Shouted at in car park - really upset!! - updated!

celyn90

((hugs)) for you OP, that's really bad. Some people are really horrible.

Firstly it doesn't sound stupid that you don't want to speak to her; she was vile towards you and she shouldn't need to phone you at all. If she does, just tell her politely that you were not responsible for the dent and request if she wishes to try and claim to pass the details onto the insurance company. Request politley that she doesn't phone again and hang up. Don't get drawn into an arguement or raise your voice, don't wait for her to finish, don't respond to her; just say your piece and put the phone down. I doubt the insurance companies will even entertain her as you have photographic evidence and fault can't be established - they don't pay out that easily. If the insurance company come to you, then simply tell them what you told us and send in the photograph. You are under no obligation to deal with her personally and shouldn't if she acts in this manner.

If she contacts you repeatedly or is abusive, or you feel unsafe or intimidated then contact the police.

Have you thought about contacting your insurance company and telling them what happened? They would have dealt with things like this a thousand times over and may be able to advise you as to what you should do and at least tell you not to worry I would have thought it would have been quite easy to distingiush a dent made by blunt compression and one that could have been made by a sharp knock with a door - if the claim was disputed, all these sorts of things will be looked at.

It doesn't matter that you gave her your details, if she had wanted to find you she could have done anyway. You simply wanted to avoid any further conflict and handed over what she bullied you into doing. Don't feel bad about that, most people would have done exactly the same in your situation.

If you are worried about the car is there anywhere else you can put it for a few days or can you borrow a cover from someone?

Hope you get it sorted, cel x

Belnahua

A friend of mine had a similar experience, but she just drove off. She wasn't going to take abuse or enter into any hysterical argument.

She went straight to the police station and reported what happened (to cover herself), then you can guess nothing happened. She told the police, that the other occupants were threatening and she felt for her safety. So she drove off without exchanging details.

As long as you report it to the police, and tell them that you've been the subject of threatening behaviour on behalf of the other party, you should be pretty much covered. I think! As long as it is the truth!

Queenieviolet

We've been on the other end of a similar problem. Someone hit my husband's van - they admitted causing the damage and details were swapped, however when it came to a claim the person completely denied responsibility! Basically insurance company could do nothing, our word against theirs apparently, this would mean both drivers paying for own repairs. Perhaps this is what would happen in your case, but luckily to your advantage, I wouldn't worry too much. Aren't there some horrible people out there!

journ

I really think her husband will not allow her to go to the insurance because it sounded that on the day he didn't know where to put his face
I thought about what this evil woman put you through and it makes my blood boil:mad: I think if you were going to hear from her she would have phoned you today but she hasn't so please try not to worry
I just wanted you to know you are still in my thought.

Grandmasu

Something similar happened to me a couple of years ago, I was parked outside a small farm shop and my door just touched the adjacent car. There was a passenger in there reading a book who looked up, I smiled , said sorry, and glanced as I closed the door and there was apparantly no damage (it literally only touched.)

When I came out from the farm shop I found a note on my windscreen saying "My friend said your car door banged into my car and has caused a dent " leaving a telephone number to contact her. She also said she had taken a photo and was contacting her insurance company.

I was totally convinced I had not caused any damage, the door had only touched not hit her car and I did not understand why she had not come into the farm shop to find me, after all there were not many customers there.

Anyway cutting a long story short she claimed from my insurance who told me it was not worth disputing. I still feel hard done by to this day.

geri1965_2

TryingHard wrote: »

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that the Police would not become involved because it happened in a private car park. I think the Road Traffic Act just applies to vehicles on a public road. I would check this out with your Insurance Company.Try not to worry too much about this. If someone carries on to this degree about a slight mishap, it's they who have a problem.What a horrible thing to happen to you. I would have cried too, just with sheer shock at the way she went on.(((hugs)))

A supermarket car park would be defined as a "road" under the terms of the Road Traffic Act, I think (motor claims not really my area of expertise though).

I doubt the police will be interested as there is no personal injury involved.

I would sit tight, do nothing at this stage and wait and see if you get a letter of claim. If you do, send it to your insurers with your comments and let them deal with it.

hollydays

Have you got a legal helpline with your house insurance,could you ask them,mind you they can be very brusque,I warn you.

h007

poor you op.

i had the opposite happen to me a while ago.

i was in my virtually brand new car and some one opened their door next to me when it was windy and it flew into my door. i realised it was an accident so i didnt go mad.
had a look and couldnt see any damage at the time (it was dark) but when i looked later it had quite a ding with chipped paint!!
so i wished i had taken details but then again it would of cost me sooo much to claim on insurance anyway as i had yet to get any no claims built up.

if this silly woman does call you - insist she puts in the claim through her insurance. she may be put off claiming by costs and hassle

fsdss

i had the same happen to me a few weeks ago- i knew i didnt do it - so didnt commit to anything. in hindsight you should have allowed her to contact the police - and refused your details (she has your reg no)- by giving the details it may appear that you are admitting the "offence".

i contacted the police when it happened to me - and was told that this is a common occurrence of people trying to scam money.

guess what - i havent heard from the insurance company to which the complainant said they were going to claim for.
i had a couple of worrying / sleep deprived nights based on this - but i am positive that i caused no damage.
at the end of the day - they will have to prove that it was your car that caused the damage and when there are witnesses on both sides - this will prove nothing -

Idiophreak

I very much doubt anything will come of this - doesn't seem worth the angry lady chasing it up, especially if her hubby was a bit calmer.

You can't blame people getting angry about this stuff though...I've worked hard the last couple of years to pay off my car and am getting *so sick* of people damaging the thing...A bump here, a scuff there, a dent over there...None of these things are worth claiming for - and I can't afford to keep forking out to get these things repaired when some idiot drives into my car then legs it.

All of these things (sorry OP) are just careless and entirely avoidable - I've *never* opened my car door into another vehicle, no matter what the weather's been like. I've never bumped into another car because I don't know the length of my vehicle. I've never misjudged the size of a space and driven into the side of the car next door....So I honestly don't know how I'd react if I were in the angry lady's shoes...