Next doors bin! Car damage

[simoor]

Hi All,

I woke up this morning to the below devastation to my GTI. As you can see next doors bin had a paving slab on top of it, and the wind has blown this into my car. The most annoying thing is that the colour of the car is Oryx white, and this may be difficult to touch up/re-spray.

I'm just after some advice really, I have the following info:

* The grey concrete divider on the floor is the boundary between properties.
* I do have CCTV on the drive, but need to check this tonight.
* I have taken a lot of pictures of the area.
* I have informed next door, and we are catching up tonight.
* I have this 'inchcape' dent cover protection, but the area is too big for the damage radius chart. Also I have noticed that they don't cover 'pearlescent' paint, Oryx white does have a slight 'pearlescent' look to it. I'm assuming this could be another case I need to raise.
* They could class this as an act of god, but putting a paving slab on top may change this.
* The car was taken out under the VW solutions finance so needs to be done by an authorised body shop.

Should I now raise this with my car insurance all leave all actions until tonight when I talk with my neighbour. I am popping to my local VW dealer to see what options I have through them (dent protection, body shop costs)

Thanks in advance! 

Simon

[Mark V GTD]

Oh no - really sorry to hear and see this.... looking at the pics I think it will be repairable but not without significant re-painting, excacarbated by the fact is Oryx White which is a difficult colour to match and blend. Has it pushed the metal in or is it just scratches? Soem of the look pretty deep?

Not sure if yor neighbours household insrance would cover this as I don'th think those plicies have third party risks. I suspect you may well have to ask them to pay for this as even if you claim on your own polcy and they pay the excess there would still be future implications due to the 'claim'. 

First thing I would be doing is to identify a local quality bodyshop - no harm in asking your dealer as the paint warranty will require a 'VW Approved' shop anyway - and get a quote. This will take a couple of days.

[karlak]

We had a similar incident although different ....

The chimney cowel was blown off of our chimney and landed on my car.  I tried to go through my own house insurance, but they would not cover it as i was not a "third party".

So, we discussed what would have happened if the cowel had hit the neighbours car.  They told  me that it would then be covered under our house insurance.  Almost like a third party cover.

So, hopefully your neighbour has house insurance that covers 3rd party damage.  Try that route first.  If not and depending on your relationship with next door, it would be a case of a civil action   . I guess the case would be that they were not careful where they left the bin.  It can all get a bit nasty.

Hopefully, you can settle it without any problems

[Jimble]

Ouch!!

First thing i'd do is talk to your neighbour, if they're willing to pay then it's half the battle of insurance and all that goes with it.

Find a decent bodyshop, even if they're "VW Approved" it doesn't mean they're any good.

[matchboy]

Awful.  I feel your pain.  I'd defo speak to your neighbour, after all what kind of moron puts a slab like that on their bin without thinking about the consequences of if it were to blow off (especially with these winds) 

[noobmonkey]

Awful, and such beautiful paint too. I hope the neighbours will see sense and go through their insurance? Hopefully they are amicable and you will have a few good options.

Good idea getting pre-emptive quotes etc. At least you can be prepared.

[dubber36]

Find a decent bodyshop, even if they're "VW Approved" it doesn't mean they're any good.

Hear hear. 

That's terrible, but unfortunately these things happen. I would insist that your neighbour should claim off his insurance or out of his own pocket. It's not going to be cheap to repair properly tho'. I'd guess at around £8-900.

On another matter, If VW dent insurance doesn't cover your type of paint, I'd be after them for a refund at full retail price. It's probably a case of an ill informed salesman looking to boost his commission, but when it comes down to it, it's miss selling.

Good luck. 

[simoor]

Hi All, Thanks for all of the advice, I instantly knew this morning that you lot would be very helpful 

I have just had a quote for the car:

VW Chester

Repair:

Slight dint

Paint:

N/S Door
Blend N/S/F wing and N/S/R quarter panel
Also a GTI side badge as removal will damage it.

£847.50

I am going to try and recover my costs for the VW dent insurance as it seems they don't cover my type of paint.

Thanks once again and I'll keep you posted.

Simon

[p3asa]

On another matter, If VW dent insurance doesn't cover your type of paint, I'd be after them for a refund at full retail price. It's probably a case of an ill informed salesman looking to boost his commission, but when it comes down to it, it's miss selling.

Definitely. Its not as if they didn't know what car the policy was going on.

[BoSelecta]

Sorry to see this! Hopefully next door's house insurance will cover...