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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A (potential) car incident

273 replies

hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:29

Hi mumsnetters,

I'm in a situation and I just don't know what to think about it (not trying to be defensive) and don't know how to handle this situation.

A person has rang up my kids school saying someone has hit their car and if this is not sorted then they will escalate this further.

I was contacted today by the school to say is this your car reg and it was. My car has been caught on cctv (apparently) hitting a car and 'running off'.

Now, I am not aware of hitting a car, well not that I know of. I was given the persons contact details which I was happy to take so I could discuss this further with them. I rang them and they were extremely defensive saying that I am a bad person and who would do such a thing etc. I asked have you personally seen this cctv footage and also if you could send me pictures of the damage done to your car. They also mentioned that there was an eyewitness who left a note with tier number saying that it was a hit and run.

I am not a hit and run type of person so this person has gotten the wrong end of the stick.

I have asked the person to also send me the cctv footage so I can review it too. They have refused to do so. I don't know why. They have said you can contact the school and obtain this your self.
I will be looking to get this done and check out the whole footage.

But what do you think I should do? A part of me is like maybe I did hit a car but unaware. The photos of the damage are scratched as if bumper to bumper scrape kind of thing.

Any advice please.

By the way, I am the only driver of the car and it was at the time that I would've been around at the school.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Ratfinkstinkypink · 23/09/2024 21:31

Tell them to contact their insurers.

Original poster
hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:32

Ratfinkstinkypink · 23/09/2024 21:31

Tell them to contact their insurers.

How would this help the situation?

OP posts:
BubbleGumSplit · 23/09/2024 21:33

Get the cctv yourself. Check you really did hit them! It's normally best to go through insurers too. Don't worry about all this 'hit and run' stuff. If you didn't notice anything you didn't notice anything. It can happen.

coconutpie · 23/09/2024 21:33

Requesting the cctv footage would be the obvious thing to do next ....

Sugarplummama · 23/09/2024 21:34

Unless it was a quick clip of one of the mirrors I don’t see how you could hit a car and drive off and not know. I know it’s hard but I would try and not worry about it until you see the cctv footage.

Original poster
hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:35

BubbleGumSplit · 23/09/2024 21:33

Get the cctv yourself. Check you really did hit them! It's normally best to go through insurers too. Don't worry about all this 'hit and run' stuff. If you didn't notice anything you didn't notice anything. It can happen.

If I did, then would I still go through the insurers? Won't it affect me more?

OP posts:
TwinklyAmberOrca · 23/09/2024 21:37

Surely you'd know if you'd hit a car?!?!?

Are there any scrape marks on your car?

View the CCTV footage and unless it's very clear that contact was made I'd say it was likely someone else, especially if there are no scrapes on your own car.

BubbleGumSplit · 23/09/2024 21:38

Why go through insurers? If they're scammers they won't want to contact their insurance. They can't inflate the costs of repairs so easily with an insurance company and they would risk fraud charges. They can't hassle and guilt trip you any further if it's all through the insurer as you won't tali directly to them. Handling it yourself can be good for low cost damage if you're sure it's all genuine but also it can leave you more open to scams.

HorsesDuvets · 23/09/2024 21:40

hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:35

If I did, then would I still go through the insurers? Won't it affect me more?

Show quote history

Not if, when the insurers contact you, you tell them it wasn't you and you haven't had an accident.

The other party can then either produce the CCTV or get lost.

FictionalCharacter · 23/09/2024 21:41

Don't deal directly with the other person, they're trying to bully you into giving them money for something that might not be your fault at all.

Tell your insurers and let them deal with the other person's insurers. If there's no proof that you hit anything they'll politely tell the other party to get lost.

Original poster
hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:41

By the way, it was a parked car. Unless I was parking in one of the bays next to them and may have clipped it. I don't know. I need to see the cctv footage for sure. They've obviously got the right reg number.

They've said they won't go through insurance because I may not have insurance or a drivers license and the can't afford that???

They have also said specifically that they will go to a professional garage and not a recommended one. I just was thinking are they trying the rip me off???

OP posts:
DeliciousApples · 23/09/2024 21:42

Sounds like a scam

So a random person saw something
Someone else calling them self the school phoned you as their cctv saw something
An eye witness prob pals with the others saw something.

To date there is no evidence of anything.

Go out and check all round your car for dents and scrapes AND video every bit of it in case they come in the night and ding it so they can say it was you yesterday hitting their car...
If your car is not damaged I'm inclined to think they are at it to try and extort money from you. You'd remember a bad bash. You'd feel it.

Ask the school for the cctv footage asap If they gave it out to her they can give it out to you.

Do you know where the person lives as I'd want a sneaky look at their car to see this alleged damage.

If the school doesn't know what you're talking about then you'll know it's a scam.

I think that if your car has no damage and their car looks knackered, I'd be inclined to let the insurance deal with it.

Your premium will likely go up though.

NewPinkJacket · 23/09/2024 21:42

I'm obviously wrong but I thought only the police could ask the school for CCTV footage?

It's certainly the case at mine.

Even the staff aren't allowed to view it.

Maray1967 · 23/09/2024 21:43

A lady scraped mine recently. I felt the contact immediately and got out of the car- her car was clearly touching mine and red paint from mine had come off on to hers. She seemed genuinely unaware and fortunately to pull in and exchange details, and pay for the repair.

NewPinkJacket · 23/09/2024 21:43

hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:41

By the way, it was a parked car. Unless I was parking in one of the bays next to them and may have clipped it. I don't know. I need to see the cctv footage for sure. They've obviously got the right reg number.

They've said they won't go through insurance because I may not have insurance or a drivers license and the can't afford that???

They have also said specifically that they will go to a professional garage and not a recommended one. I just was thinking are they trying the rip me off???

Oh, if this had been in your OP it would've been easier.

Total scam.

TwinklyAmberOrca · 23/09/2024 21:44

hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:41

By the way, it was a parked car. Unless I was parking in one of the bays next to them and may have clipped it. I don't know. I need to see the cctv footage for sure. They've obviously got the right reg number.

They've said they won't go through insurance because I may not have insurance or a drivers license and the can't afford that???

They have also said specifically that they will go to a professional garage and not a recommended one. I just was thinking are they trying the rip me off???

Then it's a scam!

View the CCTV and I bet it won't show anything. They're just choosing a car that went near theirs.

If it is a genuine claim they'll go through insurance.

Original poster
hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:44

They have sent me photos of the damage. And I do seem to have some marks on my car on the front. But nowhere as bad as what they've shown me.

It was at the school car park so they've obviously managed. It was at the time when I would pick my kid up so I couldn't have run off. I must've parked up and I'm just thinking why didn't this eyewitness just speak to me ?

OP posts:
DeliciousApples · 23/09/2024 21:44

Oh and there's no way I'd be going to their mates garage. Hell no.
And I wouldn't park my car anywhere near where I parked in future, park up the road and round the corner and walk the kids to and from school. That scammer is out for cash cha-ching.

No insurance or driving license ha ha that's THEM not you lol!!!

DappledThings · 23/09/2024 21:45

How did the school know to call you? Do they keep a record of the registration numbers of all the parents? Or are they saying a random person saw their car got hit somewhere covered by the school's CCTV and the school watched it, recognised you and called you? I can't see how the school are making that their job. Makes no sense.

Mumofoneandone · 23/09/2024 21:46

Whatever happens, only do something through your insurance, not directly
Sounds like a scam.

BMW6 · 23/09/2024 21:47

Turn the whole thing over to your insurers.

HorsesDuvets · 23/09/2024 21:47

hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:41

By the way, it was a parked car. Unless I was parking in one of the bays next to them and may have clipped it. I don't know. I need to see the cctv footage for sure. They've obviously got the right reg number.

They've said they won't go through insurance because I may not have insurance or a drivers license and the can't afford that???

They have also said specifically that they will go to a professional garage and not a recommended one. I just was thinking are they trying the rip me off???

They are talking absolute nonsense!

They don't get to choose whether your insurers are involved or not, and if you don't believe you've hit their car then tell them to either contact your insurer or get lost.

Original poster
hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:47

The person has contacted the school and has asked for cctv footage around a certain time and that's how they've seen my reg plate. The headteacher had been making phone calls to find out who the car belongs to. I said it was mine and asked if I could swap numbers with the person and I said ofcourse. I would rather deal with this myself.

OP posts:
Original poster
hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:48

Let's say there is footage of me hitting the car. Then what would I do or say?

OP posts:
m00rfarm · 23/09/2024 21:50

hahavzv · 23/09/2024 21:41

By the way, it was a parked car. Unless I was parking in one of the bays next to them and may have clipped it. I don't know. I need to see the cctv footage for sure. They've obviously got the right reg number.

They've said they won't go through insurance because I may not have insurance or a drivers license and the can't afford that???

They have also said specifically that they will go to a professional garage and not a recommended one. I just was thinking are they trying the rip me off???

Of course it is a scam. For goodness sake. Contact your insurance company and tell them what has happened.