Someone scratched my bumper and drove off - what to do?

Monkey_Joe

I appreciate that its not really a big deal but Im wondering what my options are.

It happened at the Centre Courts Car Park in Wimbledon. I went shopping, came back and noticed a small scratch on my back bumper and some silver paint (my car is red). Its a brand new car and it was not there when I parked the car, so someone must have hit my bumper trying to park next to me.

The repairs will cost around £150-200. Its not bad but why should I pay for it.

- the car park have CCTV and they are happy to look and get the registration of the person but first I need to report it to the police

I would rather do this privately since if I inform my insurer whether it my fault or not, it will be logged as an incident and it will increase my premiums next year no matter what. If I report it to the police then I guess Im legally obliged to tell me insurer and whether I make a claim or not they will !!!!!! me next year with the premiums - whether I switch insurer or not, I still have to report it as an incident.

Its going to cost under £200. Not sure what to do, is it worth the hassle pursuing this person over such a small amount on principle. In the long run it will cost me more.

Anyone been on the same boat?

As I said, its only a small scratch BUT its freaking annoying.

phill99

Someone reversed into my car. A kind witness took the reg number and left a note on my windscreen. Reported it to the police who did precisely nothing. Spoke to my insurers and it turns out the car was on false plates and no chance of getting my costs recovered. Cost me £250 excess and the loss of a years no claims.

Swallow the £200 and put it down to experience. It will cost yo a lot more otherwise.

McKneff

If its a small scratch, try using some T Cut and give it a good buffing. Again and again.

I know its annoying but you have to decide yourself what to do.

If you can sort it yourself, do it and move on.
Did you say it was a new car, you can buy colour 'pens' from the dealer ship (about £3.50) that will cover the scratch well if its not too deep. Worked for me just a couple of weeks ago.

Or take it to a small bodyshop and see what they will charge if you cant polish it out yourself.

eilidh_s

About three weeks after I had bought my first ever car somebody completely smacked into the side of it trying to get into a parking place at my local tesco. They dented a panel, ripped the wheel arch off and left scratches all over the side of the bumper. I didn't notice until I had gone to the filling station on the way home as it was on the passenger side and as soon as I saw it I went straight to the cops. They must have been having a slow day as while I waited they checked their own CCTV but that carpark wasn't covered so they phoned Tesco and they didn't have CCTV.

They gave me a crime number and sent me off to a body shop. The dude in the body shop asked me what my excess was, I said £250 and he said well I guess that's what it will come too. He beat out the panel, reattached the wheel arch and resprayed all the scratches.

This was about 6 years ago and the body shop's owner's son was in school with my wee brother so that might have been a factor but even still I suspect £150 for a scratch is just someone taking you for a ride. Shop around a bit first.

deanos

Try a smart repair place they are often cheaper , Chips Away is one firm you should have a few around you

http://www.chipsaway.co.uk/

snowyz81

This happened to me outside my DD nursery, someone pulling out of another car park decided to take the corner short and scratch my back bumper (White car so noticed the big black mark straight away).

No witness so nothing it could do. Luckier it just scuff off.

Same thing happenend again when a neighbour scratched my OH car pulling into there drive, Red mark on a blue car. We knocked on and she denyed it, even though she has a matching scratch on her car. We rang the police and unless we had saw it happen they wouldnt do anything.

ThumbRemote

9simple wrote: »

Try Spamtron Car Clinic car body repairer. They've got excellent reviews on Google and are apparently very honest and helpful and they give you a free, no obligation estimate, at your home. They cover London only though.

I heard they spammed internet message boards and the owner used baby seals for spare parts, ther heartless so-and-so.

Avoid them like the plague, or the blood of the seals will be on your hands.