Neighbour scratched car while parked

Mithy

I live in an apartment complex. The gap between my neighbour's space is quite narrow, and they use their space to store all kinds of household items such as bikes, furniture, etc as well as their (fairly large) car.

Last summer, there were marks along the side of my car (no marks when I parked, marks when I next went to use it). The marks are only on the side of the car facing their space, not on the other side. Luckily, the paintwork wasn't seriously damaged. I spoke with the neighbours and eventually, after a few recurrences, it stopped. Given that the cost of a thorough scrub at the car wash was relatively small, I paid for it myself.

A few weeks ago, there were more scrapes along the side of my car. Again, they were not there when I parked and were there when I next went to use it (it had been unused for a month this time). This time they are much deeper and the damage will cost £'000s to fix because it goes the whole way along the side of the car. (I've already got a quote.) This coincides with the neighbours starting to store bricks under the wheels of their car, which were placed there by their kids without supervision from a parent. I've spoken to the neighbour who has been dismissive. The financial issue is obviously significant, and equally importantly, while they are still refusing to take responsibility, damage will continue to occur.

Does anyone have advice on how best to proceed (small claims, insurance claim, police involvement, ...)? I had been hoping to resolve it directly with the neighbour but it does not look as though this will work.

AndyMc.....

Claim on your insurance, there's no evidence as far as the police are concerned and I don't much fancy your chances in the small claims court.

Mithy

If I claim on my insurance, I'll have to pay an excess and I lose my NCD - plus since I've been trying to resolve it with the neighbour there would be a delay in reporting it to the insurance company, so that might not work so well either unfortunately.

AndyMc.....

Did you see who did it and can anyone else access the area?

sevenhills

Get CCTV, do you/they rent?

photome

I think it’s an insurance claim as you have no proof.

You should have told your insurer straight away but if you ring them now and plead ignorance about reporting it straight away and explain what you have been trying to do they may be understanding

missile

My dash cam has parking mode and I was able to identify the "lady" who scraped the side of my car and drove off. Saved my £600 excess.

AndyMc.....

missile wrote: »

My dash cam has parking mode and I was able to identify the "lady" who scraped the side of my car and drove off. Saved my £600 excess.

I can't see a dash cam helping the op.

z1a

Mithy wrote: »

I live in an apartment complex. The gap between my neighbour's space is quite narrow, and they use their space to store all kinds of household items such as bikes, furniture, etc as well as their (fairly large) car.

Last summer, there were marks along the side of my car (no marks when I parked, marks when I next went to use it). The marks are only on the side of the car facing their space, not on the other side. Luckily, the paintwork wasn't seriously damaged. I spoke with the neighbours and eventually, after a few recurrences, it stopped. Given that the cost of a thorough scrub at the car wash was relatively small, I paid for it myself.

A few weeks ago, there were more scrapes along the side of my car. Again, they were not there when I parked and were there when I next went to use it (it had been unused for a month this time). This time they are much deeper and the damage will cost £'000s to fix because it goes the whole way along the side of the car. (I've already got a quote.) This coincides with the neighbours starting to store bricks under the wheels of their car, which were placed there by their kids without supervision from a parent. I've spoken to the neighbour who has been dismissive. The financial issue is obviously significant, and equally importantly, while they are still refusing to take responsibility, damage will continue to occur.

Does anyone have advice on how best to proceed (small claims, insurance claim, police involvement, ...)? I had been hoping to resolve it directly with the neighbour but it does not look as though this will work.

How do you store bricks under wheels?

missile

AndyMc..... wrote: »

I can't see a dash cam helping the op.

Why not?

Most dash cams have a wide angle lens and many will record if the car is disturbed whilst parked, others constantly record (time lapse). Photographic evidence could be sufficient to prove who caused the damage - it was for me :T

Not as good as dedicated CCTV, but as OP lives in an apartment that may not be possible?

stator

z1a wrote: »

How do you store bricks under wheels?

It's a cultural thing, you see it a lot in Liverpool