door ding, caught them at it, how to resolve without insurance increase

DereksDontRun

DereksDontRun

DereksDontRun

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Hi, just after some advice the best way to proceed from the knowledgeable people here.

An elderly couple door-dinged me over Xmas, they were getting out of their car as we were returning to ours. I noticed a dent/chip on my car and asked them if they hit it and they admitted "I think I might have" and then they said they opened the door and the wind caught it. They then claimed I parked too close to them (in an unmarked field and, as mentioned earlier, they were parking as we were returning to our car - so almost an admission they parked too close?!?).

They were v keen not to leave details and claimed "it's only a dirty mark on an old car" (it's chipped down to primer, dented, marked with their car colour, and it's only a 2016 car...). I pushed and got their details.

I've got a couple repair quotes, both about £400 and I kinda fear they might not have that disposable at hand - but I'm also guessing their excess (and premium hit) may be more over the next 3 years.

If they unwilling/able to pay (I was going to offer the details of the repair place, so they're not dealing with me directly, and thinking I'm taking them for a ride) then I'm thinking about the insurance option, but I'm obviously concerned about the hit to my premium over the next 3? years. If it's an open and shut case like this, then would my paperwork still be claim-free, as it's "should" be all from their insurance? or is this a non-fault claim and likely to increase it more than £400 over the next few years?

I'm just trying to understand the situation before phoning them and presenting them options.
 
My 75 year old great aunt hit another car whilst parking and she just parked elsewhere instead, she was a terrible driver and I was always **** scared when a passenger in her car. She’s gone now RIP bit naughty really but I don’t think she cared.
 
Do you have an independent witness? If they don't play ball then you'd have to go down the insurance route and it's then your word against theirs. Your insurance company could come and take paint samples etc, depends how much effort they want to go to.

I would just make it clear that you've obtained a few repair quotes, if they're not happy with those then you'll have to pursue a claim on their insurance.
 
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Tbh I probably wouldn't bother. They've already been evasive so I highly doubt they will be stumping up £400, and going through insurance might just be a pia.
I once had an old guy open his door into the side of mine in a carpark, whilst I was sitting in it. He still denied it though!
 
£400 seems a lot for a door ding repair. If it’s your daily hack, get a mobile guy out to repair it for much less than that and move on with your life.
 
nlel1975 said:
My 75 year old great aunt hit another car whilst parking and she just parked elsewhere instead, she was a terrible driver and I was always **** scared when a passenger in her car. She’s gone now RIP bit naughty really but I don’t think she cared.
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i think that's summed these up - she was having a go at me for even mentioning it, as "at my age, there's more things to worry about than cars" - but 1) I'm not your age 2) whether it's through repair or loss of sales price, they've caused me a financial hit. TBH, the male driver was ok about it, apart from saying it was the wind that caught the door and not him; it was the female passenger sticking her oar in and telling him to not give details, and moan about my parking.

Semple said:
Do you have an independent witness?
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Sadly, the only witnesses were my partner and our toddler. I was busy trying to persuade the toddler into the car when I noticed the damage and as I was a little pre-occupied (and not wanting to swear or seem annoyed) so I didn't think to video them admitting fault, or try to get a 3rd party involved.

bainbridge said:
Tbh if they started flip flopping by saying I parked too close to them I'd be inclined to go straight to their insurers.
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Can I contact their insurer then? or do I need to ask him to approach them and admit he's hit me? I guess I'll phone him tomorrow and have a chat through with him to gauge the water.

Doobedoo said:
It’s an elderly couple and an accident . Just move on with your life.
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yes, I know... and the reality is that 90% of the time I wouldn't have caught them at it. But - 1) as mentioned earlier, whether it's through repair or sale's price, it's caused me a financial impact, 2) they couldn't even be bothered to say sorry, which annoyed me, so I don't want them to get away with it, only for them to feel impunity to do the same again to someone else.

tom_nieto said:
£400 seems a lot for a door ding repair. If it’s your daily hack, get a mobile guy out to repair it for much less than that and move on with your life.
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it's only about 1cm long, down to primer, with a dent on the door's crease - so I was guessing about 250-300. I phoned a couple mobile guys and they said they're only interested in paintless dent removal, where this needs painting. Both bodyshops I saw explained that they would need to paint about a 6" area but then lacquer the entire door (so that means all trim off and prepping the entire door), as the damage is right on the crease which could have been used as a blending edge. Both said it's about 5 hours labour (say £50/hour), plus materials, then VAT... So, I can see how it quickly becomes £400 - and a sign of how expensive things are...
 
don't you need to have contacted your insurance sooner, for complete credibility of your accusation ?
them parking close in an unmarked field does sound bizarre, whose land was it

... in marked parking bays, can't but believe the number of dings has increased with the width of modern cars, I don't stress on a ding these days.
 
Give them one opportunity to pay, if they don’t, contact their insurance.

Or just pay yourself. That’s all I’d do.

I’d probably just go via their insurance as point of principle due to their attitude, it probably wouldn’t impact my price significantly.
 
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DereksDontRun said:
I'm thinking about the insurance option, but I'm obviously concerned about the hit to my premium over the next 3? years.
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Can you not take their insurer to the Small Claims court? BTW it will be in the small print that you have to inform your own insurer of the incident.
 
jpaul said:
... in marked parking bays, can't but believe the number of dings has increased with the width of modern cars, I don't stress on a ding these days.
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It's why I always aim for an end bay where I can park right on the line, or if it's a kerb - cms from the kerb. Gives whoever parks next to me plenty of room to get out - although isn't foolproof as I've had idiots then also park their line which makes the gap between us no different than if I'd parked bang in the middle of the bay.
 
kona786 said:
Nah... Nail 'em to the wall.

They should respect other people's property.
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What if they have little money during these hard times we are experiencing. Some are already are struggling to heat their homes, is it worth it to potentially impact someone far worse than it has impacted you? It’ll cost very little to put right I think I was quoted £50 for a small dent by a paint less dent remover.
 
Doobedoo said:
What if they have little money during these hard times we are experiencing. Some are already are struggling to heat their homes, is it worth it to potentially impact someone far worse than it has impacted you? It’ll cost very little to put right I think I was quoted £50 for a small dent by a paint less dent remover.
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Manners don't cost a penny. Their attitude was uncalled for. Being old doesn't give them a free pass in life. A simple apology probably would have been enough.

I was exaggerating with my last response but people like that take the mick.
 
kona786 said:
Manners don't cost a penny. Their attitude was uncalled for. Being old doesn't give them a free pass in life. A simple apology probably would have been enough.

I was exaggerating with my last response but people like that take the mick.
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You weren’t even there so how would you know.
 
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