DWF Asda car park accident claim

Strawberrygirl2104

Hi, I’d like some advice please. Not sure if I’ve put this in the right place! I had a prang in an Asda car park. The security staff called for the driver over the tannoy, took my details and the other car owner’s and we settled between ourselves. I paid for their damage. The only damage was to the cars. I have now had a letter from from their solicitors DWF saying I need to pay £100 for damage to Asda and £125 security fee within 7 days to avoid further action. I phoned Asda and the security person said he’s checked the file and cctv and no damage was incurred to them and the manager said that she thought head office had the wrong end of the stick! Do I call these solicitors or ignore?

GunJack

Ask the manager to take it up with head office??

Strawberrygirl2104

She said to call the solicitors and ask them to ring the branch and they’ll confirm what happened but I’ve seen advice not to call them at all and just ignore the letters.

debtdebt

DWF are a proper firm of solicitors unlike the shysters acting for private parking companies. Avoid their letters at your peril. What are you going to do if they issue proceedings against you? Ignore those to?

Strawberrygirl2104

I’m going to ring them it’s just I read an older thread where people were being advised to ignore.

unholyangel

Strawberrygirl2104 wrote: »

I’m going to ring them it’s just I read an older thread where people were being advised to ignore.

Did that older thread perhaps pertain to receiving demands for parking charges (ie overstay the 2 hour limit and you get hit with a invoice for £200)?

But I would be curious enough to ask them how they managed to arrive at the figure of £100 for damages when no damage occurred and the law doesn't allow for arbitrary sums to be claimed. I'd also be asking what the £125 security fee is for.

Tbh, with the security fee, it sounds like the letters supermarkets tend to send out to shoplifters when they are taking the civil recovery route and possibly someone has misunderstood when your details were passed over for a "civil" dispute.

Strawberrygirl2104

Thanks. So I shouldn’t have to pay this then?

Johno100

It sounds like they might be trying it on by attempting to charge for an 'incident' in their car park and the attendance of their security staff just as sometimes the ambulance service charge after an RTC. If that is the case then I'd be highly surprised if there is any legal basis to such a charge.

But as others have said and based on the amount demanded it could be they have got you mixed up with an alleged shoplifter or similar. You really do need to get to the bottom of this before you even consider paying them.

seatbeltnoob

Strawberrygirl2104 wrote: »

Thanks. So I shouldn’t have to pay this then?

no, but you shouldnt ignore it either. need to find out what the damage is for. what the fee is for.

Strawberrygirl2104

I called first thing and they didn’t explain why or what the damage was just that they had the same info as me that I’d crashed into parked car. Said they’d go back to ‘their client’ and check it out and as long as that is confirmed I I probably would find the case closed but couldn’t promise anything.

seatbeltnoob

Hmmm..

I read this as if you were the victim not the perpetrator in this instance.

How on earth do you drive into a parked car on a 5mph car park beats me.

Well I hope you get this sorted. When dealing with corporations this sort of stuff isn't unheard of. They might have it in their t&c that if you cause an incident then you will be levied a legal fee to cover their costs.

normally supermarkets dont care about damages on their property. But it was nice of them to tannoy the owner and let them know someone has his their car.

I just find idiot drivers on car parks extremely annoying. I've had 4 dents and scrapes on my car precisely from idiots in car parks who scrape and knock onto my car.

The other day I walked back to my car to find someone with their doors open touching my car.