Next door's builders damaged by car, advice?

FlatFour

Hey all,

Not sure if this the right place, it's car and home related... if a moderate thinks it should be moved, please do.

Next door are doing some building work, extension to existing building, removing chunks of existing building roof.  Looks like something fell and struck my car, leaving some deep gouges and scuffs on the rear bumper - gouges right down into the plastic, nothing that can even remotely be buffed out.  I'd previously spoken to them about moving the car if needed, they said they'd come speak to me couple of days beforehand if they did.  They haven't thus far.

Moments before, they'd been working on the roof next door, right over the car - our driveway runs parallel, they're extending right up to the border.  I popped out a bit later and saw the damage.  Car hasn't been anywhere in over a week, and this is fresh damage.

Car was also quite dirty - they've been kicking up quite a lot of dust - and it looks like someone had attempted to wipe the area where the damage is, just adding more dirt to the car, but obviously smeared.

I walked over, spoke to one of the guys and asked their boss to come and see me.  He did a little later, and seemed quite receptive to making things right, saying he has a detailer friend he could have come and have a look.  However, with how deep the gouges are, and the fact that the quite expensive glass coat I had put on the car would also need doing in that area, I think this might go beyond detailing.  However, I will see how it goes.

I don't have CCTV footage of this happening, but I do have photos of the damage, as well as a large indent in the ground where something evidently landed near the car.  What additional steps should I take at this time?  I don't want to call my insurance company at this stage, as just looking at them will likely mean an increased premium next year.  Not seen the neighbour to talk too - he's not the friendliest chap - but the builders have all been polite.

Mildly_Miffed

You've done just about all you can do at the moment.

You've spoken to the builder, he's accepted responsibility.

It's not the neighbour's problem - it's between you and the builders. And, if the builders are even remotely reputable, they'll have public liability insurance that will step up to the mark here.

The one thing you can now do, as well as waiting for his guy to come and look, is to get some estimates of your own.
Take it to a bodyshop or two and see what they say.
Contact a localised repair outfit or two - if it's just a couple of gouges, it's not going to need the entire bumper removing and spraying, and you'll end up with a better result. If you don't know any, talk to local used car retailers - they use them ALL THE TIME.

But, yes, you will have to tell your insurer about this at renewal time.

Bigphil1474

Maybe get the builder to put in 'writing' that they will sort it for you (text or email). You don't want them forgetting, then denying all liability in a couple of weeks.

Alfrescodave

Mildly_Miffed said:

You've done just about all you can do at the moment.

You've spoken to the builder, he's accepted responsibility.

.

Has he accepted responsibility? All he's "allegdely"said is that he has a mate that can fix your car problem. Agreement conversations can easly be forgotten at a later date. As BigPhil says a wriiten acceptance of liability would remove any later "forgetfullness"