Stolen/wrecked car

Raeanne

Hello everyone.

I'm confused and don't know where to turn, so thought I would see if I could get any advice here..

2 weeks ago (2nd Jan 2012), my car was stolen. I wasn't aware of it until the police called the next day - there had been a police chase, the 'lads' did a runner, the dogs were out, helicopter, etc. 4 youths have been arrested. They are 15-17 years old.

I was told by the police officer that my car was ok, but at the pound, so they could get forensic evidence. She promised that she would call once the car was ready to be collected.

However, 6 days later, I got a letter from the pound informing me that I was being charged £20 a day until I could collect. Now, firstly, I am a nanny, and just popping up to the pound at a moments notice just isn't an option. By the time I was able to collect, I was VERY stressed, and worried about money.. they wouldn't release my car to me without talking to the police officer involved, and it took me 4 days to track her down.

Anyway, like I said, I was stressed and upset.. but remained calm, spoke to the duty manager, and he dropped all charges. Thank goodness.

Then came the shock. My car wasn't 'alright' in the slightest. They had near-on pulled the door off its hinges to get into it, and, due to the hot-wiring, was just a complete mess. My insurance company took it away to salvage and I will get whatever salvage can save from it. This was the best way to deal with it, as it was a 97' Corsa with a £500 excess on it.

I'm now left without my car, I can't afford to just go and buy another one, and keep getting so upset. That car was my lifeline, really. I don't have family around me, and used to to travel back and forth to my hometown (Portsmouth) from London.

Is there any compensation that I am entitled to? Can I sue the lads? I don't want much - just enough to get myself another little car.

How can someone do this to another persons property?

I appreciate any advice you can give me!

Rae.

TrickyWicky

Personally I'd sue the lads. They have stolen your car, their details will be made public in court and you've the right to ask for compensation. The only trouble is getting it. They'll probably make stupid arrangements like 50p per week or something.

Once you find out the date that they're going to court I'd write to the court/judge/magistrate and explain the situation they've left you in.

If you can scrape the money together for another car, don't go for a corsa - they're the equivalent of the old ford escorts for boy racers etc.

Tremour-88

My mum had her 1998 Corsa stolen 3 years ago, the police called her to come collect it and it was in a right state, she never bothered with it in the end as it could ruin her NCB and the car was only worth £500 apparntly, i was amazed they never stole my car which was parked right next to hers (a 1996 Ford Escort 1.8) as its more boy-racerish

Raeanne

Thanks for the replies!

I have just spoken to the Met police, who are going to advise what is happening regarding the court case/compensation.

Doesnt help in the short term, but I am damn well going to fight this one! (When I've stopped being so upset about it!)..

patman99

If your NCB wasn't protected, then when you are totting-up the amount to claim in compensation from the lads, you will need to add-in the extra insurance premiums you will have to pay to get back to the NCB level you were at pre-theft. Plus of course, a bit for 'personel stress and inconvenience caused by the loss of use of your motor vehicle'.

rev_henry

I'd sue them as well. As someone said it'll be something ridiculous like 50p a week, maybe, but it should also put a CCJ against their name which will annoy them later in life when they have difficulty getting credit.

From pulliptears' recent thread (if someone would care to link to it?) there would seem to be 2 ways of getting compensation - by suing them as I've described above, or it can sometimes be kinda built into the criminal proceedings against them providing you apply to do so.

passatrider

Try googling 'Motor Insurance Bureaux'? They might be able to help:)

TrickyWicky

The MIB do offer compensation against uninsured drivers. Naturally these little ****s won't have been insured to drive a stolen vehicle so it may well be worth looking at that option too.

Whatever happens though, make their lives as difficult as possible. If you sue them the odds are they'll end up with CCJs and that will severely impact on them for many years - job applications (EG security, police, some council jobs, banks etc) and it will also screw over their credit ratings too so they'll not even be able to borrow money to buy their own cars!

Keith

Pull the door back, call an auto electrician. Car fixed.

waynedance

Keith wrote: »

Pull the door back, call an auto electrician. Car fixed.

That's a good idea, should not be too much to fix surely cheaper than buying a new car.

Oh and defiantly write to the court and or sue there !!!.

pitkin2020

rev_henry wrote: »

I'd sue them as well. As someone said it'll be something ridiculous like 50p a week, maybe, but it should also put a CCJ against their name which will annoy them later in life when they have difficulty getting credit.

From pulliptears' recent thread (if someone would care to link to it?) there would seem to be 2 ways of getting compensation - by suing them as I've described above, or it can sometimes be kinda built into the criminal proceedings against them providing you apply to do so.

It won't make any difference to people like this i'm afraid. The victim is the one that is always punished.
The driver will more than likely walk away with a driving ban and a low fine at best. The victim how ever will be left with a large bill having to replace the car.

As already said you could of course them but to be totally blunt for what you'll get it'll be more stress and they are likely to stop paying anything after a short while so you'll end up having to take them back to court. The law very rarely works in favour of the victim in cases like this.