This happened today at DFO Brisbane. A Westpac livery car damaged my side door didn't leave a note. I take a picture every time in a mall or closed parking spaces. What are my options ? How do I get the owner contact details? I have car rego number.
It's a 2 month old car and this happens :(
I don't wanna drive anymore
think of it this way.. its only the door and the door skin can be replaced pretty cheap if you can DIY and get it sprayed, theres always paintless dent removal services.
Sorry mate, this was me. lemme buy you a beer and call it even aye?
You reminded me when I was in a classroom, a student threw something at the teacher, the teacher could not find the culprit, gave whole class a detention, a nice student confessed he did it even though everyone knew who was the real culprit except the teacher.
Ooookaayyyyyy
is that an "Ooookaayyyyyy", you'll get back to me when your free about that beer?
or an "Ooookaayyyyyy" whilst your hands are up in the air and your walking backwards slowly?
Get back to you when free hahhaa
Username checks out
Have to change it soon
Unless you have someone that can illegally pull the rego number and give you a name and address then you're wasting your time. and even then, what would you do, consult bikies?
Police aren't going to give you the time of day (rightfully so) since you don't have any proof whatsoever.
Taking a picture of your car and other cars around you is wasting time, it doesn't prove anything.
I hope you figure it out, but you really have zero chance. If there was a chance less than zero, then you would have that chance.
I think I have moved on interns of recovery . I'm not out for blood . Some kind of accountability would have been good since they were using company car. I will contact westpac however
How bad is the damage?
If it's just a paint transfer you can remove it with WD40. There's videos on how do to it on Youtube.
Otherwise there are mobile scratch repair services you can call if you don't want to take it to a smash repairer.
It's can be seen from an angle since the surface is so reflective. I can see the dent but paint is intact. I will check these methods lockieasy thanks !!
Ah okay, if it's a proper dent then it may need professional panel beating I think.
Photo pkease
I will take one soon and send
I can understand OPs emotions. When my car was kinda new, I also used to sweat over small scratches and dents occurred in the parking lots and malls. Nowadays, I don’t care because any new scratch would not make any noticeable change in the look after having been parked at public places over the years.
Thanks amzonaddict. I know it's materialistic but new car feeling is something else. I was driving a 2004 car before this and not even care about dents..new car with 20x more cost is going to hit emotionally
what car is that….Make and Model
Hi OP, sorry that must have been me that dented your door. I was in such a rush I didn't have time to leave a note! Gosh I'm such an aquarium.
I noticed a Westpac car waiting for my spot when I was leaving so I can see how you think it was them.
Lol
plot twist: op works for the commonwealth bank.
Get it repaired and close this thread. Lol
Why the (profanity) is this a thread?
Lodge a report to the police with registration and description of car.
Provide witness details to police.
Get report number from police.
Call insurance company and lodge claim.
Provide registration, description of car, witness details, and police report number.
Initially you will need to pay excess.
Insurance company will investigate and chase up person/company at fault.
You will eventually get your excess back.**
Car fixed.
**Not guaranteed.
There was no actual witness (just some person who said they didn't do it).
It's a new car, didn't you opt for the paint protection pack, tinted windows and fabric protection????
Oh my gawd!!! you'd not be in this situation if you had taken the coverage out.
I did particularly like the bit where you said 'so I have a witness', then later on, 'they drove off; I didn't get their details…'
lmao.
Avoid DFO
Doors
F$¢k€d
Over
As someone who takes care of their things and likes to maintain stuff in good condition, car parks are a nightmare.
There really are some careless and inconsiderate people around who have little regard for other people’s items, not to mention kids who fling doors open as soon as the car comes to a stop.
Car spots are getting increasingly smaller whilst cars get bigger.
Car doors usually have two or three set points at which they stay open and I’ve been in some new buildings where even the first point is just on touching the next car depending on how big the car is and how well they’ve parked; you really had to be very careful getting in and out to not make contact with the neighbouring car.
Whilst you may be careful and have the best intentions, there are genuine events though such as a sudden gust of wind which can fling a door open, so mistakes can happen.
I always try to park far away if possible:
1. To minimise the chance of damage to my car.
2. To give myself ample space to open doors fully to load things in and out without worrying about neighbouring cars.
If there are cars next to me, I always make sure I have one hand holding the door at all times so it can’t swing open accidentally into the next car.
What car is that?
It's basically high and run. You've got buckleys for any chance for compensation to be frank.
Make a police report. They have the ability to look up the ownership details and contact them.
Granted a long time ago and in a different state but NSW police contacted me twice based on others reports of my involvement in accidents. Once someone had reported that the vehicle I was driving had scratched someone else’s car, my parents got a call from the police whilst I was still out and about (I hadn’t actually damaged the other car and the owner didn’t pursue it) but police did enquire re ‘hit and run’. The other time I was one of three cars in a bumper to bumper, whilst I had spoken to insurance I hadn’t made a police report, police wanted me to make a statement, which I then did.
Times may have changed as this is 20years ago, but police do have the ability to search ownership details and contact them. The other vehicle might have corresponding scratches.
If the police ask why you’ve taken this long to report it, simply say that ‘a friend’ recently told you that this was an option. You can start here https://www.police.qld.gov.au/units/policelink-131-444/policelink-–-non-urgent-reporting-and-enquiries
You’ll either be able to do the whole lot online or call the number and they can talk through what the options are.
Alternatively go all vigilante and trying to gather ‘evidence’ by going to the nearest westpac branch/de on a day the bank is open to see if you can find car parked and if it’s scratch eg Westpac Toombul. TBH I’d probably just stick to police.
Honestly if think most here are being a bit harsh, you have the right to see if you can find who damaged your vehicle - you might not be successful, but there are options to pursue it. Makes me wonder how many OzBargainers would damage someone else’s vehicle and not own up
Police cannot do anything unless you have proof or witnesses.
For sure they can, they can rock up to the address where the vehicle is registered and look for corresponding damage. Or they can simply call the registered owner and ask. Whether they do or not and if it’s successful is a different matter, but they can absolutely do something. .
Make claim under insurance. That’s why you pay for it
I guess OP is worried about paying excess cause it ain't his fault.
If he can prove that the damage was done by the other vehicle then he don't have to pay that excess and his insurance premium further down the line in the following years won't go up.
This is one reason why its good to buy low km 2nd hand cars that may already have a few minor dings. Dont think there is much you can do unless you already have the act on recording. I would normally try to park far away from other cars but even ozbargain posts has confirmed that cars get lonely and you will end up having a beating up car parked next to you uncomfortability close. . door dings are inevitable.