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Halfords dent removal service / insurance claims
BenB - 23/6/08 at 09:52 AM

What would anyone do in this situation???

This morning I was trying to drive up our road but due to parking there's only room for one vehicle and there was a big van hooning it down in the opposite direction.
I reverse up the road and stopped next to a driveway (on the nearside) with a parked van on the offside. The hooning van went past and as I went to pull away the owner of the parked van came round to the drivers side of his van to get in. As he did he looked at his door and said "your bumpers leaning on my van door and you've scratched my van". I got out to have a look but when I had a look my car was not leaning on his van (? moved away from van as I applied handbrake and got out) and there's no sign of a new scratch on my car... My offside was close to his van (about 8-10cm) but not touching.... His attitude was "well the scratch wasn't there yesterday and your bumper was leaning against the door when I had a look"

Now bear in mind that this is my neighbour and also one of my patients(!!!) I need to try and keep up good neighbourly relations...

So what would anyone do? What would the insurance do in a situation like this?? Will my insurance company tell his to f.off? Or would they say if he reckons it was me and I'm not sure I'm to blame. Tricky one really...

Equally, how much would Halfrauds take to repair a 5mm scratch about 20cm long?!?!!?

I've got a "protected" NCB but as ever you do lose some NCB and they'll still sting you when you renew as you have to let them know of any claims...

I'm thinking about just paying to get it fixed (I was pretty close so it's a possibility) but it depends how much it is.

Nice start to the week....

andyharding - 23/6/08 at 09:58 AM

Sounds like someone is trying to take you for a ride... 5mm scratch 20cm long would have left some paint transfer on whatever caused it!

BenB - 23/6/08 at 10:29 AM

That's what I thought, I'm going to have a closer look at my car this lunchtime!!

r1_pete - 23/6/08 at 10:47 AM

The burden of proof is with the accuser, it is for him to prove you damaged his van, not for you to prove you didn't.

However, if it wasn't your bumper, it is unlikely the dent height will match your bumper exactly, so a few measurements and pics of your bumper with no damage (you'd expect a scuff) and no paint transfer should be all you need to provide.

Whilst your NCB is protected, your premium will increase due to the claim, so you discount is off a higher ammount.

[Edited on 23/6/08 by r1_pete]

[Edited on 23/6/08 by r1_pete]

BenB - 23/6/08 at 10:58 AM

Yup. I'm going to go and take a few measurements later and try and work out if its possible my car did it. A deepish dent would suggest something pointy outey and some paint transfer would seem to be expected. Time to get out the tape measure. Where's a forensic dentologist when you need one??

Mr Whippy - 23/6/08 at 11:01 AM

Prescribe him a strong laxative

eznfrank - 23/6/08 at 11:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Where's a forensic dentologist when you need one??


If you are actually looking for one I have the numbers of a few (forensic engineers) although financially it's just not worth it.

r1_pete - 23/6/08 at 11:53 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Prescribe him a strong laxative


Then tell him he's alergic to bog paper and mustn't use it.

speedyxjs - 23/6/08 at 02:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Prescribe him a strong laxative


Then tell him he's alergic to bog paper and mustn't use it.



If you're not sure, get some pics of your bumper next to the scratch/dent and post it on here. We will soon tell you if its your fault or not but as you say. its tough when its a neigbor AND a paitent

BenB - 23/6/08 at 03:04 PM

I'll certainly post some pictures in a minute. Trouble is it's 12 year old Micra so it's got a few war wounds (mostly I have to add done by little gits in carparks crunching into the bumpers then driving off) and it's testing my memory somewhat working out which scratch is new!!! But I'll take some pictures

Macbeast - 23/6/08 at 05:20 PM

Give him a prescription for 100 Viagra and tap the side of your nose " Say no more Squire "

Mark Allanson - 23/6/08 at 08:28 PM

A Micra bumper could not cause a scratch 5mm wide, the radius of the curvature is too great. It would produce a wide rub. Being an ex insurance assessor does have benefits sometimes.

Report the incident to your insurers, but tell them you were never in contact with the other vehicle, if it all goes silly later, you can rely on you insurers to help.

BenB - 23/6/08 at 09:19 PM

Yup. The more I look at it the more I suspect I was just a car near his van at the time he discovered it was dented. The fact the bloke hasn't rung me since this morning maybe means he's reconsidering the situation...
Once I've recharged my digicam I'll get some pictures up!!!