car door damaged - almost certain who hit it

kevin0410

my car (2001 audi a3) was damaged last night.
By looking at the damage done, it seems almost certain that it was caused by a car emerging from a driveway opposite where my car was parked. The paint left on the damage matches car that is normally parked on the driveway
No note was left.

The damage is pretty minor and confined to the door. i have already (very luckily) sourced via ebay a replacement door in the correct colour and am able to fit this myself.

my question is - what is the best course of action to give me the best chance of getting my costs covered?

i know i should contact the police, but there is not solid proof and no witnesses so it will most likely be denied.

i am thinking of writing a letter giving the alledged the chance to cover my costs. a long shot, i know!

in the end, i only had to pay £60 for the replacement door, but it's the principle.

what would you do?

steve-L

I'd probably try and get some photographic evidence 1st!
Any scumbag who'd do that and not leave a note is obviously capable of then trying to cover their tracks....so you threaten, they take the car to somewhere to buff off the paint and you're stuck back where you are?

Hopefully you will find the corresponding paint from your car on their bumper....?

Then if you threaten to report it they know if they take it to a bodyshop they are likely to pay more than £60 to cover up £60 of damage and risk the police then finding out?

tony6403

It's conceivable that, bearing in mind that it's very minor damage ,your suspect - if he/she did it - is unaware that your car was hit.
I would raise the matter with that person based on the colour match , and say in a non-accusatory manner that you will be reporting it to the Police (which you should do).

Hintza

tony6403 wrote: »

..... and say in a non-accusatory manner that you will be reporting it to the Police (which you should do).

They really won't be interested!

andygb

Hintza wrote: »

They really won't be interested!

Maybe not, but they should be, and you may have to be a bit more forceful when they try to fob you off. In my case, I said that if they did not come around and talk to the other driver, then I would take a sledgehammer to his vehicle.
In my case, they turned up within half an hour, and after initially asking me why I was making threats, I showed them the damage to the two cars. They then spoke to the neighbour, and he was done for failing to report an accident.
The police are there to HELP US because we pay their wages.
Unfortunately they sometimes forget what their duties are.;)

Hackman_2

andygb wrote: »

Maybe not, but they should be, and you may have to be a bit more forceful when they try to fob you off. In my case, I said that if they did not come around and talk to the other driver, then I would take a sledgehammer to his vehicle.
In my case, they turned up within half an hour, and after initially asking me why I was making threats, I showed them the damage to the two cars. They then spoke to the neighbour, and he was done for failing to report an accident.
The police are there to HELP US because we pay their wages.
Unfortunately they sometimes forget what their duties are.;)

The problem is, as it stands the OP has no evidence of who is responsible. A report will be made and then filed as there are no lines of enquiry.