Help, I think someone is trying to extort money from me by saying I hit their car

arcon5

Simple - look at your car and look at his. Then get some photos of both.

Tell him you didn't hit his car and consider the matter closed though and wait for him to make the next move.

Buzby

I'd quickly take some photos of both cars and keep them safe.

neilmcl

Just for clarification OP, when you parked you parked between another, unrelated vehicle and the motorbike, your neighbour's car wasn't even in the equation? Also, where exactly is the damage to their car and does it in anyway match up to your vehicle?

KTF

Does the other guy have proof? It not, tell him to produce it or jog on...

atrixblue.-MFR-.

GeorgeDawes wrote: »

Tonight I got home and a letter from a neighbour had arrived. It said



Here's the backstory. I'm a new driver, on my first car and just purchased insurance yesterday. The car has been sitting outside my neighbour's window for the past week where it was parked next to his car by the previous owner. I didn't drive it because I had no insurance. But I was sitting in it reading the handbook one day, and I get talking to him. He's selling his flat and he knows my family own several flats in the street. His wife mentions how "rich" we must be.

Anyway, cut to yesterday, I was with my friend and we were taking it for its first spin to the petrol station as I now had insurance. Before we went, this guy was talking to me, asking me about the insurance on the car, how much I paid for the car, etc. Me and my friend opened the bonnet and checked the oil, he came along and had a look too, making remarks, seemingly friendly. I said we were going to the petrol station but would be back shortly, he said he would reserve my parking space, so I shook his hand. Upon my return, when I was doing parallel parking, my friend got out to help me guide the car back. There were NO bumps, grazes, hits or scrapes with ANYTHING and the car was successfully parked with a motorcycle separating our cars!

The first thing I did when I read the letter above was contact the police because I can tell this is an attempt at extortion or insurance fraud. This guy knows I'm a new driver, thinks I'm rich and has seen me attempt a parallel park a couple of times. I anticipate that if I speak to him he will demand payment from me to stop him claiming or going to the police. The police have advised that I record myself talking to him in order to prove extortion. They have also advised that I photograph the two parked vehicles as further evidence. Any further advice for protecting myself against this unneighbourly brute and his attempts at insurance fraud would be much appreciated.

this suggests to me your not confident of yourself when reversing due to being a new driver, but this is a skill you mastered when I was learning and become second nature no matter what car you drove.

how has he seen you parallel park a few times? hope not in this car as that would be illegal due to you not having insurance again this comment tells a story of not being confident at your skills to parallel park.


something seems a miss, the story seems too tightly colaberrated to conveniently include your friend getting out to guide you back. non of my friends said to me hold on ill guide you in, they relied on me having the basic skill to park a car.

JustinR1979

GeorgeDawes wrote: »

I said we were going to the petrol station but would be back shortly, he said he would reserve my parking space, so I shook his hand.

This is always happening to me....

topdaddy_2

So your friend guided you back. Thats your witness sorted then.

GeorgeDawes_2

topdaddy wrote: »

So your friend guided you back. Thats your witness sorted then.

Yeah, but the insurance company won't consider him an 'independent witness' even though he was not a passenger in the car at the time of the incident?

GeorgeDawes_2

OK, so I've composed a letter to this guy in response. Should I send it? What do you think?

September 27th 2014

To: Flat XX

Contrary to the claims made in your handwritten note dated 24th September, no collision or contact has occurred between our two respective vehicles. You allege that I reversed into your car causing “big damage”, but there are no collision marks to the rear of my vehicle or any other part of it, which proves that you are totally mistaken.

You have demanded that I pay you money to repair your car. As no collision has occurred between our two vehicles, I am not liable for any damages, and I will not be paying you a penny. I have reported your letter and your demands for payment to the Metropolitan Police and my insurer. I have gathered evidence that no collision occurred, including photographs of our respective vehicles and the testimony of witnesses. I am also in the process of obtaining CCTV evidence. I may also retain a solicitor for this matter, so you may hear from them in due course.

In light of this, I strongly suggest that you reconsider how your vehicle has become damaged and who caused it. For example, hit and run incidents happen in London frequently, and wayward children and youths from the local school may also have damaged your car.

Please note that if you continue to demand payment from me either in writing or in person, I will consider this harassment and will report it to the Police. If you decide to proceed with an insurance claim, I will vigorously defend myself against your mistaken allegations using every permissible means available, at every stage in the claims process.

Finally, I would like to remind you that conspiracy to commit insurance fraud is a criminal offence, punishable by a custodial sentence. It is particularly unwise to attempt this on people whose competence you are unfamiliar with.

Kind Regards

GeorgeDawes

GeorgeDawes_2

Herzlos wrote: »

It makes it official, and shows that you've got every intention of continuing the discussion in a recordable way. See if you'll get his complaint in writing; it won't happen.

Just say "Can you give me that in writing so I can forward it to my insurance company?" and he'll just shut up.

He initially sent me a handwritten letter which I quoted in the original post. How is this for a reply? Should I send it? What do you think?

September 27th 2014

To: Flat XX

Contrary to the claims made in your handwritten note dated 24th September, no collision or contact has occurred between our two respective vehicles. You allege that I reversed into your car causing “big damage”, but there are no collision marks to the rear of my vehicle or any other part of it, which proves that you are totally mistaken.

You have demanded that I pay you money to repair your car. As no collision has occurred between our two vehicles, I am not liable for any damages, and I will not be paying you a penny. I have reported your letter and your demands for payment to the Metropolitan Police and my insurer. I have gathered evidence that no collision occurred, including photographs of our respective vehicles and the testimony of witnesses. I am also in the process of obtaining CCTV evidence. I may also retain a solicitor for this matter, so you may hear from them in due course.

In light of this, I strongly suggest that you reconsider how your vehicle has become damaged and who caused it. For example, hit and run incidents happen in London frequently, and wayward children and youths from the local school may also have damaged your car.

Please note that if you continue to demand payment from me either in writing or in person, I will consider this harassment and will report it to the Police. If you decide to proceed with an insurance claim, I will vigorously defend myself against your mistaken allegations using every permissible means available, at every stage in the claims process.

Finally, I would like to remind you that conspiracy to commit insurance fraud is a criminal offence, punishable by a custodial sentence. It is particularly unwise to attempt this on people whose competence you are unfamiliar with.

Kind Regards

GeorgeDawes