Car damaged by leaking car park - small claims?

Minrich

chrishill16 wrote: »

Hi, Audi had a look and said the paint had been stripped away. It sounds like you're saying the damage is on top of the paint, is that right? If so, when you say an experienced person do you mean a professional detailer?

Yes - Most bodyshops would have someone or be able to recommend someone . I think that (If your damage was the same as mine) it is a grey colour and looks like the paint has gone but the paint is underneath . A paint depth gauge will tell you the answer . If the paint has been eroded then there would be some evidence that what dripped on your car was not water . Where did the water come from that was on the floor above your car ?

thescouselander

OP - if you have legal expenses cover you your motor insurance policy they will likely cover the solicitor's costs. Its worth giving your insurer a call in any case.

chrishill16

Minrich wrote: »

Yes - Most bodyshops would have someone or be able to recommend someone . I think that (If your damage was the same as mine) it is a grey colour and looks like the paint has gone but the paint is underneath . A paint depth gauge will tell you the answer . If the paint has been eroded then there would be some evidence that what dripped on your car was not water . Where did the water come from that was on the floor above your car ?

Yes, grey colour which looks like an undercoat. Could well be on top of the paint, but will ask a body shop to use a depth gauge. I've tried to attach a couple of images... First one shows the white powdery residue and the second one showing the damage once the powder was wiped away.

Edit: images not working, see post below.

The source of the water is a mystery. The management co carried out an "inspection" but found no signs of ingress, so I believe they're saying the water did not come in from the outside. Could be that the person above washed their car, but I have no idea.

chrishill16

Image

Image

chrishill16

thescouselander wrote: »

OP - if you have legal expenses cover you your motor insurance policy they will likely cover the solicitor's costs. Its worth giving your insurer a call in any case.

Thanks. Spoke to them and their legal team. As no one was injured, they can't help. Incredibly frustrating.

chrishill16

bartelbe wrote: »

I think it is reasonable to expect an underground carpark to be water tight and maintained to that standard. After all this isn't a public carpark, but a carpark which the OP is paying good money to a managment company for them to maintain properly.

It is bit like if the OP went on holiday and found their flat flooded, because the management company hadn't maintained the roof properly, and saying thecompany shouldn't be responsible.

It is the job of the management company to maintain the building to a reasonable standard. I think the building being water proof is a reasonable expectation.

This was my line of thinking, but if they haven't been negligent I'm not sure that my expectations mean anything at all.

dacouch

Have you tried diluted lemon juice on it?

chrishill16

dacouch wrote: »

Have you tried diluted lemon juice on it?

I tried T Cut and Audi were also kind enough to give it a quick heat polish, but with no joy.
I'm willing to give anything a try though. Do I just put a bit of lemon juice into water? Should it be hot or cold? Thanks again.

gabitzul

Vinegar is also very good against limescale and cheap. Try spraying some onto the marks.

This is just what I would do, not professional advice.

maninthestreet

http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-lime-scale-from-a-car/