Just got back to my car after a 12 hour shift to find some fu**er has driven into the n/s/f corner, denting the wing, bonnet and smashing the indicator!

No details left, nothing.

Now, I know road traffic law and it wasn't a road or public place, so they it can't be reported as a non-stop collision.

Has anyone had anyhting like this happen to them? Where did you stand in terms of losing your NCB/paying excess?

I remember when I made a theft claim a few years back, I ended up not paying the excess despite the reapirs bing more than the excess, and no offender being caught

Not sure now what to do :confused:

Do I -

1) Claim, lose my 4 years NCB (possibly), and pay excess

Look round the parked cars in work tomorrow for another car exhibiting some of your paint colour on the bumper, proberbly a corner and track down the owner. Tell them you have a witness, and to give you their details.

Firstly I would get to a bodyshop and see what the cost would be

ask your insurance company about MIB (motor insurance bureau)

they have been set up to aid people just like yourself?

try them, it's worth a go

adam

Look round the parked cars in work tomorrow for another car exhibiting some of your paint colour on the bumper, proberbly a corner and track down the owner. Tell them you have a witness, and to give you their details.

Unfortunately not as easy as that - it's not my work car park, but one that I am allowed to park in, which actually belongs to the local college. They do have a security guard but he finishes at about 4.30-5, and it could have happened after that.

Going to check with him tomorrow just in case though. Also lucky enough to be in a position to view CCTV from the town centre, so fingers crossed they may have caught it.

Firstly I would get to a bodyshop and see what the cost would be

Think its going to be quite high - definitely need a new front wing, possibly bonnet as well, too dark to see any other damage, but bumper looked out of alignment as well - hopefully easy to sort that one though

Things are looking up.

After checking CCTv at the car park and from the town centre, no joy and I was feeling a bit :(

Just walked out of work to see a white minibus reversing right where my car was yesterday. Damage to n/s/r corner, with a big bright red paint mark (colour of my Octy) and missing paint (just like the paint chips I found on my car!!)

Driver admits also driving it into the car park yesterday, hitting the hedge next to my car, but doesn't remember hitting my car at all. Coincidence? I hope not!!

Got his reg no and name, and reported it at the local nick straight away, he's been NIP'd for failing to stop and failing to report an accident, hopefully being interviewed next week about whether he accepts liability or not.

Downer - reported to insurance company - if he doesn't accept liability and it can't be proved it was that minibus, I stand to lose 2 yrs NCB and pay my excess totalling

You might be able to fix it for less than that without going through the insurance company, keeping your NCB. I doubt he'd admit to it as that would be also admitting to failing to stop/report, but they might get him to compromise and payout anyway. Especially if it isn't his vehicle.

I assume it isn't a red-painted hedge...!

lol! no, not red-painted. The paint left on my car is blatantly his though, and each piece is about the size of a £2 coin (have about 5 pieces that size) so here's hoping!

Im amazed the Plod are interested, I had the same thing in a Hotel car park a few years ago, definately knew which car had done it due to the paint left but the Local police said sorry, private property, not interested & the owner just denied it, luckily it was a company car so did not have any financial implications for us but was really hacked of.

If you end up having to pay for it & are certain of the total extent of the damage try a local body shop for a cash job using s/hand panels, its more common than you think to repair cars this way, especially in the s/hand motor trade & even on very new cars, look for one of the smaller independent bodyshops

Andy,

I really hope i'm wrong, but by you actually reporting it to your insurance company, you may have already lost some, if not all of your NCB, even though you haven't actually made a claim. :thumbdwn:

This happened to a work collegue of mine who had his car broken into and the stereo nicked. He rang his insurance company to find out whether he could claim through his insurance. He decided to keep his NCB and get the work done himself, then 6 months later his insurance renewal comes through and guess what - his NCB has vanished!

He played up **** with them and I think they re-instated his NCB, but it took several weeks and many phone calls.

Might be worth you following this up with your insurance company and if possible, get them to put it in writing.

Also, don't know what area you live in, but I can recommend a very good bodywork repair place in Colwick, Nottinghamshire.

My company uses him for minor bobywork jobs on company cars and I took my wifes BMW there a few months back after she reversed into a car ( ) and damaged the near side rear corner of her bumper - This guy made a cracking job of it, colour matched and everything.

I'll have a look and see if I can dig out his details, and post them on here for you.

Regards,

Paul

Thanks Paul, unfortunately might be a bit too far for me, but post away and I'll see what happens.

Stuart - I think they're interested because its a public car park, not a private one, so the guy can possibly be done for failing to stop/report an accident, and even driving without due care and attention. The Road Traffic Act legislation for collisions only covers public roads or public places, not private car parks unfortunately

Andy,

Car Body Repairs place I was on about is as follows:

Richard White

R W White

Unit 29

Trent South Industrial Park

Nottingham

NG2 4EQ

Tel: 0115 911 9770

It is only a small one man band type set up, of the type seen in every little industrial estate up and down the country, but I have used this place twice now, once for company car after door lock was smashed and once for the wifes car. Both times I was more than impressed with the work, and I would have no hesitation in using him again.

Hope this helps.

Paul.