Car dented by valet!

Firhix

I took my car to be washed today at a local garden centre that rents out a few of its parking spaces to a few people who run a hand car wash. I requested a simple £4 wash, paid, and told the guy I would pop into the garden centre whilst it was being done. He told me I needed to leave him my keys so I complied

10 minutes later I noticed my car had been moved, meaning they had finished (notice I did not actually give them permission to move my car) I collected the keys and drove home.

It wasn't until my parents arrived home that they asked me how I had dented my car, of which I knew nothing about, but sure enough there was a massive dent, and I mean massive, not just a small ding, a massive dent in the drivers front wing of the car. Fuming doesn't even come close!

This must have happened whilst in the hands of the valet as I know for certain that I have not dented this myself. I went back to the centre immediately but the valet guys had left. My dad and I spoke to a worker of the centre who said that they have CCTV of the car park but I think it only points to the car park entrance. I will be visiting the centre again tomorrow to address the valet.

Does anyone have any advice on my situation? I am so upset that someone could do this without any apology and am determined to get the cost of repairs covered!

Thank you

scheming_gypsy

Can you prove they'd done it or even that it had actually been done in that ten minutes. You didn't notice it yourself, so it could have been done at any time by anybody else.

Tigerprint

Did you not look around the car after the valet? I would always inspect a job if I was requesting work done, be it a £4 valet, or a £40 valet. Is there no way that the dent could have been done on your road where you parked. I witnessed my own car parked on my own drive hit by another driver attempting a 3 point turn so anything is possible.

I'd be annoyed but I think the onus is on you. Personally I would never leave the keys to my car with a £4 garden centre valet company.... I just wouldn't...

waynedance

The risk you take for having someone else wash your car let alone leaving the keys.

I do not see how you can prove they dented the car, could have happened at another time, you did not notice after it was washed so could have been done for a while.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

I would be checking the cctv and seeing if it caught anything.

if not I wouldn't bother as youd be on a hiding to nothing.

if it did then go to them and ask for their insurance and state don't deny it or insult me by saying it wasn't you because cctv caught you hitting xyz.

paddedjohn

If you didn't want them to move your car then why did you leave the keys with them? what did you think they were going to do?
Sorry but without cctv evidence you are on a hiding to nothing (unless they admit it of course)

Richard53

Go and speak to them, and remember that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. If there's no CCTV of the incident, then you cannot prove anything and might as well walk away. The only way to prove it was them would have been to inspect the car before you drove it away, and you did not do that. The damage could have occurred at any time after you left, however certain you are that it didn't.

I would imagine a court would view handing over the keys as implying that you expected them to move the car at some point. Otherwise, why do it?

I think this comes into the '!!!!!! happens' category.

Euphoria1z

Firhix wrote: »

but sure enough there was a massive dent, and I mean massive, not just a small ding, a massive dent in the drivers front wing of the car.

would this not have stood out when you were opening your car door? if it was as massive as you suggest, would you not have noticed it when you were approaching your car, opening the door etc as its on the drivers front wing?

robatwork

Your problem is that they will claim it was done after it was parked elsewhere by them, and you will need to prove it.

You should write to the customer services manager at the garden centre and quote the time and date of the incident, asking if they can review the CCTV. But don't hold your breath

Iceweasel

I really feel for you.

But sadly I must agree with the previous posters - unless it's on the CCTV - or they admit it - you have very little chance of any good result here.

Sorry.

RichardD1970

So you left you car keys with a complete stranger, in a public car park just because he had a bucket of water and some cleaning stuff :eek:

You were lucky to get your car back at all as far as I can see.


Like others have said, if you are that unobservant that you didn't see the massive dent as you were walking towards the drivers door to get in, then it could have been there for ages and you just hadn't noticed it before.