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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:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 30/01/2019 14:15

It isn't a crime, more of a civil matter I'd have thought.

Depends if it could be considered leaving the scene of an accident. That's not outside the realms of possibility if the car was badly damaged.

I'd contact the police - they should be able to find the visit if you can tell them your address and an approximate time of their visit - and see what they say. I'd also be querying the evidence and the witnesses.

Make the insurer call once you've done that - you don't want to involve them if you don't have to, but you also don't want to leave it too late. If it turns nasty and they didn't know, they might get a bit funny.

thecatneuterer · 30/01/2019 14:26

@AnchorDownDeepBreath Interestingly although I was accused of leaving the scene of the accident - see my post above = the police weren't involved at all. I think that's a pity as they might have taken my proof of being elsewhere at the time more seriously and the whole thing would have been cleared up quicker.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 30/01/2019 14:30

Ah sorry @thecatneuterer, I missed that!

Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 14:33

See this is why I don't know whether or not to inform insurers. If it was a genuine visit last night.

If I leave it and they find out at a later date will they not have preferred to have been informed at the outset?

But equally I don't want to set anything in motion by telling them if the other party hasn't informed their own insurance.

I may just call police first and see what they are advising the other party and go from there. It may be that they will advise them to now get in touch with insurance.

OP posts:
daisypond · 30/01/2019 14:39

Just phone the local police and check if they did send someone out to you.

thecatneuterer · 30/01/2019 14:42

No, it made no difference that I hadn't informed the insurers (how could I? I knew nothing about it) even when they assumed that it was in fact my car in the accident. You have nothing to gain by informing them and a lot to lose.

DarlingNikita · 30/01/2019 14:48

TBH I don't know why your DH hasn't got a better grip on what happened, but anyway you need to call the police and get to the bottom of it, rather than dithering about whether to tell the insurers.

Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 14:51

TBH I don't know why your DH hasn't got a better grip on what happened

Yes I know! Very annoying.

OP posts:
Orchidflower1 · 30/01/2019 15:01

It’s good they were uniformed op as it appears the visit was genuine.

Did the police leave no note as to your husbands next steps in the matter?

katseyes7 · 30/01/2019 15:01

lt isn't technically "leaving the scene of an accident" if one vehicle was parked, that's only if two vehicles on the highway have a collision. lf theirs was parked up it's "criminal damage to a vehicle" . If the owner of the vehicle has reported that their car has been damaged in this way, l would expect there to be a crime number, or at the very least, an incident number from when it was reported.
l'd do some digging with the police before you do anything else.
The officers last night should at least have provided your husband with the incident number and the date the incident was reported/created.

Omzlas · 30/01/2019 15:05

This happened to me, in a supermarket carpark. I was stationary and the other car hit then drove off. I tried to follow it but lost it.
I reported it to the police and my insurance company. The other driver denied any knowledge of it, though he admitted he was there at the time. Told them he wasn't aware of any damage and there was nothing on his car. It got me nowhere

Bastards.

Artofhappiness · 30/01/2019 15:08

This is very odd. If it was police officers at the door they have standard procedures to follow. They don't just turn up and ask on the doorstep, leaving you to sort it out an accusation of damage with someone who has made an accusation.

The process is that if an accident was reported to them, with details of the car and driver, they would contact the registered owner of the car and ask them to attend a 'voluntary' interview at the police station. This is the first step to taking any form of action. Failing to stop (even if no-one is injured) and leaving the scene of an accident, without leaving your details, are also offences by the way and the police seek prosecution of these in court - even if it was just a minor bump and no injuries.

If your dh hasn't received an 'invitation' to attend the local police station for interview your dh should:
a) look up the details of a good solicitor who is experienced in motoring offences, just in case
b) learn about the police process when a 'hit and run' i.e. failure to stop and leaving the scene of an accident is reported to them (even if no injuries)
c) try to establish exactly where he was/his movements that day and who had access to his car (if anyone except him) and anything or any person that can corroborate (e.g. mobile phone location, work colleagues/boss, time stamped receipts from purchases). This may be unneeded but useful for an initial conversation with the solicitor you have found via a)
d) DH should also check whether it was a bone fida police officer at the door - did they leave a card or contact info for the police? Can he remember their name or number on their uniform? As a last resort he could call the local police station to check identity, but make sure he's done a) first.

Don't contact your insurers until/if your dh has something to tell them. They'll be as baffled as you as none of this sounds remotely plausible.

Artofhappiness · 30/01/2019 15:09

Source: brother is a police officer and asked for you!

Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 15:13

Artofhappiness

Wow thanks!

DH insists no reference number or anything was provided and all they gave was the date although I don't think he asked many questions (again, so annoying!), the fact that this person has 'witnesses' and the road on which is apparently happened.

DH told them it wasn't him and he is not aware of any such collision, there is no damage to our car etc... And they left saying they may have to get back in touch.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 15:14

I will try and contact police station later

OP posts:
Artofhappiness · 30/01/2019 15:15

P.S plenty of people end up in court for hitting a stationary car, e.g. even just mirror damage and failing to stop, failing to give details at the scene of an accident. It's very much an offence but usually dealt with by a Notice of Intended Prosecution rather than an in person visit from the police.

FabulouslyFab · 30/01/2019 16:08

A few years ago a tractor trailer wrecked the side of my daughter’s car as it went past (country lane, dark, my daughter had pulled over and was stopped). My daughter called the police right away as it didn’t stop. The local farmer denied it but thanks to a fairly determined police woman a few days later finally admitted their tractor driver thought he may have ‘caught’ something! (There was straw embedded in the dents of the car!!!)
All eventually sorted through the insurance.

Letsmoveondude · 30/01/2019 16:17

Not sure how helpful this may be, but can he look through his locations for that date on google? That’ll help pinpoint him at a certain location, ie not the scene of where the crash would have occurred.

Does he have any sort of receipt from that day whilst he was out of the area? I’d just collect every tiny bit of evidence that he was as far from that location as possible.

And yes, unless he drives a tank, there would be some damage to his car, and honestly, you’re not likely to hit something without realising a massive thump.

Jaxhog · 30/01/2019 16:20

I'd not only contact the police to find out if they really were police officers, but also photograph every inch of his car. Just in case they try to inflict some damage to make him look guilty. Unlikely, but then the whole thing is weird. If they were serious, then why didn't they ask for details of your DH's insurance? Or offer their details? Where did they leave it - did they ask him to attend a particular police station for an interview? Or did they say they would be in touch? Very strange.

It does sound like a scam to me. (Impersonating a Police Officer is a known scam.) If it IS a scam, they will probably be back demanding money.

PutyourtoponTrevor · 30/01/2019 16:25

I'd just ignore the whole thing and wait for them to get back in touch...which I don't think they will

Original poster
Tututuna · 30/01/2019 16:25

Jaxhog

They didn't ask him to come anywhere just said they may have to get back in touch.

We can gather evidence as to his location but need to know the time this apparently took place first as they didn't tell him that and he didn't ask either!!! Angry

OP posts:
mummarosie1 · 30/01/2019 16:26

This is a scam.

TeaByTheSeaside · 30/01/2019 16:32

I wouldn't do anything OP apart from photographing the car just in case they come back again.

And I wouldn't contact your insurers either.

PolarBearDisguisedAsAPenguin · 30/01/2019 16:40

This has to be a scam.

MojitoMonkey · 30/01/2019 16:41

Unfortunately it's probably a little late to photograph the car - it could have been repaired in the last month. Hopefully there will be cctv in the area of the alleged collision that will prove he was not involved.

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