i caused doesn't look too bad... Its what you said, Sparky, about "you never know who might have been watching" that niggles me - my car sticks out like a sore thumb on my street, and its quite a curtain-twitching neighbourhood. Hopefully the busy-bodies will notice that I did have a conscience for a couple of days at least, as i'm going to remove the note tonight. If it's still there...

 

[GrahamC230K]

So, Graham, you looked him square in the face and he did nothing ? I know what i would have done if it had been my car ......... but then i have cared about all the cars i have ever had, some people are just into cars and others not i guess.

Graham - you are a dirty rotten scoundrel !!! LOL !!

LOL, it was more of a mutual look.

Mine said, doh, I can't believe I did that, but hang on, which one of the these dents did I actually make (scared my bumper removing the paint), his said, I don't know either, nor am I fussed, but that scratch on your car looks a shame!

 

[Cclass guy]

LOL, it was more of a mutual look.

Mine said, doh, I can't believe I did that, but hang on, which one of the these dents did I actually make (scared my bumper removing the paint), his said, I don't know either, nor am I fussed, but that scratch on your car looks a shame!

LOL

Hope ochdamh removed the note peacefully