minor damage to parked car

[CatzAndDogs]

Around 9 months ago I hit a parked car at very slow speed while turning in a car park. I couldn't tell if there was any damage but left a note on the windscreen with my details. Didn't contact my insurance company. When I went back an hour later the car was gone. Didn't hear anything from the owner until about a month ago when he called and said he'd lost my note but now had found it and wanted to sort it out. He said he was going to get a quote for repairs. After a month he's just told me its £350 for damage to the paint. Should I just pay this amount to him direct? Ask for the recepit for the repairs then pay? Contact my insurance even though I didn't tell them at the time? Sorry to be so clueless.

Sounds very dodgy to me, why would he wait 8 months? What do you mean you couldn't tell if there was damage? There either was or there wasn't? He could have damaged his car at any point over the past 9 months and blame it on you. I'd just say too much time has passed and it's not reasonable to contact you now. If he wants to go through his insurance let him, they will contact yours and you can sort it out properly. I doubt you'll hear anything.

I'd personally say insurance to deal now. Too much time has passed. Did you take photos at the time? How do you know he hasn't damaged his car in the meantime and is trying to blame you?
I've had my car hit twice, and though damage has been relatively minor I've wanted is repaired ASAP. Why has he waited so long. How do you know his friends won't do him a dodgy invoice for works that haven't taken place.
Just be careful

No. Tell him to contact his insurance and call yours to explain. My DP hit the neighbours car as a brand new driver so offered to pay and he kept coming back (3 times) looking for more saying they needed to do something else then it was special paint blah blah. Absolute taking the piss in my opinion.

you don't have to go through your insurance if you'd rather avoid, but I would definitely want to see picture of the damage and a copy of the quote.

What is very possible is that he had your note all that time, but there was no real damage, however he has just scratched his car and thought he could get you to pay for that damage.