Solving a parking riddle

[trufflesandolives]

Picture this... I parked my car always leaving more space from the neighbouring left bay so I can open my rear left car door more easily to get 10 mo DS in and out more easily. While we were away from the car, a car parks in the bay to our left but occupies more of the right side of their bay leaving little space for me to put DS back in the car. There was also a van parked in the bay to our right. So when we returned to our car I carefully opened the rear left door and put DS in his seat. As I was doing so though my hip touched the car door and the car door touched (not bashed) the car to our left. I wasn't worried as it only touched and when I glanced to check I saw no damage. I got into the driver's seat, shut my car door, connected my phone to the car... and then I got a knock on my window. "Can you come out please" said a straight faced middle aged man. "Can you open your rear door so I can check something" I guessed where this was going and so I did. "Thought so. I'll take your name and number and I'll send you the bill". I was shocked and had to bend down and inspect his car door closely. Sure enough there was a small white scratch mark; barely noticeable. I gave him my details, apologised while looking and feeling baffled and left. Upon reflection however, I realised that this is likely to happen again and there wasn't much I could have done differently given my 10 mo passenger's safety needs. Therefore, as a mother I'm probably doomed to paying very high car insurance with all the claims I'll be making while working reduced hours and having a million other things to worry about or AIBU?

Sounds like you bumped into a nutter OP.

Yes, you touched his property. But sounds from what you said that it is a tiny mark which can be buffed out. And any claim by him puts up his insurance as well as yours.

I too try to put my hand between door and neighbour as others are saying.

I don't know what you do if you cannot fit in as 1 person with 1 childseat - you can't easily pop the child down on the floor a pull the car out, to then put the child in with space. Unless you ask a stranger to look out for your child...

Of course the other issue is the gargantuan cars that so many people drive these days being too big for spaces...

Did you take a photo of the “damage”?

Not really the point of the thread but my DH often wears a hat. He used to quickly whip the hat off in these situations and place between the two vehicles to provide a bit of padding if it was tight to get a door open. Looked funny but worked!

God people and their cars

Get a pool noodle and cut a 12" section off it and slice it length ways. Stick it in the footwell of the car. When you're parked close to someone else, slip the pool noodle on the door edge first.

If it's a tiny white mark, it should buff out with a cutting polish such as T-cut. I've buffed many a scratch out of my car doors. General rule of thumb is that if you run your fingernail across the scratch and hear a click, it won't buff out fully and needs spraying. If he tries to fleece you, tell him to do it through his insurance and remind him that his premiums will increase anyway (even though it wasn't his fault). If he is trying it on, he'll think again. Fact is though that you did hit his door.

This. He won't want to go through insurance as it'll be a massive faff and possibly lose him his no claims bonus. So wait to hear, and then respond by saying you think it'd cost £30 max to polish or buff the mark out, and that's what you'll pay, unless he would rather make a full formal claim.

Update: he sent a friendly message on the day saying he's just taken his car to such and such garage and he'll keep me posted. I replied and was friendly back. It's been 2 days and I've heard nothing yet

I'm more surprised you opened your car door to a stranger. If a stranger came up and asked me to open the door where my baby was, no way i would do it.