Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to just pay this

176 replies

Tututuna · 30/01/2019 10:04

We have had the police at the door saying a month ago DH hit a parked car and the person has a couple of witnesses.

Their car is very damaged and they are asking for the money to repair it but do not want to take it to court.

The thing is, DH swears blind he hasn't hit anything nor is there a mark on our car. Whilst the accident did happen near where we live, DH was away with work from around 8am through to the evening.

Annoyingly he hasn't asked who the witnesses were or what time they said it happened so I need to find that out but AIBU to think that firstly, if someone's car is damaged enough to need hundreds of pounds worth of repairs, DH would be aware he'd hit it and two there would be evidence on our car of an accident?

I know most people say this but I genuinely believe him that he isn't aware of any accident.

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 30/01/2019 10:08

If work can confirm that he wasn't in the area, because he was at work, then he doesn't have an problem.

There's no need for any agnst over this.

Hillarious · 30/01/2019 10:09

I suppose first ask for the time of day the accident happens. If your DH was elsewhere at the time and has proof that he was, that should sort it.

We had a similar experience when we were approached by the owners of a holiday cottage we'd stayed in where a neighbouring firm claimed we'd damaged one of their vehicles whilst parking. The said they had CCTV evidence. We had absolutely no recollection of this and when we asked to see the evidence, we never heard from the company again.

yummumto3girls · 30/01/2019 10:09

I would go back to the police and ask for the evidence and, based on this, what their findings are, as reported next to the crime number. On the basis of this I would make a decision but from what you said I wouldn’t pay unless the police provide evidence and request you to pay.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 30/01/2019 10:10

I wouldn't just pay this either. How have the police verified that the witnesses are truthful. I'd want CCTV or dashcam proof. Weird that it's taken a month to contact you as well, if they had the registration.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 30/01/2019 10:13

Also, can the police request that you pay. It isn't a crime, more of a civil matter I'd have thought. Your insurance company needs to be notified and they should investigate also. I'd not just be handing over money to total strangers on the basis of their 'witnesses' say so.

Bombardier25966 · 30/01/2019 10:15

Pass it to your insurer, as someone is making a claim against you they need to be notified irrespective. Give them the details of where he was at the relevant time.

Insurers take fraudulent claims very seriously (the other party, not you) and will work with the other party's insurer to ensure they never do it again. It's quite possible that this isn't a one off on the part of the other party, and that their witnesses are all linked as well.

LittleOwl153 · 30/01/2019 10:17

The police are knocking the door demanding cash from a car accident? Seems very suspicious to me. I would definitely hand it over to your insurance - definitely not worth the risk of paying g up for them go come back for more!

Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 10:17

Yes I need to find out the time of day asap. He works for himself though so the only 'proof' we have are clients saying he was with them and messages and photos he sent to me saying where he was.

I did wonder whether the 'witnesses' would all be related somehow. They have two apparently.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 10:18

I will tell him to inform insurers asap

OP posts:
coldweather · 30/01/2019 10:19

Surely if their care is very damaged then your DH's would be significantly impacted too!

Definitely agree with show them the proof your husband was away with the car at the time l.

Again, also report to your insurance.

TheFaerieQueene · 30/01/2019 10:19

I’m not sure the police would get involved in this, nor in such a way. Surely this would be something for the insurance companies to resolve.

Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 10:20

We've had no contact from any insurers so far. Last night was the absolute first we'd heard of anything. I wasn't there though so didn't get to ask the proper questions annoyingly.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 10:22

He said it wasn't him and he is not aware of any accident and apparently they just left and said they may need to get back in touch.

So whilst we can report it to the insurers, we don't actually have any more details other than the date and the road on which it apparently happened. I'm really annoyed he didn't ask more questions!

OP posts:
ForeignnessAlert · 30/01/2019 10:23

Are you sure it was the police?

Santaclarita · 30/01/2019 10:27

Take it to the insurers and let them handle it. Guaranteed that unless your husband is lying to you (in which case you've got bigger problems), it's a scam. Happens a lot.

LadyFlumpalot · 30/01/2019 10:27

Hi OP, a few years ago a car reversed into me and left the scene. I reported it to the police and they took details. They called me a few days later to say they had located the car and the owner, had informed him that he had been in the wrong and told him they would report his details back to me but would take it no further themselves as they genuinely believed it to be non malicious (guy was driving a huge 4x4 and didn't realise he'd hit me, thought he'd clipped a wall instead).

Maybe something similar has happened to the person who's car was hit? They could have taken the number plate down wrong which has led to you or someone could be driving on cloned plates.

Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 10:29

Thanks. He says he's sure it was police though I wasn't there so!

In terms of cloned plates or taking number plate down wrong, the accident happened near our house so I think the likelihood is slim of this.

I will get him to tell the insurers firstly.

OP posts:
Orchidflower1 · 30/01/2019 10:29

We’re they uniformed officers? If not I’d assume it’s fraud. Report to action fraud, police and insurers.

MojitoMonkey · 30/01/2019 10:30

We returned to our car to find it had been the subject of a hit and run. A stranger approached us to say they had witnessed the whole thing and provided us with the details, for which we were extremely grateful . Our insurers involved the police as it is an offence not to stop after a collision or to report it, which could lead to points or fines. The police tracked the woman responsible and she confessed to it. So the police would absolutely knock on your door IF they had evidence to suggest you were responsible.

Shikah · 30/01/2019 10:30

This happened to me. It was someone who lived on my street and they set it up with another neighbour. They lied and I could prove it - I had dated photos showing me 250miles away when they said it happened. I also managed to get on her Facebook page and download photos of her car which was fine 2 days after the ‘accident’. Admiral still paid out. I asked for a review and the police visited again and said I might be guilty of a hate crime if I pursue this (neighbours were disabled). I moved house and no longer trust the police. Sorry OP Flowers

AmayaBuzzbee · 30/01/2019 10:31

Sounds like a scam. Why would the police come knocking on your door? Surely it’s their insurers who would be in contact?

Don’t hand any money over, but contact your insurer to let them know.

Windgate · 30/01/2019 10:31

That is not the way the police deal with allegations of failing to stop after an accident. Either they were not police or they are acting unlawfully.
I'd contact the police and ask them for the details of the alleged victim, vehicle and witnesses so you can inform your insurance company. Let the insurance company deal with this.

FFSFFSFFS · 30/01/2019 10:31

Are you sure it was the police??

OutPinked · 30/01/2019 10:31

Doubt it was the police, pretty certain they would tell the owners to take it up with their insurance company... sounds like they’re trying to defraud your DH, I would be hugely suspicious.

daisypond · 30/01/2019 10:32

My first thought was that it wasn't the police.