had accident, think they are claiming for pre existing damage

[farmlama]

on tuesdayi was reversing out of a parking space and bumped the front corner of a car. the car was parked in the middle of the car park (not in a bay) and when i was reversing i just didnt see it as it was at my blind spot. i know i am at fault for hitting a stationary vehicle despite them being parked illegally, i left a note on their windshield with my phone number. i spoke to the other party that evening and said i would pay for the damage i had caused and apologised, not wanting to get insurance involved thinking my insurance would soar and cost me a lot more in the long run.

 

now my problem is that i was driving at less than 10 mph and just hit the front corner, but they have sent me a quote from a dealer totalling over £1300 and a lot of things listed i just dont see how i could have caused. they have only sent one quote from a main dealer, i thought the standard procedure was to get 3 seperate quotes? and they are trying to claim for a new mirror, door handle, window seals, door moulding etc. their car is an 8 year old 1 litre corsa and i just dont see how the cost and what they are claiming reflects the damage i would have caused. the only damage to my car is a slight scuff on the back corner.

[citizenB]

Did you not take a note of any damage at the time ?

[farmlama]

i got out and looked at the damage and it appeared to be a big scuff on the painted bumper and slightly going on to the wing, and definately nothing near the door or mirror

[citizenB]

I would wait for others with more knowledge to look in on your thread, but you might want to revisit your thoughts on not claiming off your insurance.

 

I too would have thought that they are required to obtain more than one quote and perhaps if they believed you were contacting your insurers and there might be a review of the damage, they might consider only costing the damage that was actually done.

[Kiki1]

on tuesdayi was reversing out of a parking space and bumped the front corner of a car. the car was parked in the middle of the car park (not in a bay) and when i was reversing i just didnt see it as it was at my blind spot. i know i am at fault for hitting a stationary vehicle despite them being parked illegally,...

 

Any cameras ?

Private car park ?

Any witness to the car being parked illegally ?

How was it parked illegally ?

[farmlama]

Any cameras ?

Private car park ?

Any witness to the car being parked illegally ?

How was it parked illegally ?

 

 

its a council owned car park i believe, not sure about cameras or witnesses, but she was parked illegally in the sense that she wasnt in a bay, i dont mean just over the lines but not in a bay at all, just parked in the middle of the road meant to drive around the car park, not agains a wall or at the side or anything, just in the middle of the road

[Surfer01]

Didn't you take any pictures at the time as you may need to prove it was only a scuff?

[letsmakeamark]

Biggest mistake you left a note with your contact details.

[Surfer01]

Biggest mistake you left a note with your contact details.

Most decent honest people do this but now people are taking advantage of it!

Edited November 25, 2012 by Surfer01

[letsmakeamark]

Exactly in this case you have been had. I am not saying dont do this but if you had not left your details nobody would have bothered. Or if you were worried then you should have reported it to the local police station which would have covered you incase of any comeback.

[dw190]

the only damage to my car is a slight scuff on the back corner.

 

Take a photo of the damage on your car and more close ups of the rest of your car. From the damage on your car, a reasonable assessment can be made of the damaged area on the other car. Send them the pics disputing the damage they are claiming.

[Master Tyke]

Send them a letter disputing the extent of the damage claimed and point out that claim is fraudulent and if it is pursued with be disputed and reported to police. Then offer knock for knock (you pay for your damage, they pay for theirs).