I'm not out for praise. I wish I'd taken a photo of the damage to her car now. She actually got out in the end and still said she didn't touch it - funny how she had to move forward a bit and then reverse again to get out!
The other car belongs to a member of staff. I have suggested he tries to get it flagged as exceeding 2 hours parking if possible. Cheeky but all the penalty she may get. Although I have a photo of her reversing her car next to his and the damage matches. Police not too interested though apparently.
Actually apart from only minor damage, is this not driving off without reporting?
They may have an idea of how to trace her... I don't know how but I bet it involves CCTV, Clubcards, checkouts used etc.
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Exactly what I've done before and will do again. The perpetrator then knows the victim's got a witness and it smooths everything.
I just wish one day someone would do the same for me for the numerous times I've come back to find my car damaged.
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Happened to me not long ago in Stafford town centre pay and display. Got back to my car and there was a red mark all along the n/s/r bumper. No note, no nothing. Just lucky it came out with t-cut. But if I saw someone else do it and drive off I would absolutely get the number and give it to the owner of the one they'd just damaged. No question.
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Well done Rob, I would have done the same and if I was the shop worker I would be asking police to pursue failing to stop. Bit vague if driver claims she didn't know, which, silly as it sounds, is plausible.
Think this will fall into category of police won't do anything unless harrassed into dealing with it.
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I am still astounded that despite me seeing what happened they drove off saying they didn't touch the other car. If I hadn't been there then nothing would be known about the driver. Great example to set her son in the passenger seat - damage another car and lie.
But maybe we stereo type some car drivers for a reason? She drove a MB E280 Estate on an 07 plate. Anyway the police are aware. As no doubt will the husband later.
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Great example to set her son in the passenger seat - damage another car and lie.
During my brief and inglorious career as a schoolteacher, one of the boys in my class told me blandly one Monday that he and his father had been sailing on the Solent at the weekend, and had stolen the echo-sounder from an unattended boat at anchor.
He was a nice child of 12 or 13 who had always seemed quite well brought up compared to some of the others.
This wasn't last year though, it was in about 1961. If we were that rotten then it's a pretty safe bet we are worse now. Tchah!
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I did the same last year when I saw an escort scrape the whole length of a mint but aging Saab convertible on Morrisons car park Nantwich, several attacks with exactly the same steering lock on until free, she spotted me writing her number into my phone and came accross just as the Saab owner returned.
I surprises myself really by getting involved, I must be getting old :o(
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I am glad there's someone looking out for people on Morrison's Nantwich, that's where I often park when the car park revenue folk aren't about! I am poor: we have no car parking space. : )
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Hang on, haven't you a) Seen the incident; b) Got a picture of the car that damaged the other; c) Been in touch with the owner of the second car?
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In slow moving traffic around "Scotch Corner" Knightsbridge, last week, bus pulled out (past the Candy & Candy new development that has shut the road for - what? - two years rather than the few months anticipated) and clonked a MINI being driven by two girls (OK, one girl and one passenger).
Incident viewed by my passenger.
Two girls bemused, bus driver couldn't care less. I told my passenger to write down name and phone number and pass it to the girls as a witness. 48 hours later bus company calls.
Not the first time I've done this; I always hope somebody would do the same for me.
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FT I have done all that and ready to be a witness. I wish I'd stopped her moving though before getting her to leave details if I could?
The issue is with the police but the other driver needs to fill in forms etc.
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The other topic for another thread....
... if the supermarket employee had not parked in a space so close to the supermarket door would this have happened? Should he have not used a less risky space? :-) In fact someone more needy could have used the space used.
So much for the two hour parking limit - his car was near the doors all day. And when I came out another two MB E Class cars were parked next to it. Small world.
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well done rtj70 I did exactly the same thing a year ago when I saw a chap in a tesco's car park get his front bumper hooked under the wheel arch of a ford focus & after 3 attempts he freed himself & drove off. I left a note under the screen & it turned out to belong to a young girl ( first car ) & only had it 1 week! she was devasted & the damage was nasty. Police came & took a statement & the chap was prosecuted so good result.
When I park now i reverse in & leave my in car camera running!
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6/7 mths ago looking down on to the carpark, near Linlithgow Loch.
A banger Mitsubishi reversed, in the empty carpark, and dunted a 2yr old Jaguar moving it back and bashing the bumper and wing.
Left a note with the reg number of the Spacewagen & my phone number.
Owner phoned me and subsquentlyI answered a phone call from his insurer.
3rd party was not getting away with it from my viewpoint
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Well I don't want the driver at fault to get away with it either. What if it was my car when I wasn't there. The fact she drove on 07 MB E280CDi and hit a Y Reg Astra may make her think she is above the law or something. I wonder how she'd feel if it was a banger that damaged her car :-)
Lucky the other driver cannot find out where she lives I guess. Per paint is on his car. His is on her car. His can be fixed by a callout to a scratch/bump remover. Her MB will cost a lot more to fix. Karma.
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I would make sure the driver of the damaged car got the other car's reg no, and I would make a statement if asked.
If possible, I would avoid contact with the driver of the other car.
Best to let him/her find out their details have been passed on when a letter arrives a few days later, or there's a knock on the door.
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what would i do?
use minimum force to make a citizens arrest, if they resist use a bit more minimum force
drag them down the local county court (dont waste your time ringing the police as they will be too busy out doing folk for 35 in a 30) and demand to see a judge, if the county court is shut (maybe its a bank holiday weekend) keep them detained until it open
if only more people used this approach...
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use minimum force to make a citizens arrest if they resist use a bit more minimum force
I wouldn't advise that. I'm not sure if the offence of driving off is sufficiently serious to permit a citizens arrest (I think an offence has to have a maximum period of imprisonment above X years, theft is OK, because the maximum is 7 years).
Even if you can legally invoke a citizens arrest, you open yourself up to injury and/or claims of assault, all for a damaged car.
Far better to report them, and then have them have to deal with the police.
I agree with the above, let them think they have gotten away with it, and get the police involved, rather than letting them off the hook, by giving them a chance to leave their details.
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Hard to avoid contact - I assumed they were stopping at first. But no they were freeing their car to try to reverse again. She couldn't initially reverse due to the other car being in contact with hers. But she didn't touch it... hmmm.
Anyway it's up to police and insurance now but I'd be happy to appear in court if need be. It won't come to that.
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PS I did also call the (non-emergency) police number to make sure my complaint gets matched to the drivers. But a form needs to be completed first. I just wish I had thought and had time to photo the damage to the Merc. Not that she will have it fixed that soon.
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I watched a smartly dressed young woman mutilating another car with hers in very similar circumstances in a multi storey car park some years ago. She then proceeded to drive off towards the exit barrier at which there was a queue. Her window was down ready to use the exit machine so I strolled over and calmly asked her if she had any intention of leaving a note for the driver of the car she had damaged. She told me to "stop four letters well stressing" I believe, which I wasn't yet and then to "four letters off" as why was I bothering about some "four letter's car" who wasn't "four letters well" there.
To which I replied ( truthfully ) that I was the owner of the car she had scraped and that I was disappointed in her attitude but that I was sure the insurance company would be in touch......
;-)
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About 10 minutes before this I had seen someone pull in to a gap in a Nissan Qashai and miss a car by less than an inch. And then saw this. Both times people driving cars bigger than they perhaps should? Not a sexist/ageist/religious comment but a question. I know I err on the side of caution and sometimes there's more room than needed but I'll play safe.
I had assumed this was a customer so could return to car soon. So I actually got a tannoy announcement and hung around. I then got paper to leave details on windscreen and did my shop (details also with customer service). The customer service person suspected a colleague's car when I gave reg and they came down during my time there. Spoken a few times since. Sent the photo I took which places her car next to hers.
I am annoyed for the owner's sake. Someone damaged a car and will not admit. Hence me willing to go that extra mile. What if this was my car?
Similar reason why I help other drivers like changing tyres etc. if needed/wanted. And why I stop to answer questions for strangers in supermarkets and PC World.... realise that liking blue shirts and not wearing coats most of the time = mistaken for staff ;-)
Edited by rtj70 on 17/02/2010 at 19:47
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Same thing happened to Mrs FC's car in Asdas. Fortunately some public spirited person waited with details of the offending vehicle. You are to be applauded rtj70. Reported to the Police but I had the details back from the DVLA before they got in touch.
When they did follow it up the other driver was really sorry but apparently she had a lot on their mind that day. I bet they did!
Anyway all sorted by her insurance company in the end.
Its not just the insurance claim but the excess you would have to pay plus an increase in premium. I wish I could be as chilled as you L'escargot.
Its a prat's trick and unfortunately indicative of our society, an ability to take all and abdicate any responsibility.
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By and large a lot of people are pretty dishonest and self interested when it comes down to it. Sad though. Examples of it can be seen every day in all manner of ways.
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Correct and only thing to do when people taking responsibility for their own actions has gone out of fashion.
Not for the first time does the BR seem a haven of old fashioned decency.
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Not for the first time does the BR seem a haven of old fashioned decency.
Exactly and we men are orf to the smoking room whilst the wimin do the washing up.
**OUCH** yes yes dear......I'm on my way...........
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Shame her details could not be found for a fee. If it was less than £5 I'd do it and pass on to the driver. His insurance will also have my details so it will all pan out.
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Isn't about £3.50 to get them from the DVLA? But only the injured party would be entitled to them. This situation is what the details release system was designed for. A Police incident reference number would be useful as well.
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I never witness these things - they happen to me!
Most recently a new white scrape has appeared on the rear bumper of my car. Coincidentally a red (my car colour) scrape has appeared on a neighbouring persons (white) van. Has he come forward and admitted he did it? Has he heck as like. Can I prove he did it? Not likely.
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