Car Broken Into

stinky_daddy

Hi

I have searched for this and could not find anything relevant, so thought I would post.

Hopefully I've posted this in the correct area (Mods, please feel free to move it if I haven't).

I work full time during the day and have a second job some evenings as a door supervisor.

Whilst working last night, I was informed that my car had been broken into:mad: (drivers window smashed), as I was parked in my employers carpark at the time, do I have any recourse with them to reclaiming the cost of having the window replaced (I will pay for it myself as my excess would be more than the cost of the window and I don't really want my premium to rise), I discovered by chance that 2 other vehicles had also been broken into that night in different (local) locations that also belonged to my employer and we also have a recent history of vehicle break-ins in the same car park that mine was broken into.

Having checked, my wallet was gone, fotunately it had no cash in it and I cancelled my bank cards when I realised my wallet was gone and I also got a crime record no. from the police.

Having spoken to the DM (duty manager) at the time of the incident, he stated that he was not aware of the company having paid out previously for anything like this.

I checked the car park and there are no signs to indicate that the employer accepts no liability and all vehicles are left here at the owners risk only the usual clamping sign that you see everywhere.

My question is (I knew I would get to it eventually!!!) would the employer be liable for the costs incurred in replacing the window and is there any legal precedent / statute for this.

I will be emailing the DM's boss later today to see what, if anything, she can do but am expecting nothing but kind words and sympathy.

I am expecting to have to bear the cost myself but figured I had nothing to lose by posting the question.

Thanks for reading this and also thanks in advance for any help / advise received.

UKD

GonzoAston

There are no signs in the hotel car park I work in to say that cars are parked at their own risk either. Just a small sign in the reception which you wouldnt really notice.

We've had cars broken into in the past, and they havent paid out.

Hope you get somewhere with it. Depends on what kind of company you work for I guess

stinky_daddy

BUMP for the morning crowd

fergual2

Hang on - your saying you left your wallet in your car and now want the employer to pay for car damage. Sorry but I wouldn't even ask the question. Practical advice -get a decent alarm fitted and enquire if company can install cctv to deter a future incident.

sassygirl_2

personally id say no, you have no grounds to claim against your employer. I would also say get yourself down your local car breakers and pick up a new window there. Save yourself a fortune! If they are a good one like mine is, they may fit it for you too :0)

stinky_daddy

fergual2 wrote: »

Hang on - your saying you left your wallet in your car and now want the employer to pay for car damage. Sorry but I wouldn't even ask the question. Practical advice -get a decent alarm fitted and enquire if company can install cctv to deter a future incident.

Fergual2

thanks for the advice.

I had inadvertently left my wallet in the car prior to getting out of the vehicle and going to work, not something that I usually do.

The company already have CCTV covering the car park, but considering that mine is the latest in a spate of break-ins and nothing has so far resulted from it, I do not hold out much hope.

McKneff

Just a thought, for future reference. Does your insurance company know about your 2nd job. Especially as its a doormans job. If not and you make a claim for anything it will be invalidated.

pinkshoes

If there's been several car break-ins, then I would perhaps contact the police again, and ask if they can look into it. Have the police looked at the CCTV?

Regarding your car, personally my car is immaculate, with NOTHING on display whatsoever. If you leave any items in your car, it will attract attention, and the window could be smashed on the offchance that something could be of value.

A friend of mine had their car window smashed as they'd left a 10 pack of cigarettes on the passenger seat - with only TWO left!

sarahg1969

anniehanlon wrote: »

Just a thought, for future reference. Does your insurance company know about your 2nd job. Especially as its a doormans job. If not and you make a claim for anything it will be invalidated.

Only if they find out.

dacouch

The only way you can get your employer to pay for this is if you can prove they are Legal Liable, this means you prove that their negligence caused it.

It is highly unlikely that they were and that you can prove it.

It my opinion it just one of those things so you'll have to pay for it yourself.

Just for every ones information the signs in car parks saying "The car park own accepts no liability and you park here at your own risk" have no legal standing. If say you park in a Tescos car park and a tescos vehicle reverses into your car or one of their employees damages your vehicle you can still claim off of them (If it was their fault). If it went to court a judge would say the sign is an unfair contract and rule in your favour. Its the same principle if you leave your coat in a night club cloakroom and they have a sign up saying they accept no resposibility. A court would rule that if they damaged or lost the coat they are liable for it especially as they have taken payment to look after your coat.

The UK has a law that if a contract is unfair the judge will rip the contract up.

Unfortunately the above will not help you with your claim

carmel11

If you are an in-house door supervisor,you are authorized to check the cctv cameras yourself, (assuming they are their own cameras)why not do it?