What's the matter with people?

[wymberley]

It seems a recent survey reflects that Devon has one of the highest "quick, leg-it!" mentalities in the country in this respect. Three times and counting for me so far.

[Devon Fox]

The trouble is that I am getting paranoid now, everytime a car pulls up I am twitching the curtains like some nosy old lady!!!

 

I will get over it - untill the insurance renewal comes through the door!!

[njc110381]

I've witnessed several crashes where people have driven off. Usually I get the details of the vehicle and hand it to the owners when I see them.

 

I live up a road with a low bridge on it so lorries are always trying to back out or turn in our drive. The amount of cars that get knocked is unreal, one was almost squashed and the guy didn't stop! They also knock our wall regularly and not many come and admit it.

[four-wheel-drive]

a few years ago I was asked to drive a mini bus to pick up some people at my works at the time I had a little pug 205 so was not used to driving big vehicles.

 

I was well peed off when I set off but forgot that the wheel base was so long and scratched the bumper on a brand new taxi a Merc or something like that I dully reported it.

 

Later I was told that it cost £1000 for a new colour co-ordinated bumper all it had wrong with it was two little scratches a bit of filler and a can of paint would have done it but they charged the insurance company over £1000 if I had known that I would never have reported it bloody stupid.

 

What is the point in having bumpers on cars if they are only for decoration one little bump and they ether scratch or fall off.

[Harwoodandy]

a few years ago I was asked to drive a mini bus to pick up some people at my works at the time I had a little pug 205 so was not used to driving big vehicles.

 

I was well peed off when I set off but forgot that the wheel base was so long and scratched the bumper on a brand new taxi a Merc or something like that I dully reported it.

 

Later I was told that it cost £1000 for a new colour co-ordinated bumper all it had wrong with it was two little scratches a bit of filler and a can of paint would have done it but they charged the insurance company over £1000 if I had known that I would never have reported it bloody stupid.

 

What is the point in having bumpers on cars if they are only for decoration one little bump and they ether scratch or fall off.

 

Not really the point though is it?

If some numpty had damaged my property i think i would like it reinstated to an as was condition - not repaired with a bit of filler and a can of paint....

 

So what you're saying is that if you thought it was only a few quids worth of damage you'd own up, but if it was expensive or extensive you'd keep quiet.

 

Hope you never run into my car and do some damage like the OP experienced.....

[Thunderbird]

Does anything (anything serious) actually happen to someone who is caught without insurance?

[hcarlos]

me and my partner went to see peter kay at manchester when we came out of the hotel the next morning someone had ran into the back of our 6 month old car.

lucky i had parked under there security camara and got the car reg details that did it

i could only laugh when i found out it was said hotels area manager

[four-wheel-drive]

Not really the point though is it?

If some numpty had damaged my property i think i would like it reinstated to an as was condition - not repaired with a bit of filler and a can of paint....

 

So what you're saying is that if you thought it was only a few quids worth of damage you'd own up, but if it was expensive or extensive you'd keep quiet.

 

Hope you never run into my car and do some damage like the OP experienced.....

The point that I was trying to make is to put a new bumper on costing **** loads of money when it could have been made good as new for 1/4 of the price ripping of the insurance companies so up goes every ones insurance but who cares we have all got loads of money to pay the premiums.

 

 

I will add if there was real damage then it is only fair to give them your details.

Edited April 28, 2011 by four-wheel-drive

[happypig]

Does anything (anything serious) actually happen to someone who is caught without insurance?

 

 

Well start with £200 fixed penalty six penalty points and car seizure at £150 to get it back and £20 per day storage...... thats just at the roadside.......

Edited April 28, 2011 by happypig

[death from below]

Well start with £200 fixed penalty six penalty points and car seizure at £150 to get it back and £20 per day storage...... thats just at the roadside.......

 

I'm sure that's a big worry for someone who doesn't have a pot to **** in, has no intention of paying any fine and couldn't care less as they probably don't have insurance and/or a licence, the car is only worth £50 - and unless they are unlucky enough to go through an anpr checkpoint the chances of getting a pull are minimal, worth the risk and an occupational hazard for a scrote.

[lineshooter]

Too right, the guy that writ my car off on Christmas day morning, had no license, insurance, mot, was still over the limit from the night before and, and here`s the best, he had only been out of prison for 4 days, so as per death from belows post.

[Devon Fox]

Well its been a crappy day - took the other halfs car to the insurance insisted repair shop - He looked it over and said "the damage to the alloy wheel isnt fresh" - so pretty much called me a liar, so naturally I questioned His parentage, You can clearly see its not rotational damage, there is even a line of mud from bumper damage running across the wheel with 2 bloody great big chunks out of it :blink:

 

I even pointed out that there is no kerb damage on the other 3, but the bloke was a smug little tuurd, feel I am going to have to fight it out with them, the thing is, its fully comp, so if I want the wheel fixed they should just sort it regardless surely?

 

Some interesting stories on this thread, these numpties must be costing us & the insurance companies millions.

Edited April 28, 2011 by Devon Fox

[lineshooter]

Devon, you are not obliged to use the approved repairer, get a quote from someone else.

[Devon Fox]

Devon, you are not obliged to use the approved repairer, get a quote from someone else.

 

Is that right?

 

They made it sound like I had to use them!

 

I will give them a ring on Tuesday, the chap really got up my nose

[The Duncan]

3 weeks ago I went out to my tuition car, some scrote hit my car & obviously cleared off.

Wrecked my alloy wheel & dented and scratched drivers door, rear panel and bumper - total bill £750.00, waiting for insurance company to approve quote.

 

Tonight my other half walked home from work and as she passed her nice new vw beetle - yes you guessed it - another ****** has hit the rear alloy, wheel arch and bumper.

 

Gutted, am I too honest? I would leave my number?

 

What say the rest of you?

 

My other half is in tears as the car is her first new one and her pride and joy.

I clipped a car in september in my 3.5 tonner and could have 'got away' with it.

I left a business card with a note written on the back to get in touch.

Cost me £250 excess and no doubt more expensive insurance at renewal time, but I ended up with a new customer out of it.

Sometimes fate pays you back quickly.

I have a strong faith in karma and people usually get paid out for their deeds, good and bad.

[TaxiDriver]

Is that right?

 

They made it sound like I had to use them!

 

I will give them a ring on Tuesday, the chap really got up my nose

I'm also pretty sure thats correct,

I remember when I backed my scooby into summat that I didn't have to use the insurance co's 'Prefered' repair company.

[lineshooter]

Yes mate, dont take any rubbish from them and stand your ground, say you`re not happy with their choice of repairer and you would rather use your own.

Edited April 28, 2011 by lineshooter

[Lord Geordie]

The point that I was trying to make is to put a new bumper on costing **** loads of money when it could have been made good as new for 1/4 of the price ripping of the insurance companies so up goes every ones insurance but who cares we have all got loads of money to pay the premiums.

 

 

I will add if there was real damage then it is only fair to give them your details.

 

If you had just bought a brand new car would you want it full of filler?

 

Sure I wouldn't. If I was getting a repair carried out for an accident not of MY doing I would expect new parts too. Why should my car have damaged panels etc on when it's not my fault?

 

I have had a few incidents with people riving off.

 

New years eve 2009 some *** drove head on into my Pug 406 HDI which was parked OFF the road on the verge. CCTV shows the guy lose control spin out a smack the N/S front wing and wrote my car off. He took a minute to take stock of what he had done and just drove off. Never found the guy leaving me with a wreck. Car was a minter before the accident and a joy to drive then we were left with 1.6 ton of scrap.

 

My Astra was damaged in Aldi's car park when some twonk left a huge dent in the door. Looks like someone went wide into the space next to it and just parked elsewhere. £300 to sort it out out of my own pocket.

 

On one occasion I was coming round the roundabout when a woman pulled out in her passat and I ran into the rear quarter panel damaging the O/S of my car and she tried to just drive off. I gave chase and pulled her over some 300 yards from the roundabout. I took her details and she was trying to tell me she didn't know she had been hit etc. Anyway she then told her insurance company I had hit her trying to over take? I had to point out to the somewhat stupid insurance company that it would have meant damage to the N/S of my car and not the O/S

 

Had a woman in a toyota picnic pull out in front of me when i was on the motorbike causing me to highside. She started to drive off but after a hundred yards or so decided to turn round. I think the police car that was just beside her had something to do with it. She was charged with dangerous driving and I had the bike written off.

 

In 1988 I was KNOCKED off my motorbike on the A19 near sunderland by a guy in a minibus. Never stopped and never got the guy either. Another write off.

 

Had a young lady hit my Fiesta denting the door etc in the snow I let her off as the car was a cheap tide over anyway.

 

And a lady in her golf ran in the back of my car on a roundabout again I let her off as I was due to change the bumper anyway it had a chunk missing from the towbar i removed.

[The Duncan]

If you had just bought a brand new car would you want it full of filler?

 

Sure I wouldn't. If I was getting a repair carried out for an accident not of MY doing I would expect new parts too. Why should my car have damaged panels etc on when it's not my fault?

 

I have had a few incidents with people riving off.

 

New years eve 2009 some *** drove head on into my Pug 406 HDI which was parked OFF the road on the verge. CCTV shows the guy lose control spin out a smack the N/S front wing and wrote my car off. He took a minute to take stock of what he had done and just drove off. Never found the guy leaving me with a wreck. Car was a minter before the accident and a joy to drive then we were left with 1.6 ton of scrap.

 

My Astra was damaged in Aldi's car park when some twonk left a huge dent in the door. Looks like someone went wide into the space next to it and just parked elsewhere. £300 to sort it out out of my own pocket.

 

On one occasion I was coming round the roundabout when a woman pulled out in her passat and I ran into the rear quarter panel damaging the O/S of my car and she tried to just drive off. I gave chase and pulled her over some 300 yards from the roundabout. I took her details and she was trying to tell me she didn't know she had been hit etc. Anyway she then told her insurance company I had hit her trying to over take? I had to point out to the somewhat stupid insurance company that it would have meant damage to the N/S of my car and not the O/S

 

Had a woman in a toyota picnic pull out in front of me when i was on the motorbike causing me to highside. She started to drive off but after a hundred yards or so decided to turn round. I think the police car that was just beside her had something to do with it. She was charged with dangerous driving and I had the bike written off.

 

In 1988 I was KNOCKED off my motorbike on the A19 near sunderland by a guy in a minibus. Never stopped and never got the guy either. Another write off.

 

Had a young lady hit my Fiesta denting the door etc in the snow I let her off as the car was a cheap tide over anyway.

 

And a lady in her golf ran in the back of my car on a roundabout again I let her off as I was due to change the bumper anyway it had a chunk missing from the towbar i removed.

No disrespect Malcolm, but if you offered me a lift, knowing your luck, I'd politely decline

[Lord Geordie]

No disrespect Malcolm, but if you offered me a lift, knowing your luck, I'd politely decline

 

Just as well my name aint Malcolm then eh? :lol: :lol:

[four-wheel-drive]

If you had just bought a brand new car would you want it full of filler?

 

Sure I wouldn't. If I was getting a repair carried out for an accident not of MY doing I would expect new parts too. Why should my car have damaged panels etc on when it's not my fault?

 

I have had a few incidents with people riving off.

 

New years eve 2009 some *** drove head on into my Pug 406 HDI which was parked OFF the road on the verge. CCTV shows the guy lose control spin out a smack the N/S front wing and wrote my car off. He took a minute to take stock of what he had done and just drove off. Never found the guy leaving me with a wreck. Car was a minter before the accident and a joy to drive then we were left with 1.6 ton of scrap.

 

My Astra was damaged in Aldi's car park when some twonk left a huge dent in the door. Looks like someone went wide into the space next to it and just parked elsewhere. £300 to sort it out out of my own pocket.

 

On one occasion I was coming round the roundabout when a woman pulled out in her passat and I ran into the rear quarter panel damaging the O/S of my car and she tried to just drive off. I gave chase and pulled her over some 300 yards from the roundabout. I took her details and she was trying to tell me she didn't know she had been hit etc. Anyway she then told her insurance company I had hit her trying to over take? I had to point out to the somewhat stupid insurance company that it would have meant damage to the N/S of my car and not the O/S

 

Had a woman in a toyota picnic pull out in front of me when i was on the motorbike causing me to highside. She started to drive off but after a hundred yards or so decided to turn round. I think the police car that was just beside her had something to do with it. She was charged with dangerous driving and I had the bike written off.

 

In 1988 I was KNOCKED off my motorbike on the A19 near sunderland by a guy in a minibus. Never stopped and never got the guy either. Another write off.

 

Had a young lady hit my Fiesta denting the door etc in the snow I let her off as the car was a cheap tide over anyway.

 

And a lady in her golf ran in the back of my car on a roundabout again I let her off as I was due to change the bumper anyway it had a chunk missing from the towbar i removed.

I am not talking about filling huge dents with filler I am talking about scratches less than 1/32 deep and in a plastic bumper not metal.

 

The other point is that most people who buy new cars are not going to keep them for more than 18 months or so and for the most part it is a status symbal look at my big new car I must be special if I can have a posh car like this if it was a classic car that the owner had real pride in that is a different thing.

 

I have had the same car for over six years and I am very attached to it as it dose all that I ask of it and is in good condition both mechanically and is rust free yes it has a few scratches on it but who cares it is not a status symbal it is my transport.

[Lord Geordie]

I am not talking about filling huge dents with filler I am talking about scratches less than 1/32 deep and in a plastic bumper not metal.

 

The other point is that most people who buy new cars are not going to keep them for more than 18 months or so and for the most part it is a status symbal look at my big new car I must be special if I can have a posh car like this if it was a classic car that the owner had real pride in that is a different thing.

 

I have had the same car for over six years and I am very attached to it as it dose all that I ask of it and is in good condition both mechanically and is rust free yes it has a few scratches on it but who cares it is not a status symbal it is my transport.

 

Again the depth of the scratch is irrelevant! If the damage is to the bumper plastic and not just a paint graze then it's fair enough to replace the bumper!

 

It's the same as a Jeweller losing your diamond from your fiancé's ring and sticking in a bit of cut glass! After all it's just a status symbol to make her feel special right!

 

WRONG. The fact of the matter is the damage was caused by a careless driver and their insurance is there for this purpose. The costs are irrelevant be they £50 to £500.000 I for one wouldn't be happy knowing under the paint the damage is still there.

 

When a car is in an accident it is flagged in some cases and as such you lose value when reselling. I personally think this loss should ALSO be recouped from the driver at fault. Why should I be left £2000 out of pocket just because I decided to park at tesco and some 4x4 driver or the like smash into my nice shiny new car?

 

The ONLY thing that gets me is FALSE claims and set up's where a driver in front hits the brakes to make a claim. Lies for injuries also. I am looking at fitting CCTV to my car costs less than £100 and if it can be used ONCE to prove fault then in my eyes its worth it.

[TaxiDriver]

The ONLY thing that gets me is FALSE claims and set up's where a driver in front hits the brakes to make a claim. Lies for injuries also. I am looking at fitting CCTV to my car costs less than £100 and if it can be used ONCE to prove fault then in my eyes its worth it.

I had a letter from some ambulance chaser, no win no fee, solicitors once alledging their client had instructed them to file a claim for damages as she had been unable to work following an accident whilst travelling in my taxi some 4 months previously.

 

This left me completely bewildered and somewhat perplexed as I had no recollection of having had any road traffic accidents or passenger injuries since I started trading and thats what I told them in my initial response to their letter.

I went onto add that as a responsible licenced taxi operator and former Special Constable I was of course fully insured and as soon as I had reviewed the in car CCTV footage which shows inside the passenger compartment and drivers eye view of the road ahead I would forward their letter and CCTV footage to my insurers.

 

I sent this by registered post and know from the delivery receipt that their response was posted out just two days later informing me that their 'client' had now returned to work and had decided not to pursue the claim

 

Seems she had a miracle recovery and was back on the beat

[Mungler]

youre right, thats dead ******

 

Some years ago I witnessed a guy in a skip wagon reverse into the front of a parked car, he stopped and made a big deal of leaving a note under the wiper blade and drove off, (But I noted his number all the same)

 

Call it... curiosity, sheer intrique, or good ol' noseyness but I went to have a look and see how he'd explained his accident

 

All he'd written on the piece of paper was something along the lines of "well you were parked in such a stupid place you were almost asking for it" So I left a note with his Companies name(local haulage firm) and the reg no. and witness details.

 

This happened to my mate who parked his car in a car park in Woodham.

 

No one took the details of the woman involved (all assumed she was leaving them in the note) and the note said "bet you thought this would contain my details" [or words to that effect].

 

He wore the cost of repairs.

[Harwoodandy]

Again the depth of the scratch is irrelevant! If the damage is to the bumper plastic and not just a paint graze then it's fair enough to replace the bumper!

 

It's the same as a Jeweller losing your diamond from your fiancé's ring and sticking in a bit of cut glass! After all it's just a status symbol to make her feel special right!

 

WRONG. The fact of the matter is the damage was caused by a careless driver and their insurance is there for this purpose. The costs are irrelevant be they £50 to £500.000 I for one wouldn't be happy knowing under the paint the damage is still there.

 

When a car is in an accident it is flagged in some cases and as such you lose value when reselling. I personally think this loss should ALSO be recouped from the driver at fault. Why should I be left £2000 out of pocket just because I decided to park at tesco and some 4x4 driver or the like smash into my nice shiny new car?

 

The ONLY thing that gets me is FALSE claims and set up's where a driver in front hits the brakes to make a claim. Lies for injuries also. I am looking at fitting CCTV to my car costs less than £100 and if it can be used ONCE to prove fault then in my eyes its worth it.

You're dead right Geordie - cost to repair is irelevant to me as a victim, i don't care what somebodys ill informed bigoted opinion is of my "shiny status symbol" i'd want it fixing to as new pre accident condition thankyou very much

A