Car keyed at work

Business Man · 15 Jan 2016 at 14:52

So I got back home from work early today to find a scratch right down the passenger side of my car, it stretches from rear door to the front wheel arch.

Now I know this has happened in the works car park because it wasn't there this morning and I drove straight home.

The thing is I'm not back in work now until Monday so I'm stuffed with getting this sorted until then.

Another issue is that our company has leased this car park from another firm next to ours, I'm not sure if the area is covered by cctv but we have been told to use this car park to reduce congestion because the number of people on site at different shift times.

I'm not sure where I stand with this as I've not had to deal with anything like this before. Would my work be liable for any damage caused on site? I'm just hoping the little scrote is on cctv, if not where do I stand with this?

vanandjuanunited · 15 Jan 2016 at 14:54

If no evidence of it being done how do you expect to prove when it was done

Diddums x · 15 Jan 2016 at 14:55

Yep, if you've got no evidence of it being done you're screwed.

Burnsy2023 · 15 Jan 2016 at 15:27

Business Man said:
Would my work be liable for any damage caused on site? I'm just hoping the little scrote is on cctv, if not where do I stand with this?

No your work wouldn't be liable. Even if you do identify the person that did it, you're not guaranteed to get any compensation.

Looks like you'll have to claim on your insurance.

Business Man · 15 Jan 2016 at 16:59

That's not the news I was hoping for. What if the car park as no signs saying, cars left at own risk? I have been told to have a look and get photos if no signs are displayed. If we're being told to use the car park, then surely they accept responsibility for any damage to our cars, no?

I'm hoping whoever has keyed my car is on film, no one would have had to pass my car because I parked it at the end of where it's coned off, so whoever's done it would would have had to go out the way

Anyway, a work colleague has managed to rub a lot of the scratch out with fine grade paper and polish, he use to work in a body shop so it's made me feel better at least.

I know the on site maintenance manager so he will check cctv for me plus he gets my mate who polished the car to do the painting on site so he can vouch for the scratch.
I have also got photos of it before to prove it.

If I don't get a satisfactory answer though I will be parking in front of reception where the boss parks, I know that's covered by cctv. I refuse to go through the insurance because of some rogue scrote nor do I feel I should have to pay for something that's happened at my work

teenwolf · 15 Jan 2016 at 17:04

So what's the full story here.
There's must be something your not telling us if it's happened at work.

dholdi · 15 Jan 2016 at 17:06

That did occur to me too.

Business Man · 15 Jan 2016 at 17:12

That's the thing, I don't know who's done it or why. I have not upset anyone. I was parked correctly in the bay. Either mistaken car or someone with a chip on the shoulder who's taken it out my car.

I don't know if it's happened to anyone else until Monday but they better prey if they work at our place that their not on film or I find out who they are first. It's the worst thing someone can do. I was raging when I seen it

KiNgPiN83 · 15 Jan 2016 at 17:29

Could it be a careless lady(Maybe a dude?!) with a handbag with metal decoration/detail or something that could've scratched it as they squeezed between cars? I know its not the same but someone pushed my mirror in the other day in my work car park walking between cars. (Still annoyed me however.. I can manage to walk past cars without doing that so why cant they?!)

Business Man · 15 Jan 2016 at 17:43

No its definitely been keyed, the scratch goes from faint to really deep, my mate said straight away it's been keyed. The direction as well shows they approached the car from the rear to the front which nobody should have been behind my car

I'm thinking of getting cameras now for my car, hopefully I'll get them on film if it's someone who does have an issue with me

Burnsy2023 · 15 Jan 2016 at 20:49

Business Man said:
That's not the news I was hoping for. What if the car park as no signs saying, cars left at own risk? I have been told to have a look and get photos if no signs are displayed. If we're being told to use the car park, then surely they accept responsibility for any damage to our cars, no?

No, you have to prove negligence. The signs are pretty much meaningless.

You do realise they don't have to provide you with parking right?

IAmATeaf · 15 Jan 2016 at 21:33

What car is it or did I miss that bit? My work take no responsibility for parked cars as I'm sure do a lot of other works car parks else you'd get all sorts of claims I'd suspect.

Business Man · 15 Jan 2016 at 23:11

The car is a 56 Fiesta so it might not be as flashy as some cars owners on this site but still.. The car as been kept pristine since I've owned it.

So how do I prove negligence? What should I be looking for? While you say they don't have to provide parking then it would be difficult for anyone to get to the site so it's in there interest. A company that won some large contracts in producing smart meters and turning over millions isn't going to lose sleep over a few hundred quid if it happens again. I can't afford to be paying out the excess over someone's stupidity, if it were an accident on the other hand I wouldn't mind as much but someone as done this maliciously so they could do it again.

One · 15 Jan 2016 at 23:27

KiNgPiN83 said:
Could it be a careless lady(Maybe a dude?!) with a handbag with metal decoration/detail or something that could've scratched it as they squeezed between cars? I know its not the same but someone pushed my mirror in the other day in my work car park walking between cars. (Still annoyed me however.. I can manage to walk past cars without doing that so why cant they?!)

fat

jono_astra · 16 Jan 2016 at 00:06

tickedon · 16 Jan 2016 at 23:35

Business Man said:
The car is a 56 Fiesta so it might not be as flashy as some cars owners on this site but still.. The car as been kept pristine since I've owned it.

So how do I prove negligence? What should I be looking for? While you say they don't have to provide parking then it would be difficult for anyone to get to the site so it's in there interest. A company that won some large contracts in producing smart meters and turning over millions isn't going to lose sleep over a few hundred quid if it happens again. I can't afford to be paying out the excess over someone's stupidity, if it were an accident on the other hand I wouldn't mind as much but someone as done this maliciously so they could do it again.

Personally, I would say you are wasting your time trying to get you work to pay for this.

Some basic info is available at http://www.thompsons.law.co.uk/fact...amage-employees-belongings-work-factsheet.pdf

Assuming it isn't too deep, I'd hope a decent body shop should be able to get this fixed for you at a reasonable rate, if you want to avoid going via insurance.

ci_newman · 17 Jan 2016 at 09:20

You have zero chance in claiming this back from work. Your only chance is to identify the scrote on CCTV and attempt to claim against the person directly

Business Man · 17 Jan 2016 at 13:16

Ok, thanks anyway for your advice. I'm thinking of getting cameras for my car now