My windscreen was smashed with a hammer...

my_old_mans_a_dustman

Today I parked my car whilst I was at the gym, it was parked on a street.

I went back to my car when finished to find my windscreen smashed and a note from the police under the wiper.

A lady who witnessed it came out to tell me that a guy on a phone was screaming and then swung a hammer at my windscreen in rage.

She said he must have called the police himself because he sat there on the pavement until the police arrived and arrested him.

Can anyone please tell me how do I get my windscreen fixed without me being out of pocket?

Sgt_Pepper_2

Have you contacted the police yet?

The offender pays, or maybe compensation, else wets out of pocket.

my_old_mans_a_dustman

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

Have you contacted the police yet?

The offender pays, or maybe compensation, else wets out of pocket.

Yes I contacted the police and they just gave me a crime ref no.

s_b

you would have to take him to the small claims court but hes probably been sectioned by now
an independent windscreen fitter is cheaper than the big boys usually and it might just be easier to pay up and move on im afraid as much as you want to be put back to where you were
what do the police say? has he been sectioned or just charged with criminal damage as they would be able to help and if it does go to court this is where you would put your compensation claim

my_old_mans_a_dustman

s_b wrote: »

you would have to take him to the small claims court but hes probably been sectioned by now
an independent windscreen fitter is cheaper than the big boys usually and it might just be easier to pay up and move on im afraid as much as you want to be put back to where you were
what do the police say? has he been sectioned or just charged with criminal damage as they would be able to help and if it does go to court this is where you would put your compensation claim

Thanks, if I go to my insurance will my premiums go up?

I'll contact the police to find out what they did to him.

chunkychocky

I don't know how it works with malicious damage but when I had a cracked windscreen from a stone chip I claimed through the windscreen cover on my insurance and just had to pay the windscreen excess of £50. It did not affect my no-claims bonus and does not count as a claim for getting future insurance. Maybe it depends on your insurer though? I was with Churchill at the time if that has anything to do with it.

victor2

Same for me. I was with Direct Line a number of years back - my screen just cracked of it's own accord all the way across. It was replaced FOC (no excess at that time) through the insurance and did not affect my premiums or claim history.

Sgt_Pepper_2

You should declare the fact you have been a victim of criminal damage for the next five years. So expect a rise in your premium.

my_old_mans_a_dustman

I contacted the insurance company and they said I have to pay excess £75 and it won't affect my no claims bonus or premium.

I'm still waiting to hear back from the police if he's been sectioned or charged.

luci

chunkychocky wrote: »

I don't know how it works with malicious damage but when I had a cracked windscreen from a stone chip I claimed through the windscreen cover on my insurance and just had to pay the windscreen excess of £50. It did not affect my no-claims bonus and does not count as a claim for getting future insurance. Maybe it depends on your insurer though? I was with Churchill at the time if that has anything to do with it.

Windscreen replacement has to be declare as a claim for as long as the company offering the quote requests, which is usually 5 years.

TrickyWicky

Same here, claimed from direct liars. £75 excess was a bit annoying but a £600 windscreen for that price couldn't be sniffed at. I didn't suffer any NCD loss for it either.

Sue the bloke who did it for the value of the excess and time to organise it etc. Small claim for £200 should do it I reckon.