Returned to my work car park one night last week to find the rear bumper of my car badly scratched at one side and covered in turquoise paint. As I work for a bus company with such coloured buses it did not take a genius to work out that one of my workmates had managed managed to hit it whilst driving a bus (the car park is right next to the bus depot entrance).
As it was late at night I left it too the next day before reporting it to the manager, not unexpectedly the culprit had not owned up to (or may not have realised) causing any damage.
My manager hummed and harred a bit, asking if I had any witnesses etc, almost implying that I may have been the offender! Eventually he asked me to get a couple of estimates for repair but stressed he did not want it to be "an insurance job" (i.e cheap)
As the bumper is colour coded it needs a total respray, cheapest quote I got was £100 + VAT. Went back to the manager with this figure and he more or less refused outright to pay it, claiming it was far too high (yes it is not cheap but it is my company who will be paying, not him!) He then offered to pay half, take it or leave it. At this point I left his office, seething! That was earlier today.
What makes me sick is the fact that if it had been anyone other than an employee they would have paid out without the slightest hesitation for the repairs. I am thinking about getting my own insurance involved to claim from my companies insurers, but the fact that I do not have any witnesses may count against me. I have however taken photos of the bumper with the offending coloured paint clear to see.
Any advice on how to take it from here?
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make that (i.e expensive)
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How many buses do you have?
Might it be worth looking around them for any signs of your car's paint on them? Or would that be, like I suspect, looking for a needle in a haystack?
Good luck getting it sorted.
Blue
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A few weeks ago, a visitor called at our office to see a colleague whose car had been poorly repaired by said visitor's bodyshop (poorly hammered our front wing, but insurance company billed for a new one, and insurance company also billed for a new rear bumper assembly when none had been fitted as it had been a frontal impact!)
On leaving our car park, the visitor reversed in to another colleague's car, looked around to see if anyone had noticed, then proceeded to drive off!
Before he got to the gate however, he'd been cornered by a group of colleagues who'd heard the crunch, and legged it out of the office!
The visitor now has two cars to repair, and an insurance company taking him to court.
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Unfortunately there are 72 buses on site and most have minor scrapes and all four corners of their bumpers!
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Miller, sorry to put a bit of a dampener on things but most companies have a disclaimer to the effect that you park in the car park at your own risk. Certainly damage caused to vehicles in our car park by company vehicles 'unknown' has never been paid out on. Plus you may even find that your own insurer will not be interested either as you are presumably on private property.
I would make some low key enquiries and if the scenario above applies in your case I would go back to your boss and snatch his hand off for the 50% offered before he has a chance to change his mind!
Cockle
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Such disclaimers have proven to be less than watertight if the actual business (in this case the bus company at the hands of a colleague) actually caused the damage.
Most businesses are unaware of this and some are only too well aware. For example, a builder's merchant I use has one saying words to the effect of "Not responsible for any damage to customers' property however caused". However, if one of their employees backed into a customer's parked van, then civil law would hold them liable.
I would suggest you discuss this with your insurers' uninsured loss recovery service. I suspect you are below the excess amount at £100. If you're a member of a union take it up with them
I heard of a great story at my old place of work. A union member was allowed to leave his trailer on site for a while (why he had to I don't know).
When the trailer went missing he politely asked via the union for £50 contribution towards its replacement as he felt the company had at least some responsibility for this and its removal had possibly been sanctioned by a manager. The HR manager told him where to go for his £50 (turnover of site alone some £60 million per annum).
In a subsequent Union/Management meeting the issue was raised again and the HR manager said to the union "Well, what are you going to do - sue us?"
To which is boss said to him "Actually they are!"
The shop steward dealing with this was contacted by a senior legal officer at HQ and proposed an offer of £500 to avoid costs and hassle of solicitors.
This was put to the member who erm....
accepted!
Hugo
"Forever indebted to experience of others"
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Miller,
Having worked in many bus garages I feel qualified enough to comment.
I have fortunately never been the recipient of any such damage to my vehicle, but I know a few colleagues that have, and I can't remember a single occasion where the company concerned did not cough up for the damage.
Can you narrow down what time it may have happened and maybe then look through the allocation for that day?
At least then you may be able to work out which vehicles were or weren't in the depot at the time.
Even if most vehicles have damage you may well be able to trace the one with recent scuffs especially if they're not washed daily.
There will be VOR vehicles that should be considered too, ie those being shifted about by the spanner monkeys and garage staff.
Another obvious thing that is often overlooked is CCTV?
I think you should get the depot union involved, assuming you're a member and also assuming they have any clout!
Also, ask about, the culprit may have confessed his/her guilt to another colleague.
I know it's not the end of the world but I share your annoyance, I'd be bouncing if it had happened to my motor.
Good luck and keep us posted.
PP
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Thanks for all the replies and advice. I will be talking to the union rep tomorrow for more info.
To be honest I am not really too bothered about the actual damage and the associated costs of fixing it, its the damn principal of the thing, they think because I work for them I will not "rock the boat" - more fool them! I will keep you posted.
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Miller
Any accident in the workplace should be reported.
This is no exception. Get it down in the accident book. Although there was no injury, damage has ocurred and the Health and Safety Rep (Union) should be informed.
Your manager won't like this but $!^ him! It just shows to what level the situation is being managed.
In addition get a photo of the damage and share it with the Union Health and Safety reps.
There was a vehicle accident at work when it was snowing and as the Health and Safety rep for our union I was entitled to investigate and report on it. It was great! I walked in to see the head of security and explained that I needed to use a camera on site for the function of H and S rep. There was nothing anyone could do to stop me. Photos were taken and sent to H and S officer, HR Director, Site Services Manager etc etc.
The company had no choice but to act. I had successfully embarresed them into a corner after repeated attempts by several senior employees and managers had produced no results at all.
The result was a bad weather procedure involving gritting of the road in the event of snow etc.
Hugo
"Forever indebted to experience of others"
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