Unpleasant altercation - who was the most unreasonable?

[zerofeeling]

Took my dogs out today and was trying to park in a small space between two cars on a country lane. As I was inching back to fit into the space I heard a loud crunch 😖

The two men from the car behind had just set off on their walk, as I got out of my car one of them was heading back towards me shouting why did I try to park in such a small space. I said sorry and inspected the front of his car - couldn't see any damage at all, and apart from a tiny paint scuff nothing on my car. I said to him 'i can't see any damage, it doesn't look like I hit you'
Man just glanced over at his car then asked me for my details, I asked is that necessary and said again there's no damage. He said that's not the point you have to give your details if you've been in a collision. He was much taller than me and sort of fronting up to me repeating that he wanted my details and me refusing, saying I don't think it was a collision, I think I might have hit something underneath my car. (For info my Mum and a friend have both been scammed on their insurance by people who claimed all kinds of things after very minor prangs)

Then he took an ID wallet out of his pocket and flipped it open to show a photo and badge and said he's Police. I couldn't tell if it was genuine or not. He held his phone up and said he's filming me refusing to comply with the law.
By this time the other man had come back and also filming me and I started to worry - I'm in a secluded area, with two men who are much bigger than me. I told them I felt intimidated and are they trying to scam me?

I got in my car and tried to shut the door but 1st man held onto it to prevent me. I asked if he's trying to detain me and he said no but I will if you don't give me your details, I've identified myself to you as a police officer. I said you've got no right to detain me. Eventually he let go of the door and I had to turn the car round as the lane is a dead end. Once I turned round he said again that I'm breaking the law by refusing to give my details after a collision and he started to recite the Caution they give when you're arrested! I drove away very shaken up, no idea what consequences to expect.

Considering the way he was acting, and you couldn't see any damage, I probably would have been intimidated and left. If he's got your reg you would hear soon, but sounds like it's difficult to know if he was telling the truth or trying to have a go. I would try to forget it and see if anyone contacts you

Just because you know someone whose insurance was claimed upon, doesn't mean you aren't obligated to share insurance details. You don't know if the crunch was to sthg underneath his car! If there was a crunch..something was hit. As you were moving and he was stationary you are therefore at fault and at very least he should be able to get a mechanic to check over his car before confirming there's no damage. Why would he inspect it underneath himself.. how would either of you know simply looking. You were unreasonable by assuming the crunch arsed no damage and not giving him your details (which you ARE obligated to do after an incident...INCASE there is damage)

I’d report it to your police- it shows you’re being upfront and honest. I don’t think off duty police would generally behave like that. Has anything appears on social media?

You were most unreasonable

You acknowledge the space was tight and heard a crunch loud enough to alert two people away from their car.

They didn't scam you, you crashed into them. Their car was empty and stationary.

You refused to give your details.

They identified themselves. Its unlikely they'd be carrying fake police ID badges on the off chance someone would crash into them and they could use it as excuse to scam you.

You fled the scene of an accident. Which I think is a crime.

They heard a metal on metal crunch. Saw a scuff. Asked to exchange details and provided ID. All reasonable. You claimed intimidation and fled the scene of the accident.

I dont think holding your door was a good idea. They should have just taken a picture of your registration and reported you.

But you were most unreasonable. You caused the issue. If youd given your details this wouldn't have happened.

Did you call the police when you got to a safer place? This man could have been a police officer but he could also have been impersonating one which is terrifying. I feel awful for you x

I’m not sure why you are getting such a hard time. It sounds like a very intimidating situation and I dont think j would have wanted to have given my details either. If he is a real police man I question his professionalism. The only thing really is I would have called the police immediately to check who he was and if what he was saying was correct but when your stressed you don’t think straight. I would follow this up with the police again though x

I think it's fairly obvious you hit something which in likelihood is their car. You said yourself your bumper was scuffed.

Bumpers are mostly plastic these days and have considerable flex on them so may have sprung back after the low speed collision but you may for example have damaged engine covers' wheel arch covers etc.

Your post comes across as you can't prove I hit you so I'm not giving my details. You attempted to squeeze in a tiny gap, failed in this manoeuvre but didn't want to take responsibility...

You should have given details and taken photos (your evidence of not causing any damage). I think refusing to give your details probably ratcheted up the tension although the mens’ behaviour was worse.

I thought leaving the scene of an accident without giving details was an offence?

Sorry, I’m going to go against the grain to everyone and say it’s likely to be a scam. For all you know, they planted something in the space and were waiting for someone to come along, they pretend to start walking off and then, crunch you drive over something and they claim that you’ve hit their car.

it’s not out of the realms of possibility that an off duty police officer is behaving in an unprofessional/dangerous way but it’s probably that they’re scammers. You have 24 hours to report to a police station after a collision that didn’t injure anyone.

I would report to a police station and report exactly what happened. If by some remote chance these guys are actual police officers you can report their aggressive behaviour and if they were scammers then you’ve reported a crime and the police have a log of an incident in that area.

I can believe he is police from the behaviour, you should have got his badge number and complained about him threatening you. I've had collisions that have made awful noises but there's been little damage so I can believe that too

Are you seriously asking why a woman alone didn't want to give her name and address to a man that is threatening her? 🚩🚩🚩

I'm so sorry to hear you had this upsetting & scarey experience 😥
How awful
It seems like this male abused his power & should've handled it much better & kinder
Especially, knowing you didn't actually even scratch his car
Completely unnecessary unkindness & dominating attitude from him
Please rest assured, I don't think anyone can do anything to you when you didn't so much's leave even the smallest of scratches on his beloved car
Some folk, sadly, are just opportunists, seeking any excuse to get money or choose arguments, with innocent folks
You seem lovely, please rest assured
Years ago, one of my Children, was cycling & a female driver didn't stop at a crossing where she should have
We were so scared, most importantly
my dear Child was not hurt but the father of this female driver rung wanting compensation for his daughter
No damage was done to her car either, but these were clearly, also the types to seek opportunities for themselves
Thankfully we informed others & a stop was put to their scamming
Is there anyone close to you whom can step in to help if need be? Wishing You&Yours all the utmost very best 💚🌼

Something similar happened to me once a long time ago- I was stopped at the lights on the way to work and all of a sudden a man knocked on my window and said I’d hit him and he was the police. I didn’t feel anything so refused to get out and when the lights changed drove away. I never heard anything afterwards and if it had been genuine I think I would have. I was very scared though but at least I was around a lot of people. I think you’re right and did the right thing not giving your details.

Why would you give your name and address to two male strangers? She could see no damage so she cannot have hit their car. If I’d have given them my name and address I’d have been terrified they’d come to my house. Police have recently been found guilty of dodgy stuff (Sarah Everard) and these men weren’t even in uniform.

This response is 100%

There is a witness to hearing a crunch, not actually seeing her hit his car.

Good luck finding a police station, they’re all closed!!

She doesn’t believe she hit him though. A noise, with no witnesses to an actual collision, and no damage does not mean she has to give her personal details to two men who are intimidating her in a lonely spot!

Yet she immediately said sorry and went to inspect the front of his car.. she knew she hit his car.

She only THEN said she didn't hit him because there was no visible proof, but that doesn't mean there was no damage. They were well within their rights to ask for her details because of it.. they only started filming her when she denied she even hit it and tried to leave the scene.

OP is the one very much in the wrong here, the fact that they were two men and she was a lone woman is completely irrelevant.

Were you there? Hearing a noise with no witnesses to an actual hit does not prove she hit his car!

Sarah Everard was murdered by a police officer who flashed his warrant card on the basis she’d broken lockdown rules. In this situation, I would have got in my car and driven off too. However, I would have driven to the nearest police station to report it and seek help. I’ve had experience of vile intimidating police and I’d have been scared too. You really must report it in case you did have an accident or indeed because the man behaved totally inappropriately, police officer or not.

Sorry, I missed the post where you have reported.

You must report to your insurers as he can get your insurance details through police with your registration and there might have been a camera in the car. You are obliged to report all incidents even if no damage this one sounds dodgy so def get insurers in your side. Say you have reported to the police and there was no damage and bound on the car.
next time take photos of the empty car as they will say 5 people in it have got whiplash.
I work in insurance please do report it to them

This post reminds me of the Jacques Tati film, Mon Oncle, where some kids made a loud noise near two cars in a queue of traffic by pressing down hard on the bumper of one of the cars. The occupants of both cars thought that a crash had occurred and ended up getting into a big argument about it.
Are you sure there were no kids hanging round at the time ?