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AIBU?

To take up two parking spaces?

87 replies

Amy214 · 13/08/2016 18:49

Over the past 6 months i have noticed scuff marks (the kind you get when someone has opened their car door too wide and hit my door) today i noticed a dent and massive white scuff on my left passenger door. No note was left behind and because i can't prove when it happened the police aren't doing anything about it (took my details, checked my insurance policy then left) I always make sure i don't park too close to neighbouring cars and when i have dd with me i use parent and child parking. I also always make sure i keep a hand on my door (if the weather is especially windy) so i don't hit anyones car but i am getting so fed up with spending money on repairs and taking my time with t cut to get the scuff marks out. Im on a low income so can't afford to keep spending money on repairs when it could be avoided. I know i will probably come across as a massive idiot but if i find two spaces that are quite some way away from the shop entrance (as no one really parks there or go to the shop when its quiet) then it should be ok? It's very upsetting when you spend money on something nice and then someone damages your property and doesn't even apologise.

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Laiste · 13/08/2016 19:02

If it's not busy then why not? You often see all the 'posh' cars parked right at the back of our tesco's. Sometimes taking up two spaces, yes.

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NavyandWhite · 13/08/2016 19:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Theoretician · 13/08/2016 19:06

People who park like that tend to go get abused on-line, so I wouldn't hope for to much from this thread.

I don't think it would actually be unreasonable, if you are using car parks with plenty of empty spaces, but I've never been brave enough to do it myself. (Brave because knowing what other people will say/think.)

I do park away from other cars. Earlier this week I was in a car park that was one long road with cars nose-to-the-kerb, and the last several cars had each skipped one space before parking. I did the same, noted the car nearest me was a Posrche 911, a lot more expensive than my car. I was worrying that someone would come and park between us, and it occurred to me I should park right next to the Porsche, because the owner of an expensive car is far more likely to be careful with his doors.

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Theoretician · 13/08/2016 19:08

I am a bit surprised you have been so unlucky. I've generally managed to avoid this kind of problem, one scratch I had recently was the first in many years that I've definitely attributed to a car park.

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JudyCoolibar · 13/08/2016 19:09

Probably because I live in a town, I don't bother to get every scratch, dint and scuff mark repaired - life is too short and I'm not that bothered what my car looks like.

Fine to park how you like provided you're not inconveniencing other people. You may fine people still end up parking right next door to you, though, just because people can be strange about these things.

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jumpjumpformylove · 13/08/2016 19:12

I did this with a newborn baby. There were no parent & child spaces and the car park was fairly empty (arrived early in the morning). My car has wide doors and it was impossible to get the baby in/out without a bit of extra space, so was taking a precaution in case anyone parked too close.

Got a £60 fine through the post Angry, even though there were lots of available spaces.

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MajesticSeaFlapFlap · 13/08/2016 19:12

I just got back from Bournemouth beach there was a car in two spaces at the busy seafront car park.
People were wiping dirty nappies on the windscreen and writing rude stuff in sunscreen lotion on the Windows.

Just be prepared for stuff like that, bad parking seems to really rile people


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WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 13/08/2016 19:18

Lots of shopping centre type places will give you a ticket for this. My brother got a ticket at ikea for being 1" over the line.

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Amy214 · 13/08/2016 19:22

If i do park more to one side its more likely to be my drivers side thats closer to the other car. As dds car seat is on the left so i tend to leave slightly more space incase my bum hits my door and makes it hit the other car but as i said when i have dd i use parent and child parking spaces. A lot of people around my town have older cars so are a bit careless and don't look after them. My car isn't posh or brand new (its 6 years old but well looked after) i have owned my car for nearly 3 years and managed to avoid any accidents or damage for quite some time.

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Amy214 · 13/08/2016 19:25

I like to try and repair any damage done so that when it comes to selling it on i don't lose money for something silly.

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MrsJoeyMaynard · 13/08/2016 19:25

I'd avoid using 2 spaces. Most car parks round where I live say on the notices that cars should be parked within one space and cars can be ticketed if not parked within a space.

Where possible, I would try parking far away from the shop entrances, so away from where most people like to park, and leave gaps between you and the nearest other cars.

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eightbluebirds · 13/08/2016 19:27

I have to admit, when I see cars parked like that I wonder and judge what kind of entitled driver does that. Only in busy car parks though.
I woundn't notice in a quiet car park/ if you parked in a quiet spot miles from the entrance.

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Neaders · 13/08/2016 19:29

If you are on a low income then why are you spending money on cosmetic repairs? So what if it is scuffed and dented. It has 4 wheels and goes, right?
I personally wouldn't bother - I don't even think I would notice. Life is too short

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pollyblack · 13/08/2016 19:29

Yes it's unreasonable to take up two spaces.

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plipplops · 13/08/2016 19:30

This has happened to me at least twice in the last year, and one of them is a massive dent on the drivers side that pisses me off every time I walk up to the car there are other dents that I've caused myself but I don't really mind them It's the thought that someone could make such a huge dent and not leave a note, people are awful. I think it's because I'm out and about loads as opposed to the car just being at home or in the safe work car park ifswim? I try to park at the end of a row now, just to protect at least one dire of the car. Or if I'm just popping somewhere quickly, park relatively close to the passenger door of another car facing the opposite way to them, so hopefully they just get in on their driver side and bugger if without hitting my car? It's absolutely infuriating though I feel your pain.

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SecretNutellaFix · 13/08/2016 19:30

If you don't mind appearing on your local Parking Like A Twat page on FB, go ahead.

That said, if you park far enough away from the shop there are usually fewer cars parking there, so you should park in one of those instead?

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Amy214 · 13/08/2016 19:30

Its surprising to hear that so many car parks give tickets if you aren't parked correctly. I live in a small town but there is no signs to say that you will get a ticket if parked incorrectly. You only get a ticket if you exceed the 90 minute limit.

I'll find a space thats the furthest away from the entrance and leave a space between mines and someone else's (secretly hoping i lose some weight aswell Grin)

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OctopusHairband · 13/08/2016 19:34

I wouldn't park across two spaces in case of a ticket. But park far from the entrance and maybe on an end so you can park right on the line next which doesn't border another space? That'll give another driver maximum door opening space should they choose to park next to you...

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Ginmakesitallok · 13/08/2016 19:38

Did you call the police for a dinged door???

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prh47bridge · 13/08/2016 19:39

If there are definitely no notices warning that you may be fined if you don't park within a space you are safe from that point of view. I would recommend checking the notices carefully.

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LRDtheFeministDragon · 13/08/2016 19:39

amy - that's what the lines on the floor are for!

Getting scuff marks is part of driving. Most people with affordable cars would not spend money on getting these buffed out - you only need to deal with a scratch if it is over the metal and deep enough to rust, and then, you can paint it in cheaply yourself.

I do get why you're fed up. The only time I ever spent out on a car (it was 5k), someone left a dent in it weeks later and didn't leave a note, and I had to get the light mended. And I was furious. But, realistically, I don't think the mark itself really lowered the resale price very much. So, unless you shell out on a really expensive car, it probably does not make as much difference as you think.

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Amy214 · 13/08/2016 19:40

I fixed the stone chips aswell Blush there is a shop/garage nearby that deals in second hand parts only for my make of car (parts like lights, panels, anything interior, refurbished alloys) its relatively cheap and easy to replace so why not?

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SecretNutellaFix · 13/08/2016 19:43

It's not that cheap if you add up everything over the time you have the car.

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Amy214 · 13/08/2016 19:44

Ginmakesitallok the dents massive! I called 101 so that they could maybe check the cctv and if the damage was done whilst i was parked there then we could do the appropriate thing.

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Missgraeme · 13/08/2016 19:46

I had my car bashed in a local shop carpark - cctv showed the driver and reg clearly but police were not interested in taking it further - was told to claim on insurance! Another time a car entered the street and scrapped the side of my car - had a witness this time who went to the station and gave a statement - still no action. Yet once I literally bumper to bumpered a car after passing my test in a mc car park - went inside and asked around for the owner - car had gone when I went back to my car - bloody police called to my house about the hit and run I was involved in!! Carparks are a game of bloody chance!!

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