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.

You say there was no damage but that there was also a paint scuff on your car??? So there was damage then?

why did you refuse to give your details? You must have complied with something if there was a noise that you heard from inside the car and they heard from outsude

Take pics of both cars and give them your details.

You crashed into someone's car and drove away, refusing to give your insurance details. You can be sure that will be reported as there was a policeman there.

You can't leave the scene of an accident and refuse to pay for repairs.

They are less likely to be in the wrong considering OP was reversing in the direction of their car… and they weren’t in it. It’s hard to crash your car when you are stood on the pavement.

If I was in an incident like this and the person who caused it was attempting to do a runner I would be concerned about issues like no licence/Insurance/MoT and/or that they were intoxicated.

Given the description of the incident there is also a significant question about judgement in trying to park in a very small space

Does your car have reversing sensors, if not why didnt you notice them going off?

Is it worth reporting to 101 if I didn't get his name/number or will they just tell me there's not enough information to go on? I wish I'd looked more closely at his ID but the situation was so unnerving I didn't think.

Have you contacted your insurers yet?

Having just watched tonight's Scottish news I take your point.

People's behaviour especially some in public service is very demoralising.

Did you take pictures /video of his car?

Is it worth reporting to 101 if I didn't get his name/number or will they just tell me there's not enough information to go on? I wish I'd looked more closely at his ID but the situation was so unnerving I didn't think

You have his reg number surely? They can find out who he is.
And report the accident while you're at it. You escalated the incident yourself, by refusing to co-operate in a normal manner.

I am not sure what the men did to intimidate you besides having the timerity to be tall, and to ask you to comply with the law?? They were trying to help you not break the law if anything.
Also I don't know why people are assuming they were off duty?

OP, still using excuses not to report what you did and what they did.

If it was that intimidating it needs reporting for all womens safety because according to those who think you did the right thing - they are dangerous

You sound so unreasonable and playing the woman card. You said you heard a loud crunch!! As if someone starts shouting for no reason. He saw you hit his car. I’d have been fuming too. I hope you get in trouble - you have left the scene without giving details. Being female doesn’t excuse that.

All he needed to do was call his insurance company with your registration number, there was no need for the intimidation tactics.

Report him for what exactly? You hit his car and he took pictures of it lol

He hasn't done anything wrong

Well exactly.

The sound indicated contact so you automatically should have exchanged details, taking photos but remembering damage can be internal too.

Someone ran into my rear last year, Initially didn’t look like any damage however on close inspection my bumper had cracked.
We exchanged details, I had my car inspected for underlying structural damage and the she paid for the Bumper repair.

Personally think you should have taken pictures, Given details and taken a photo of his ID.

I’d have been fuming at you too, saying I can’t see damage is not the point, you hit him

And if it was a big burly man do you think they’d have tried to stop him getting into his car and shouted at him? 🤔

They had her registration number, that can be used to trace the owner if there’s any damage.

You are being unreasonable for not just giving details and taking some photos. You didn’t even look properly.

Everyone behaved badly.

I don't know why you didn't give your details? If you don't think there was a collision, you say that to the insurance company and that you're concerned it was a scam (though I really think there was, and if it's an attempt to scam it's a terrible one - how do you engineer someone parking in too small a space).

However, he should not have attempted to stop you leaving, and he should have been aware of how intimidating his behaviour was. I would report this to your local police station when you report the accident, as you're obliged to do but law.

Why do you assume this man is not a scammer may I ask? because the whole thing sounds dodgy as hell in my eyes.

Should they have called the police, instead of handling it the way they did? Just wondering.

He didn't see me hit his car that would have been impossible from his position and he didn't claim he'd seen it.

But he heard it, you’ve accepted that.