7 weeks in - dent in the car

[monkeyhanger]

I’m sure you are talking upwards of £500 if it is anything more than a smart repair, requiring spraying and blending in etc. By the time you talk about “contributions” on that, like half, you are probably into what her excess will be anyway – make her insurance pay and any premium increases are on her head! She’s not driving in a cheap banger and she only said sorry when she realised that there’s money involved (either yours or hers). If she’s in an 11 plate car and she hasn’t literally just got it 2nd hand then it’ll have cost her a decent lump of cash.

If it’s £250 make her pay out of her own pocket anyway and she can be thankful you didn’t go through her insurance.

[mk7gti]

monkeyhanger im not sure if you remeber my posts from a few weeks back. This happend to me when my car was two days old. First question are you missing paint at the point of impact?

My thread is here http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=259419.25

[Valenni]

Don't know if there's a topic all ready for w7nkers that dent people's cars, but I have to have a rant.  Dropping my little girl off at school today, some dumb f7cking b!tch lets her 5 year old open the car door and smashes into my car - dent over an inch long in the passenger side panel (not the door).  I am f7cking livid.

Took all my restraint to not f and blind at her in the playground with all the mums and kids there.  Told her she was paying for it and to expect a bill.  Starts giving me a sob story about how she has 3 kids and can't afford it, and that it was an accident.  DON'T LET YOUR 5 YEAR OLD OPEN A CAR DOOR THEN YOU INCONSIDERATE (UNT!

My question to the forum is this therefore:  I'm off to get a quote for a repair at lunch, do I just pay for it myself and have a heart as she may well not be able to afford it - or, do I make her pay for it as its her own fault for letting her kid open the car door by herself and why should I have to shell out, especially just before Christmas?  I do not let my 5 year old open car doors, she waits for me to do it.  And if I had dented someone else's car I would be paying for the damage.

To say I am fuming is an understatement.  And the paintwork is f7cked too. 

Thanks for listening 

I have a 4 year old who is TRAINED not to open the door himself. I also have a simple thing called a CHILD LOCK. Why was she not using it? (Or was she driving a 3 door)?

Still, don't listen to her sh1t, get her insurance, take photos and get a new door!

Also, I am paranoid when parking this car. Even though I park in the furthest corners, people seem to park next to in in their mini MPV's and Hyundai Accents!!!

[p3asa]

She's driving an 11 plate but she never told you her husband is driving a top of the range Merc!!

The lack of consideration from certain car users is atrocious and its why I never park in a side to side car park ever.
Matchboy I feel for you as there is nothing worse than your pride and joy getting damaged.
You seem to be in a quandary about whether to make her pay or not. I think I'd be in the exact same situation, part of my anger would want her to pay every last penny but the other part would actually feel sorry for her.
For me, if she got the message about respecting others cars then I wouldn't bother pursuing it but I think the only way she is going to get that message is by being out of pocket. Unfortunately though there are loads and loads like her.

I used to see this kind of thing in my kids school car park all the time. So what I would do was only stop in between 2 parked cars that were empty to drop my kids off and if there were none I would drive back out and park further down the road and just walk the kids over. I know its no consolation to yourself but maybe something to think about in the future.

Hope you get it all sorted to your satisfaction.

[CraigW]

Sorry to hear this Mark. There is nothing more infuriating. The only good thing is that you were there to witness it and you got her details.

As MH says it's likely to be a fairly expensive repair particularly if they are going to have to respray. In that case, she is going to have to pay it through her insurance. She should have had the childlock on in the first place.   

[mistertee]

It's all about responsibillity.  Your car is damaged.  You didn't do it. It needs fixing.  You shouldn't pay for it, the person who did it should, that 5 year old child can't so their parents should.

If they can't afford it, why do you think you can?

[hastd2]

I feel for you bud, but as I see it if you let her off with it, who's saying she wont do it again to some poor Gti/Gtd....
 
MAKE HER PAY!!!!!!....

[Ginagee]

Depends on how much the repair is gonna be, whether it's from her pocket or her insurance. I've changed my view on 'just a contribution' seeing as she's driving an 11 plate, she can afford it.

[monkeyhanger]

Depends on how much the repair is gonna be, whether it's from her pocket or her insurance. I've changed my view on 'just a contribution' seeing as she's driving an 11 plate, she can afford it.

Yep! If you can’t afford the excess on your insurance then you shouldn’t be on the road. Any other price paid over and above excess to avoid loss of NCD etc is her own decision.

[matchboy]

Thanks chaps.  So my man can do it for £250 mates rates.  Which isn't too bad.  But it also means I'm going to get her to pay for at least half of it.  Pay the piper and all that.  Better than expected but its still £250 just before Xmas - plus more importantly my car has a dent in it 

Although, I think I might get the missus to have a chat with her #pussy