Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Damaged car - scam?

15 replies

PurpleDog57 · 04/08/2025 10:54

I was at a kids charity event yesterday. As part of it there was a colour run - throwing around coloured chalk, going through obstacles etc (chalk is non toxic and easily washes off clothes and other objects). One of my children got wet so we popped back to the car to change. Through a mix of my younger son flapping his clothes to get chalk off and my older one finding some spare chalk and throwing it at me, I noticed that some chalk was over the bonnet of the car next to us. It had blown there in the wind, so it was a very small amount. We hadn't been standing next to the car. But the car was black and very shiny so it was noticeable. I know this shouldn't have happened, and I left a note with my number apologising and offering to pay for cleaning.

I got a message last night saying that the car had been damaged in other ways. Totally unrelated to anything a tiny bit of chalk had done - damage to bumper and a door. I explained that we hadn't been near the car, or hit it, but reiterated my offer to pay for cleaning. They messaged again this morning wanting my registration number.

I am worried this might be some sort of scam. Should I send the number? We were parked directly next to the car, but definitely didn't hit it (I was even more careful than usual because the car looked expensive!).

OP posts:
AnchorWHAT · 04/08/2025 10:59

No they have no need of it, stick to your guns and offer a final time to pay for a clean then unless they take up the offer block them.

WompWompBoom · 04/08/2025 11:03

Do not send your registration.

Reiterate it's your final offer to pay for a clean and that's that. (I'd also consider how you pay because I wouldn't want them getting my surname. They sound chancers).

Username0900 · 04/08/2025 11:04

I would just message and reiterate that you have offered to pay for cleaning the chalk off of the car but that you know nothing about any damage to the car and if they think their car has been damaged that they need to contact the venue for cctv etc.

To be honest i think you were very generous to offer the cleaning, if the chalk was part of the event then these things can happen and as you say it would easily wash off anyway.

Feliciacat · 04/08/2025 11:05

Ask one more time for a clean and then block them if they say no. I reckon they’re trying to get their car fixed up through your insurance. However, like you say, you only got the car dirty. Don’t give them any info about you; I think it’ll blow up in your face.

Ihatemyneighb · 04/08/2025 11:08

You were very kind to do this. Honestly I think kindness gets us nowhere these days. Next time don’t leave your details. They parked there I’m assuming knowing a charity even was taking place so they should have taken it up with the organisers of the event

Hardlyworking · 04/08/2025 11:18

Just block their number immediately. Think you're going to regret your honesty here!

Fountofwisdom · 04/08/2025 11:28

I wouldn’t even have offered to pay for cleaning tbh. The next bit of rain would have washed the chalk dust off anyway. I would just block the number now and get on with your day. The other driver is a cf.

You were trying to do the decent thing but no good act goes unpunished!

Lavenderandclimbingrose · 04/08/2025 11:30

AnchorWHAT · 04/08/2025 10:59

No they have no need of it, stick to your guns and offer a final time to pay for a clean then unless they take up the offer block them.

This explain it was chalk only and you weren’t near the car and this is the last offer of a car wash and then you are blocking

ReadingSoManyThreads · 04/08/2025 11:41

Just block their number now and do not engage with these chancers anymore.

I wouldn't have left my number in the first place.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 04/08/2025 11:42

I can't believe you left a note about a bit of chalk on some paintwork Blush

Just block them. Cheeky fuckers.

Gemmawemma9 · 04/08/2025 11:46

I can’t believe you left your number over a bit of chalk dust!! You’re mad, honestly. You’ve walked right into this. Block the number and don’t be so bloody namby pamby next time!!

PurpleDog57 · 04/08/2025 12:03

Thanks for the comments - I'll ignore this message then since I've already offered to pay for cleaning twice and said we hadn't damaged the car.

The carpark wasn't particularly near the event, so I thought I'd better leave a note so they knew it was chalk instead of something potentially more damaging. I probably wouldn't have bothered if it was a normal car, but this was a very large shiny 4x4 (looked very expensive) and I thought they would be more likely to kick up fuss. Clearly I was right... Wish I hadn't done it now.

OP posts:
Gemmawemma9 · 04/08/2025 13:18

But you wouldn’t be there to deal with the fuss being kicked up, you were leaving?
and he would have seen it was chalk dust and not permanent damage very quickly?
Really bizarre behaviour Op.

PurpleDog57 · 04/08/2025 13:40

If we had been leaving straight away that would be different. But my child was just getting changed then we were going back to the event. So there was a small chance we might have ended up back there at the same time as them.

OP posts:
TheSwarm · 04/08/2025 13:54

You left your number on a car because a bit of chalk got on it?

Block them and forget about it.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread