Tesco Delivery Driver Damaged my wall

jellynose

Hi

I got a grocery order delivered last week and heard several thuds which was the van banging off my garden wall trying to turn. The driver came to the door and said nothing. I went and checked the wall when they left and it has been damaged. one of the concrete slabs on top of the wall has been smashed in two and there is a large dent in the wall. My son was in the house with me who witnessed this.

I know I should have spoken to the driver when they came to the door but I did think that if they had damaged something they would have mentioned it.

I reported this to Tesco who said they would be in touch. I received a letter from their legal team asking me to get two to three quotes for the repair of the wall and send it to them. They said they will then decide if they are liable.

My question is do I have to go and get the quotes? I didn't do the damage, their driver did. Can I ask they the arrange for someone to come out and quote for the repair.

I just don't understand why I have to run around and get quotes.

Any advice.

powerful_Rogue

jellynose wrote: »

Hi

I got a grocery order delivered last week and heard several thuds which was the van banging off my garden wall trying to turn. The driver came to the door and said nothing. I went and checked the wall when they left and it has been damaged. one of the concrete slabs on top of the wall has been smashed in two and there is a large dent in the wall. My son was in the house with me who witnessed this.

I know I should have spoken to the driver when they came to the door but I did think that if they had damaged something they would have mentioned it.

I reported this to Tesco who said they would be in touch. I received a letter from their legal team asking me to get two to three quotes for the repair of the wall and send it to them. They said they will then decide if they are liable.

My question is do I have to go and get the quotes? I didn't do the damage, their driver did. Can I ask they the arrange for someone to come out and quote for the repair.

I just don't understand why I have to run around and get quotes.

Any advice.

Because thats the way the system works. Personally id prefer to get my own quotes from companies I choose, rather then leave it upto the other person.

Not difficult to call a couple of companies and ask them to come out and give a quote.

When you say your son witnessed it as well, do you mean he actually saw the van crash into the wall?
The big test will be whether Tesco find any new damage on the vehicle which tallies upto the damage on the wall.

George_Michael

You may be able to get Tesco to agree to send someone but this may well take an awfully long time.
It would be far quicker and easier to pick a couple of local builders/brickies and give them a call.


If they refuse to cover the cost of the repair, you should contact Tesco again and ask them for the details of the driver concerned and also their insurers details, Tell them that as the driver failed to report damage following a accident, they have committed a criminal offence and that as such, you wish to report it to the police.

jellynose

Thanks Powerful_Rogue and George Michael.

My son and I both watched the van trying to turn at the top of the driveway. We heard the bangs and we knew that they must have reversed into the wall. However, you can't see the front of the wall from the window we were looking out. My son was going to record it on his mobile but I stupidly told him not to as I didn't want to embarrass the driver and thought that if damage had been caused the driver would have said when they rapped the door with the groceries. It was when the van driver left we went up to check if there was any damage.

I didn't think of the Plan B that you suggested George Michael, if they refuse to pay us.

Thanks to you both for replying

Takeaway_Addict

George_Michael wrote: »

You may be able to get Tesco to agree to send someone but this may well take an awfully long time.
It would be far quicker and easier to pick a couple of local builders/brickies and give them a call.


If they refuse to cover the cost of the repair, you should contact Tesco again and ask them for the details of the driver concerned and also their insurers details, Tell them that as the driver failed to report damage following a accident, they have committed a criminal offence and that as such, you wish to report it to the police.

If I were Tesco I would tell the OP that whilst happy to pass on the details it would only be to the police.

George_Michael

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

If I were Tesco I would tell the OP that whilst happy to pass on the details it would only be to the police.

Something that Tesco would be extremely unlikely to say because if they are aware of the fact that their driver had an accident and has not reported it as required by law, they themselves could well end up in the **** due to them being the registered keeper of the vehicle.

[Deleted User]

Someone in the OP's family is hardly an independent witness. If Tesco claim no accident was reported by their driver or damage to their van, then it will be hearsay evidence.

Tesco will probably pay up as a "goodwill gesture", but it's by no means cut and dried.

wealdroam

jellynose wrote: »

My question is do I have to go and get the quotes? I didn't do the damage, their driver did.

I just don't understand why I have to run around and get quotes.

Yes you do.

Consider the situation where Tesco do nothing and you start court proceedings.

Will you answer the judge's question "how much is this claim for?" with "I don't know Your Honour, Tesco haven't told me yet".

That may be a hypothetical situation, but it really is your responsibility to fix a monetary value to your claim.

LadyDee

Is this the beginning of the silly season? Just get a couple of quotes, send them to Tescos as they have requested. If they deny liability then work out your next step.

hollydays

Also, one imagines there will be some kind of damage to the van.
I do think delivery people do their best overall, and accidents happen.
There's no running around involved, a bit of research. A few simple phone calls ensures you've got independent quotes .

hollydays

jellynose wrote: »

Hi

I got a grocery order delivered last week and heard several thuds which was the van banging off my garden wall trying to turn. The driver came to the door and said nothing. I went and checked the wall when they left and it has been damaged. one of the concrete slabs on top of the wall has been smashed in two and there is a large dent in the wall. My son was in the house with me who witnessed this.

I know I should have spoken to the driver when they came to the door but I did think that if they had damaged something they would have mentioned it.

I reported this to Tesco who said they would be in touch. I received a letter from their legal team asking me to get two to three quotes for the repair of the wall and send it to them. They said they will then decide if they are liable.

My question is do I have to go and get the quotes? I didn't do the damage, their driver did. Can I ask they the arrange for someone to come out and quote for the repair.

I just don't understand why I have to run around and get quotes.

Any advice.

I assume you reported this to Tescos immediately after the delivery within
the hour, which will be documented? If so you've got nothing to worry about.