Money Moral Dilemma: Should I challenge my neighbours over damage to my car?

John_Gray

If something goes wrong in an ordinary firm, an Assignment of Blame meeting might be held.  Would it be possible for you to call your neighbours together for one of these?

BOWFER

John_Gray said:

If something goes wrong in an ordinary firm, an Assignment of Blame meeting might be held.  Would it be possible for you to call your neighbours together for one of these?

Oh good grief.......
This is being made WAY too complicated.
Just walk around the neighbour's cars, look for corresponding damage and if there is any confront them about it.
If they still deny it, call the police and tell them you want to report someone 'leaving the scene of an accident' (6 points and a hefty fine) and you have proof.
If there's no visible damage to the neighbour's cars, move on with your life.

DontBringBertie

BOWFER said:

John_Gray said:

If something goes wrong in an ordinary firm, an Assignment of Blame meeting might be held.  Would it be possible for you to call your neighbours together for one of these?

Oh good grief.......
This is being made WAY too complicated.
Just walk around the neighbour's cars, look for corresponding damage and if there is any confront them about it.
If they still deny it, call the police and tell them you want to report someone 'leaving the scene of an accident' (6 points and a hefty fine) and you have proof.
If there's no visible damage to the neighbour's cars, move on with your life.

Maybe get an independent arbitrator as well, specifically chosen from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Possibly two arbitrators. Actually, maybe 3 just to be sure. Possibly a lawyer too. Have an independent neighbour take minutes as well.

Gresp

Speak to your neighbours (or put notes through their doors), saying your car was hit, you believe by a car of [xxx] description (can you describe the driver too?), and does anyone have any further information (e.g. do they recognise your description? Other witnesses? Any dashcam/CCTV footage?). 

As others have said, ask objectively, don't accuse. Finger pointing will only create neighbourhood tensions. Whereas if you come across as wanting to highlight and resolve the issue and prevent it happening again for everyone's benefit, they'll be on your side.

Car_54

BOWFER said:

John_Gray said:

If something goes wrong in an ordinary firm, an Assignment of Blame meeting might be held.  Would it be possible for you to call your neighbours together for one of these?

Oh good grief.......
This is being made WAY too complicated.
Just walk around the neighbour's cars, look for corresponding damage and if there is any confront them about it.
If they still deny it, call the police and tell them you want to report someone 'leaving the scene of an accident' (6 points and a hefty fine) and you have proof.
If there's no visible damage to the neighbour's cars, move on with your life.

You don't have "proof", just some circumstantial evidence, some of it from an interested party. And it's 5-10 points.

Florence6

Well actually this happened to me and although I didn't see the incident it was quite clear that it must have been a vehicle that caused the damage by reversing into it's drive when I was parked in the road outside their house. There were marks on their car but saying that apart from their being new occupants in that house, we are a busy street with delivery vans, dustbin lorries etc also using what isn't a very large road so it might not of been who I suspected. I left the matter and just paid myself - expensive I know but thought it better not to cause an upset with new neighbours. This is a friendly neighbourhood and it was better left that way.

jedav

How can you be sure that incident caused the damage (bumpers are easily damaged in car parks/petrol stations and you may not have noticed at the time)?  I suggest pointing out, conversationally, that there has been some recent damage to your car, give the date you noticed it, and asking whether they saw anything.  Bear in mind that you have to live next door to them and what they might see as false accusations could, at best, sour the relationship.  If they are vindictive they could make your life hell.

BOWFER

[Deleted User] said:

You don't have "proof", just some circumstantial evidence, some of it from an interested party. And it's 5-10 points.

When does circumstantial become definitive, in this instance?
No-one is going down the chemical breakdown of paint route, it's not the white Fiat Punto in a Paris tunnel.....
So if there's corresponding damage on a car in the same street, at what point does 'beyond reasonable doubt' kick in?
I mentioned 6 points as that's what someone we know got when she drive off after bashing a car in an Asda car park (Asda carparks having 'unhindered access' and therefore being classed as public roads)

CPPLUS26

Any Video doorbells close by? 

Car_54

BOWFER said:

[Deleted User] said:

You don't have "proof", just some circumstantial evidence, some of it from an interested party. And it's 5-10 points.

When does circumstantial become definitive, in this instance?
No-one is going down the chemical breakdown of paint route, it's not the white Fiat Punto in a Paris tunnel.....
So if there's corresponding damage on a car in the same street, at what point does 'beyond reasonable doubt' kick in?

Ultimately, it would be for a court to decide. Without the said paint analysis, I don't think it would need Perry Mason (or Nick Freeman!) to create reasonable doubt.