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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:
ApolloandDaphne · 30/01/2019 10:33

Sounds very suspect to me.

LittleLongDog · 30/01/2019 10:34

Is there damage to your car?

AmayaBuzzbee · 30/01/2019 10:36

Oops, ignore me! Just seen messages above to confirm police can indeed come to you in this instance.

Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 10:36

LittleLongDog no absolutely nothing on ours.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 10:38

The road is near our house and we do use it from time to time so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that they have seen us and could have taken our number plate however DH swears he's not it anything at all and there's no damage to our car so whether they have just taken a random persons number plates down and said it was them I don't know.

OP posts:
Lemontwist · 30/01/2019 10:39

I recently witnessed a small bump where a driver hit a parked car but drove off. I took down the registration, reported it and left my details.
The woman who's car was hit was extremely grateful but unfortunately her claim has gone nowhere. Her insurers wrote to the owners of the vehicle but received no response and refused to chase it any further.
The police were not interested and said it would be just my word over theirs.
I've seen the car around too and it still has black paint all over it's front passenger side where it hit the stationary car but the poor lady who's car was hit it out of pocket for it Angry

Imnotswallowingthat · 30/01/2019 10:39

The police would not turn up demanding you pay for damage in an accident, that is a civil matter and nothing to do with them. Their only involvement would be if they were intending to prosecute for leaving the scene of an accident.

cjt110 · 30/01/2019 10:40

A friend had someone say someone had hit their car, or something similar, and had witnesses to that effect. Turns out the witness was the person's mate who was in prison at the time it apparently happened...

Some people like to try it on

DarlingNikita · 30/01/2019 10:42

This sounds really weird to me. Why would the police come round a) so long after the incident and b) without being proper evidence? Also, why haven't you heard from the insurers?

But anyway, seeing as the police left it at 'they may need to get back in touch', I don't think you need to actually do anything.

DarlingNikita · 30/01/2019 10:42

The police would not turn up demanding you pay for damage in an accident, that is a civil matter and nothing to do with them.

And yes, this.

Really odd.

Inliverpool1 · 30/01/2019 10:43

The police wouldn’t get involved with this

Orchidflower1 · 30/01/2019 10:43

As I asked before- were they uniformed officers?

Inliverpool1 · 30/01/2019 10:43

Unless a person was injured and you’re accused of hit and run

Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 10:44

Orchidflower1 DH said he was sure they were police but I'll ask him specifically if they were in uniform. I assumed they were as I say, he was sure they were police.

OP posts:
whiteworld · 30/01/2019 10:45

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.

Fraud.

Contact the police (the real police) for advice.

whiteworld · 30/01/2019 10:46

If there was nobody injured, police would not get involved. it would be the insurance company. And a month ago?? All bonkers.

Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 10:46

Lemontwist

I've had this happen to me and it's infuriating having to pay for damage you haven't caused. It works both ways though and so we shouldn't be paying for something we haven't done.

I also know that there are people who would likely lie in this situation because they don't want to pay for the damage to their car but don't know who it was.

OP posts:
Redglitter · 30/01/2019 10:49

Get your husband to phone 101. Explain the situation and ask for the officers to recontact him. If its been reported itll be recorded and they'll be able to find out who's dealing with it.

caughtinanet · 30/01/2019 10:50

Sounds dodgy, I'm pretty sure the police don't ask anyone for money, that's not how it works.

Did your DH get the impresion that the police were expecting him to give them some money that they would then give to the person whose car was hit? There's no way that would happen imo

Have you rung the police?

EnglishRose13 · 30/01/2019 10:51

I'd ask your husband to contact the police himself as surely there will be a record of it if they were genuine.

GemmeFatale · 30/01/2019 10:52

I wonder if ‘the police’ are actually neighbour’s mate/relative who happens to be in the police force.

Lylia · 30/01/2019 10:55

There’s no way that was the police. It’s not a criminal matter - it’s a civil matter.

I would ring 111 or your local station if you can find a number for it and ask them whether or not they sent police officers to your house.

Orchidflower1 · 30/01/2019 10:58

I ask about the uniform as some friends of our had “ fake police” ie plain clothes/fake if etc roll up looking for someone and could they come in. However our friend is a 16 stone, six foot police inspector who arrested them for impersonating a police officer! I was shocked at the audacity so I just wondered if this was along the similar lines. A ploy to get into the house/ get money.

fishyfish · 30/01/2019 10:58

Make sure you take lots of photos of your car from different angles as proof of no damage to your car. Sounds dodgy to me. I'd be worried about them making it look like he's damaged the other car.

Orchidflower1 · 30/01/2019 10:58

Fake id not fake if!!