'Fail to stop', if I left a note?

[notarock]

I bumped a parked car yesterday. There was a few scratches on it, which I was doubtful were caused by my car as I'd reversed (very slowly) on a straight angle with no paint transfer on mine.

Nevertheless I waited for 20 minutes total to see if someone came back to the car, and then left a note before leaving. I've heard nothing.

Could I still get caught out with a 'failure to stop' with this? I'm in a huge spiral reading stories online. I'm terrified of points on my license or huge insurance increases just because of a really stupid error, and I have no knowledge on these processes.

I'm sure you can report online. No need to speak to anyone

Sorry, but the OP has come on here asking for advice and I don't think this response is going to help. Laughing at someone who clearly feels vulnerable!! I can totally relate to this 'mentality' as I'm an overthinker too, although I fully agree that it isn't rational or in fact, healthy to think this way.

OP, please try not to worry, you've left a note, you haven't failed to stop. I bet you don't hear anything more. You can report it to the non-emergency police number, all they do is record it and will let you know if anyone contacts them.

OP I did this a couple of weeks ago. I'm not going to report it to the police. I left a note with my number, apologised and said to call me (I also took a picture of the damage).

I've heard nothing yet but will deal with it in the event they do eventually call.

There are a lot of people who wouldn't leave a note.

I will actually pay for repairs if I'm contacted. And FYI no insurer is going to trace a potential claim on your behalf either.

You sound like me. Whenever I make a mistake I think of the worst possible outcome ever and replay it over and over in my head until the next thing comes along to take its place 😂 that's anxiety for you!
I know you won't lose your license though.. there would hardly be any drivers left if that was the case!! It was simply an accident. If you hear anything back, great! If you don't, great! It's just a scratch, nothing severe will come of this.

Either they have your note and will contact you or they haven't got your note and have no idea who scratched their car. If it is the former, there is evidence that you didn't "fail to stop", if it is the latter, then they have no way of reporting you as they don't know who you are.
If they have a dashcam, then, they will see that you stopped and put a note in.
Whichever way you spin it, I don't see how failure to stop can be reported or proven.

I reported an incident with a cyclist to the police. The cyclist caught the corner of my car as they came flying out of a side road. By the time I'd registered what had happened, stopped and got out the car they'd gone. I guessed that they were probably ok and wanted to leave it based on that (and the possibility they were up to something dodgy in that area) but I called the non emergency number anyway. They took the details and I heard no more about it.

OP with all kindness please calm down.
Nothing will happen to you. You did ever you could. The other driver will either get in touch or won't.

Just forget it until they do.
You're beating yourself up for no reason

I did notify my insurance to log in for information - just as an update feel a bit less spirally after this.

I love the barrack room lawyers on here. You didn't fall to stop. You stopped, provided contact details "exchange of full particulars" someone said up thread....what nonsense...who knows their insurance policy number off by heart?
the police will not be interested...you gave contact details...it's enough.

I'm an ex manager of the UK 's largest motor insurer (at the time) fraud department.

My car has a scuff on it, obviously done in a carpark or side of road, no one left a note, at least you did so the person can contact you if they want. DH had someone leave a note on his car in a carpark so he rang them up and told them not to worry about it. Hopefully the person will contact you so you can stop worrying.

You did stop. You left a note. As long as it has your contact details you'll be fine.

Did you take photos?

I once bumped another car on the road (side wing mirrors hit when I moved into a right filter lane, and totally my fault) - they drove straight off. I didn’t even get their number plate.

I rang the police and reported it. I just took my license and I think insurance details in to the local station the next day.

I never heard any more about it!

I bumped a car in a carpark. Waited then went to local shop to get paper and pen to leave details. When I got back car was gone. It was right in front of a CCTV camera and I sweated for a few days waiting for the police to rock up. I asked the shopkeeper to be a witness that I'd tried to leave details. They thought I was mad. Nothing happened. I suspect the police are busy with other things and as many others have said most people just leave it or fix it themselves without involving the police or insurance.

This type of thing happens everyday, every minute in fact and it gets sorted out. You left your details. I would not be telling the police or my insurance company until necessary

Going with PP to say there is no point in(further) reporting this at all.
And either there's footage, which will show the "accident" AND you leaving the note and probably not even any harm, or there is no footage and probably not even any harm.
Hug!

I bumped a car once and left a note. I got a call of the gentleman later that evening thanking me for my note and not to worry about any damage cost. He was just thankful I’d owned up. It was only a small scratch he said would come out easily.

If I park next to another car, open the door and accidentally scratch their car, I have to call the police if I can't exchange contact details?

If this is the case, I've nevertheless heard of this before

You don't know much then. Exchange of information if there is damage or injury must be exactly that. If the other driver isn't present, there can be no exchange ... which is when it must be reported to the police.

Hey OP
I know it's been a while but just wondered how this ended up for you?
I had a similar circumstance today where I bumped a parked car in a car park. I went to park up and wrote a note with my number on. Checked the damage to my car and was just a scuff. Checked the damage to their car, also just looked like a scuff. Wrote the note, went to put the note on the car and it was being driven off after the owner had filled the boot with their shopping.
I took myself off to the coffee shop opposite the car to calm my nerves as I was panicking that I'd be in trouble for a hit and run. That didn't work so drove the 40 minutes home, spent the evening researching what to do and ended up reporting myself via an online form to the police just in case the owner of the car reports it.
My concern was the cctv camera in the car park so I decided it's better to be safe than sorry! Although the amount of time my car was clipped in a car park and I've had no note is very high!
I hope you got on OK anyway 😀