I parked up a some local shops a couple of days ago and went to the bakers, when I came back out there was a fella crouching down by the N/S front wing, I was about to say something when he stood up and asked if it was my car which I confirmed, he then said a woman had just reversed into it and driven off pretty bloody quickly (his words) and he didn't get her reg No she went that quick, all he could give me was an 03 plate silver Seat Leon.

 

The result

 

 

I had in my mind of using a paintless dent removal place, so yesterday I went around a couple of places, turns out it needs a new wing as it's pinched two panels together by the door plus near the top of the wing has deformed (which I hadn't noticed).

 

I've had her for just over 12 months and not had so much as a scratch, now some **** comes along and damages my pride and joy without a second thought 

 

 

I went back to said shops yesterday and low and behold CCTV camera's everywhere, happy days, however they've only just been put up and the system isn't up and running yet.

 

What really pis*es me of is that I've not made a claim in over 15 years, but more importantly the paint will never match exactly the existing even if it is flashed into the door  :'(

Its a **** when that happens but it seems to be the typical response these days.

Dissapear quickly & let them sort it out rather than leaving a note.

 

From experience, CCTV doesnt help you unless there is a serious crime taken place.

If you can track the operator/owner of the CCTV which is the first challenge, they'll usually tell you "it wasn't recording" or "its not working".

That's bloody infuriating! But on the bright side it could have been a lot worse, and PDR will get that straight won't it?

Front & rear dash-cams, combined with always-on 12v sockets can be very helpful in such cases. I know that it is after the horse has bolted, but worth considering.

Edited 17 May, 201610 yr by Orville

I have a dash cam but it's not wired to remain permanently on, it does have G sensing but the bump obviously not enough to activate it. 

Front & rear dash-cams, combined with always-on 12v sockets can be very helpful in such cases. I know that it is after the horse has bolted, but worth considering.

Depends, unless it pointed out the side it might still not pick up the offender in this case.......

Some dingbat has trollied my 8 month old VRS. Took a gouge out of the front corner of the bumper and also scraped some wing into the bargain. It's a Quartz Grey, so the white plastic coming through looks awesome!! Not. Was bubbling when i came back to the car. Now I'm like "what are you going to do?" Go get a smart repair priced up.

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Depends, unless it pointed out the side it might still not pick up the offender in this case.......

Most dash cams cover >140deg angles. Unless the car both approached and departed at a perpendicular, it would have been recorded.

Edited 18 May, 201610 yr by Orville

Yeah I appreciate that as I have a front and rear myself, but looking where that damage is I can quite easily see how it could be a black hole for the cameras depending on where and how parked.....

@Webweasel I doubt that could be PDR myself, I don't think pulling it out would be possible to satisfaction - though wonder about reversing the crease from the other side with equal and oppossite force to a point you might barely notice the damage?

 

To be fair hes been told it can't be done by PDF, but I think they could "have a go" but clearly don't want to be told they won't be paid because his expectations will be 100% not 99% or less

 

On that note, I think I'd still be prepared to remove out the inner arch and see if its possible to remove or just work on the wing myself and see what I could do it reverse the damage 

Wouldn't be the first time, I've had 2 very acceptable repairs at home for quite spectacularly awful looking damage.

 

And after all, the same **** might come along in a week and do exactly the same thing again!

I'm away for a couple of days now for a wedding, so after the weekend I'm going to contact a couple more PDR companies and see what the say.

 

As I said in my (rather long) first post, I don't really want it painted as it'll never quite match properly, hence I want a PDR.

Well people are basically monkeys with updated software...some part of the population refuses the upload though.

Good example I had this morning. It's bloody difficult to park where I live and each spot is precious. I saw an older Golf parking perfectly in the center of 2 spots, to block both. Lady rolled out of it (50's, curly hair, solid make-up mask on face, etc) and when I attempted kind: "excuse me, maybe two cars could park here, would consider...." I got interrupted in 1/2 of word with :moon:   and I guess something about my mother too...not sure - my language skills failed here lol

How do you respond to that? I have no doubt that when such cow slams into your car she would rather kick your mirror off for "being parked on the way where she wanted to go" and flee.

A bit of a long shot I know but maybe ask a couple of shopkeepers if they know a woman driving a car of that description? Or just drive slowly round the neighbourhood a few times to see if you can see the car?

 

Someone did that to my last car so I have loads of sympathy.

I did think about that, but without evidence I'd probably just get laughed at, where it happened isn't the best of areas to say the least if you know what I mean, the sort of area where certain peoples gene line should be terminated!

Not Bridgnorth?! My friend lives there!