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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why it’s taken 7 weeks?

5 replies

PowerToTheMeeple · 13/11/2020 18:54

Near the end of September I had a slight bump at a garage. I was reversing slowly out of a space and my foot slipped off the pedal so I went further back than I should have a bumped a car who was behind on the forecourt. I pulled back into the space and got out. There was absolutely no damage to my car or theirs, but I exchanged details with the driver and asked her to get in touch if she found anything amiss. I asked her if she wanted to take photos and she said no as everything was fine. While we were exchanging details her partner was sat in the car and appeared to be either on FaceTime on his phone or videoing, he was laughing at something.

I was absolutely mortified and a bit shocked that the incident had happened. Even though I asked her if she wanted to take photos I didn’t take them at the time, so I’ve no photos of her car. DH was in the car with me as I was taking him to work and he said I should have taken photos. Once I got home I took photos of the back of my car. I already have a dint in the lower middle of my bumper at the back which happened some time ago which I came back to in a supermarket car park and the person hadn’t left any details. There are some scratches to my paintwork on one side too under my rear lights after a tight manoeuvre in the school carpark near a wall, but nothing caused by this incident. I’ve attached pictures of those two spots so you can see. The way I was reversing I think the corner with the scratches on may be the one that touched her car, but it was just a gentle bump, I wasn’t going at all fast, in fact my speedometer showed 0mph.

Anyway, she did not get in touch so I assumed there was definitely no damage and have thought nothing more of it. Earlier this afternoon I got a text from a company regarding a claim against my insurance. The name of the company was one I didn’t recognise, but after a little Googling it appears to be connected to my actual insurance. I’ve had no notifications otherwise via post or email. I’ve logged on to my portal and there’s nothing there. Due to being on nights I only picked the text message up at 6pm and I’ve tried ringing the number I got via google, but the call centre is closed at the moment so I have to wait until tomorrow.

AIBU to think that if this is the driver now trying to claim against me that she’s possibly pulling a fast one? I know that it’s my own fault, but like I said there was absolutely no damage on either car and I was going 0mph, so I’m baffled as to what they could be claiming for. It’s also 7 weeks after the incident and she’s not contacted me at all to say there was damage or she needed further details. I’m in a bit of a spin now as my insurance is up for renewal shortly, so no doubt this is going to have an impact on that. I know I should have called my insurance company at the time it happened, but honestly I didn’t even think about it because there was nothing at all the matter. I’m so stupid. I will be ringing the number tomorrow and checking it out, but I would have thought I’d have had some other type of communication too? Do I try and contact the petrol station on the slim chance they’ve any footage?

To wonder why it’s taken 7 weeks?
To wonder why it’s taken 7 weeks?
OP posts:
PowerToTheMeeple · 13/11/2020 18:55

P.s excuse the dirty car!

OP posts:
Ferrari458 · 13/11/2020 18:57

I'd say just ring the number on your insurance policy and have a chat with them in the morning. I learned the same lesson - to always take photos at the scene of both cars.

TheStripes · 13/11/2020 18:59

I very gently bumped a car a few years ago and reported it to my insurance company, except I only had the licence plate number, name and mobile number. About four weeks later, the husband of the woman rang me to say he had a quote for the repair and did I want to pay him direct. I told him I’d already notified my insurance company and apologised they hadn’t been in touch with him. Apparently they won’t for the claimant or their insurance company to contact them direct. So based on my experience it’s quite possible she reported it straightaway and nothing has happened yet because you didn’t speak to your insurance company.

FundamentallyFucked · 13/11/2020 19:01

You should have notified your insurer.

You don't know if there is damage by simply looking at the external areas.

This may not even be connected. I get calls/texts often about an accident I was 'involved in'

PowerToTheMeeple · 13/11/2020 19:14

I realise I should have reported it at the time. It’s not an excuse but I’ve had a shitty couple of months and when she didn’t get in touch it’s something that completely went out of my mind. I did ask her to call or text me if there was anything at all. I did almost dismiss the text as I’ve had so many scam ones recently, but I always have a search on the number or company name and when I saw it was connected to my one I wracked my brain and thought it may be this.

I will ring my insurance tomorrow to discuss.

OP posts:
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