BANG BASH - My pride and joy has been smashed

[Grem]

In petrol station with door open, about to get back in the car after refueling. Clio white van man decided he did not want fuel and is racing through the fuel station. Clio man decides to try to squeeze through the gap between me and the other bloke filling up and as my door was slightly open he clips the bottom corner with his bumper.

No damage to his heap, but my door is bashed in the corner and totally out of alignment. Thankfully a few big builder blokes helped my bend the door enough to get in to close.

Swaped insurance details and had a long chat with my insurance. Basically the bloke is not admitting liability and no eye witnesses (in other words no one wanted involved)

Basically his word againd mine! IM SCR@WED!!! WHY ME!?!?!?

Local back street place can bash out and re-paint the bottom of the door for £250 ish. Insurance job means £1200 - £1500, new door and repaint door, part of back door front wing and "blend" the other pannels to match.

Not sure what to do.
Some pics for those interested.


Im off to sulck now and the pub sounds a good idea

For the record - full clean licence, 11 years no claims protected with £200 excess.

[Vec-trance]

Sorry to hear that mate. What about the CCTV in the petrol station?

[Dwabo]

cctv should deffo have it

[Duncan]

Bummer!

Surely the petrol station has CCTV? Get in contact with them quick before it's too late to get hold of it. The cameras would have a perfect view of that area.

EDIT: Great minds think alike guys! lol

What an arse as well - how on earth did he think he was going to get past you?

[Grem]

The only petrol station in the south with NO CCTV which makes me laugh as it was robbed 3 times last year - once at gun point and the cops closed the A4 for hours.

Even tried the place next door - they said cctv was being fitted next week but they would "charge" for copies of recording - very nice eh?

[Duncan]

Blimey!

Surely your pics are enough though? It shows quite clearly what he did. He may not be admitting liability, Gawd knows how he can't!!, so leave it with your insurers to pursue it with his insurers - that's what you pay them for. Do they know you have the pics? I reckon once you show them those, and his insurers see them, then they'll roll over.

[Small Racer]

I suspect white van man was told not to admit liability. However if you have the pics and his details/reg - make a claim. If you submit the pics with all the details to your insurers they will pursue - thats what you pay em for and I suspect his insurers will cough up when faced with the evidence.

[Grem]

Dunc / All

I have spoken to the insurance stealers in detail.

Basically

1. Photos are fine - but they did not capture the incident happening, they show pictures of AFTER the incident.
2. Unless I have an eye witness (which I dont) it is my word against his.
3. I thought bacause I was stationary "parked with engine off and keys out" counted for something - apparently not.
4. I thought bacause Clio van may was trying to squeeze though 2 parked cars put him in the wrong - apparently not as there are no rules stating you cant do this.

AND TO CAP IT ALL.

My insures have now spoken to CLIO van man who has now changed his story somewhat and said I opened my door into his car - utter tosh!!!

The insurance co say I could battle this out but say I will probally be told to claim my own insurance.

I rang an old mate of mine in Scotland who has worked in insurance for 10 years and even although I have proteced no claims he suggests if I claim my £340 per year premium will suddenly go up substantually next renewal time. He suggested I should think about the back street garage option as If my premium goes up - i cant really go elsewhere as I would then need to declaire a claim.

I am really gutted - all the years of old runners and never putting a mark on any car, this happens to my first new car. Feel like beating Clio mans face through his bonnet or crying like a baby - might actually avoid the pub just now.

Going to pop out and have a look at my door again. Thanks for the advice anyway Dunc

[cornishpirate]

Sorry to read about you mishap

I noticed that it is a shell station and i thought that shell had a policy of installing cctv in ALL of their stations for 'employee protection' reasons

make sure they are not just trying to get out of the hassle of reproducing images.

You do have a right to get a copy of images at a reasonable cost

[Dwabo]

what bout the person in the blue clio and the guy with the flourescent jacket??..