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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I've been bad - damaged someone's car in carpark

368 replies

GuiltyMoo · 14/05/2021 17:02

I came back to my car in a supermarket car park to find that someone had parked their car with their passenger side way too close to my drivers side. So close that I couldn't get past their wingmirror to get to the door. So I had to bend my wingmirror in to squeeze past. Then I had to do contortions to open the door and then get in. I accidentally knocked their wingmirror out of position and dented and scratched their door doing so.

I confess that at that point I was so furious that I let my car door bang again against the other car. I then drove out of the space, stopped, got out and went back to put their wingmirror back in place.

I am now at home feeling super guilty, waiting for a knock on my door from the Police after they track me down from the carpark CCTV.

So, AIBU for squeezing into my car and causing the damage? Should I have gone back to the supermarket and had them call the driver to move their car so I could get in mine?

I'm a big worrier, and this will pop into my head for years to come, as another moment of shame.

OP posts:
Flowerlane · 14/05/2021 17:56

What they did is annoying but you easily could have gone into the supermarket and asked them to make an announcement for the owner. They didn’t damage your car, but you deliberately went out of your way to damage their car🙄

Hope they track you down and make you pay for the damage.

CHILLLADIES · 14/05/2021 17:56

If you park without leaving enough room for the person next to you to get back into their car, then surely you're accepting the possibility of damage to your car and you just don't give a shit. What were they expecting, op to climb in the boot? Can't get worked up about this at all.

Egghead81 · 14/05/2021 17:56

Final post

But not going to do anything about it

And now I’m off to search your name post name change fail!Grin

KnottedFern · 14/05/2021 17:57

[quote GuiltyMoo]@WithIcePlease
@cupsofcoffee

And the other driver was not been unreasonable parking so close to my car and leaving me with not enough space to get in? In my younger days I might have been nimble (and slim enough) to get into the driver's seat from the passenger side but those days are long gone.

No I didn't leave a note with my details, just as others haven't after denting and scratching my own car. Iknow that doesnt justify my actions, hence the guilt and shame.[/quote]
They may have been unreasonable to park so close, but they didn't purposely cause criminal damage to your car!!!

Viviennemary · 14/05/2021 17:58

You deliberately vandalised another car even after you had already accidentally damaged it. Not good.You will be caught on CCTV. Then you returned to the crime scene to try and put thing right instead of leaving a note.Hmm

andivfmakes3 · 14/05/2021 17:59

It's a totally shit thing to do

Whose to say you don't drive a Chelsea tractor or parked off centre thereby leaving yourself no room

StoneofDestiny · 14/05/2021 17:59

Geez - what a charmer. Owner of old rust bucket in fury vandalises another owners car and wonders if they have done wrong?

Something wrong with them if they even have to ask!

bloodyhell19 · 14/05/2021 17:59

@CwidlyDoo

I'm only back to answer the question about the car space lines. As I do, I parked well within my space leaving extra room on the driver's side in case anybody parked on the edge of their space.

So yes the other park was not parked within their lines but well outside it and into my space. They crossed their lines.

However, the consensus is that however they parked is immaterial. I am in the wrong. I accept that.

Final post.

You could attempt to rectify it and make your way to your local police, explain what happened (maybe leave out the furious banging for the sake of it bit) and leave your details if the other car owner comes knocking.

Or just sit on your laurels and do f*ck all and hope for the best.

boredinthouse · 14/05/2021 18:00

[quote GuiltyMoo]@pepsicolagirl

I am not boasting. I do feel guilt and wanted others views. I have received them, have taken them on board and will seriously consider my next steps.

Thank you everyone for your honest opinions of my actions. I will not be posting further.[/quote]
What "next steps"? You deliberately damaged their car and drove off. You don't know their details. Any next steps will be coming in your direct from the police (hopefully).

motherloaded · 14/05/2021 18:00

Hopefully they got the lesson and next time they will be considerate.

You helped a lot of drivers there Grin

NerrSnerr · 14/05/2021 18:01

@Snackz she goes in and gets a tannoy announcement like the OP said she could have done.

StoneofDestiny · 14/05/2021 18:02

I will not be posting further

Suddenly turned agile 😂.

Wishihadanalgorithm · 14/05/2021 18:03

I’d have done the same, OP. I wouldn’t worry about it either. The other driver might think about how they park in future.

Bluntness100 · 14/05/2021 18:03

Wow. They inconvenienced you so you deliberately damaged their car?

If this is true it’s outrageous and I hope they do get you from the cctv.

motherloaded · 14/05/2021 18:03

It would be very surprising if anything happens.

Snackz · 14/05/2021 18:04

[quote NerrSnerr]@Snackz she goes in and gets a tannoy announcement like the OP said she could have done. [/quote]
@NerrSnerr not everybody has time to go and ask for an announcement to be made. What happens if somebody has an appointment to be at? Or an emergency?

Mamamamasaurus · 14/05/2021 18:04

[quote GuiltyMoo]@pepsicolagirl

I am not boasting. I do feel guilt and wanted others views. I have received them, have taken them on board and will seriously consider my next steps.

Thank you everyone for your honest opinions of my actions. I will not be posting further.[/quote]
Chill out OP. You're getting lots of stick, rightly or wrongly. It happened and it's done now.

I highly doubt anyone will knock on your door - someone one reversed into me, whilst I was sat in my car and then drove off..... I asked about CCTV and was told that it didn't cover the car park.

You should be fine.

StoneofDestiny · 14/05/2021 18:05

I've loads of times been left with little manoeuvre room when I got boxed in between huge Range Rover type vehicles that current parking bays were never drawn up to accommodate - but I've never even thought about vandalising their cars.

Note to all car park designers - they need re-setting, with wider spaces now as so many giant vehicles are becoming the norm.

crimsonlake · 14/05/2021 18:09

I get that it was annoying...but to act on what you did?
How hard is it to go around to the passenger door and shuffle over to the driver's seat, much easier than struggling and contorting your body as you describe to get in through the driver's door.

godmum56 · 14/05/2021 18:09

hindsight is a marvellous thing but the same thing has happened top me and I went back into the supermarket with the car reg and asked the CS desk to put a call out over the tannoy.

SnoozyBoozy · 14/05/2021 18:10

If the space between cars was that small, I find it really hard to believe that you managed to scratch and dent their door without the space to give it a good whack...

Zoinksalot · 14/05/2021 18:11

Natural consequence for someone parking like a cunt. If they're so close you can't open your door properly they're obviously over the lines. Their shoddy road skills are on them.

TopBlogger · 14/05/2021 18:12

@Wishihadanalgorithm

I’d have done the same, OP. I wouldn’t worry about it either. The other driver might think about how they park in future.
This
Bluntness100 · 14/05/2021 18:12

I highly doubt anyone will knock on your door - someone one reversed into me, whilst I was sat in my car and then drove off..... I asked about CCTV and was told that it didn't cover the car park

This is confusing. Do you know rhe op? Were you in the same car park?

Maggiesfarm · 14/05/2021 18:12

You can still report yourself to the police, in fact they will think more of you now, it isn't uncommon for people to be in a type of 'shock', frozen state, after such an occurrence. Then they sort of wake up and take responsibility - or not; you will.

Do so and it will go well for you. Remember, this is a minor thing, nobody is injured or died.

Good luck.