Car hit in the paid parking lot

Patricia_

Hi Guys

Please help.

I bought a nice second hand car two days ago. Took it for a drive to college today. Parked in RDS (Dublin 4). Paid €6 at 9:50, came back at 13:30 and the first thing I see is a dent on the back door. Looks like somebody hit it with a football or kicked it ? The dent is rather high and round.

Spoke to the security man supervising the car park. We wrote everything down, took photos etc. He promised to prepare a report re the incident.

What should I do now? I would like to have the dent repaired as the car itself has been looked after well and the bodywork has been prefect until today. What is the procedure? Should I insist on RDS parking management to check their cameras etc? To cover the cost of the repair? Have you ever found yourself in the smilar position?

Thanks

Big Nelly

Patricia_ wrote: »

Hi Guys

Please help.

I bought a nice second hand car two days ago. Took it for a drive to college today. Parked in RDS (Dublin 4). Paid €6 at 9:50, came back at 13:30 and the first thing I see is a dent on the back door. Looks like somebody hit it with a football or kicked it ? The dent is rather high and round.

Spoke to the security man supervising the car park. We wrote everything down, took photos etc. He promised to prepare a report re the incident.

What should I do now? I would like to have the dent repaired as the car itself has been looked after well and the bodywork has been prefect until today. What is the procedure? Should I insist on RDS parking management to check their cameras etc? To cover the cost of the repair? Have you ever found yourself in the smilar position?

Thanks

You will prob see a sign saying the car parking company are not responsible for your car. Little you can do without having someone who has seen the person that done damage. You will have to go to insurance and I hope you have no claims insurance

Thats again my knowledge from parking in town and has happened to me before, anyone else add to this?

arybvtcw0eolkf

Right, if the dent isn't too badly creased get a sink plunger.. Stick it into the middle of the dent and pull the dent out.

afatbollix

Where the **** did you get parking lot from??

Last I checked we call them car parks here...

redsteveireland

afatbollix wrote: »

Where the **** did you get parking lot from??

Last I checked we call them car parks here...

Wow, you're helpful!

+1 on what Big Nelly said unfortunately.

Patricia_

How relevant is it to my question? its from us, sorry ;-)

Big Nelly

Patricia_ wrote: »

How relevant is it to my question? its from us, sorry ;-)

What you mean? helpful advice not welcome?

Patricia_

You are probably right Big Nelly. It's just a pity. Have been driving for years and it had to happen to my new car...

Patricia_

Big Nelly wrote: »

What you mean? helpful advice not welcome?

I meant afatbollix question....

Big Nelly

Patricia_ wrote: »

You are probably right Big Nelly. It's just a pity. Have been driving for years and it had to happen to my new car...

Again not sure what you mean, it happened my car, there is nothing you can do, you can have a 20 year old banger or a brand new car, if you look in car park there will be a sign saying they are not responsible! nothing you can do! I am not the car/park/insurance company.

Unless someone can say/identify the person that caused the damage you have no come back.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Patricia_ wrote: »

You are probably right Big Nelly. It's just a pity. Have been driving for years and it had to happen to my new car...

Patricia try the sink plunger before hitting up your insurance.

Stick it right into the center of the dent and it should pull right out provided its not too badly creased.

Big Nelly

Patricia_ wrote: »

I meant afatbollix question....

By that comment, Couldn't of happened to a nicer person!

Gingersnaps

Big Nelly wrote: »

You will prob see a sign saying the car parking company are not responsible for your car. Little you can do without having someone who has seen the person that done damage. You will have to go to insurance and I hope you have no claims insurance

Thats again my knowledge from parking in town and has happened to me before, anyone else add to this?

I'm not really sure about this but I heard before that those disclaimer signs in car parks are not worth the boards they are written on. The car park owner is actually inviting you on to his premises to provide you with a service, i.e. car parking. Should the owner/manager be somewhat responsible for damage to your car caused in their car park under their control????
It might be something worth checking out legally, but the fees involved might cost more than the damage to your car.
Just my tuppence worth.

passive

afatbollix wrote: »

Where the **** did you get parking lot from??

Last I checked we call them car parks here...

Big Nelly wrote: »

By that comment, Couldn't of happened to a nicer person!

She was responding to the asshole poster above, not you. Pay some attention to the posts you're attempting to engage with and stop being rude and disruptive.

also: couldn't have happened. Have. not of. Have. Will save you looking like an idiot in future.

On topic: plunger idea sounds good!

JerCotter7

Big Nelly wrote: »

By that comment, Couldn't of happened to a nicer person!

WTF are you on about? The OP was clearly responding to:

afatbollix wrote: »

Where the **** did you get parking lot from??

Last I checked we call them car parks here...

Look where is says "it's from the US"

9wetfckx43j5rg

Same thing happened to me last week. Parked in Cineworld carpark in town, I was volunteering at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival. Drove home that night and parked in drive. Realized in the morning there was a large dent above my drivers side front wheel where someone must of hit it while parking beside me in the car park. Didn't bother going to get cctv footage, don't want to claim on my insurance and I was driving unaccompanied so didn't want to involve guards. Strangely enough when I parked in the same car park the next day the three spaces where I was parked were blocked off so no one could park there.

Patricia_

Aron Brave Needle wrote: »

Patricia try the sink plunger before hitting up your insurance.

Stick it right into the center of the dent and it should pull right out provided its not too badly creased.

I will give it a go. ;-)

ElectraX

I feel very sorry for you. At any time that's a really annoying thing to happen, but even worse when you have just bought the car! Unfortunately we don't live in a very honest world any more and alot of people just don't do the decent thing any more which would be to leave their details on your car after crashing into you!:mad:
I agree that the car park will not accept liability, as they wouldn't either if your car had been broken into. Maybe worth getting a quote on repair, if its only going to be small money, no point putting it through your insurance. Crap that you have to pay for it, but it sometimes is worth it if the dent is going to take from your joy of having a new car, I can suggest a very honest, professional repair company if you take this option.

Big Nelly

passive wrote: »

She was responding to the asshole poster above, not you. Pay some attention to the posts you're attempting to engage with and stop being rude and disruptive.

also: couldn't have happened. Have. not of. Have. Will save you looking like an idiot in future.

On topic: plunger idea sounds good!

haha, haven't used boards in ages, and now I remember why!

sdanseo

Don't hit your insurance for a dent! Long term the loss of your NCB will almost certainly cost you a lot more than any repair.

Heroditas

As the other posters said, try the plunger method.
If that doesn't work, there are plenty of dent repair places that will be able to remove it very easily. So long as there isn't a crease in it, it'll pop out easily and they won't need to spray the panel.

Big Nelly

I did mention having no claims insurance, but why not just have a go at me!!!:D

Antomus Prime

Gingersnaps wrote: »

I'm not really sure about this but I heard before that those disclaimer signs in car parks are not worth the boards they are written on. The car park owner is actually inviting you on to his premises to provide you with a service, i.e. car parking. Should the owner/manager be somewhat responsible for damage to your car caused in their car park under their control????
It might be something worth checking out legally, but the fees involved might cost more than the damage to your car.
Just my tuppence worth.

When I done the training course for a security license the instructor told me the same thing. Those signs have no legal standing and they are only put there to try put the victim off claiming for damages. The fact of the matter is that you parked it on private property designated as a car park. It's the owner of the car park that is liable. And the fact that it was a paid car park too!

Defo check into it but as Gingersnaps says it could be expensive to go through the legalities. Ask everyones favourite friend.... Mr Google

Aron Brave Needle

Aron Brave Needle wrote: »

Right, if the dent isn't too badly creased get a sink plunger.. Stick it into the middle of the dent and pull the dent out.

Aron Brave Needle wrote: »

Patricia try the sink plunger before hitting up your insurance.

Stick it right into the center of the dent and it should pull right out provided its not too badly creased.

All well and good but in many cases the paint will crack, now the likes of a dent doctor etc may well be able to get the dent out without damaging the paint for a reasonably small charge

Patricia_

Thank you all. I will visit that car park again tomorrow. I have to double check it. I won't give up easily , the place is full of cameras - they may as well use some of them to help their own clients...

slimjimmc

Gingersnaps wrote: »

I'm not really sure about this but I heard before that those disclaimer signs in car parks are not worth the boards they are written on. The car park owner is actually inviting you on to his premises to provide you with a service, i.e. car parking. Should the owner/manager be somewhat responsible for damage to your car caused in their car park under their control????
It might be something worth checking out legally, but the fees involved might cost more than the damage to your car.
Just my tuppence worth.

anthonyk.is wrote: »

When I done the training course for a security license the instructor told me the same thing. Those signs have no legal standing and they are only put there to try put the victim off claiming for damages. The fact of the matter is that you parked it on private property designated as a car park. It's the owner of the car park that is liable. And the fact that it was a paid car park too!

Defo check into it but as Gingersnaps says it could be expensive to go through the legalities. Ask everyones favourite friend.... Mr Google

I agree the signs are there to deter spurious claims and have no legal standing but isn't the car parks's liability limited to damage which they cause?

Afaik, unless they advertise you car will be secure and safe from damage then they're only providing a space for you to park in and there is no guarantee of safety for your car. Therefore if a third party (especially another customer who is on the premises legitimately) causes damage it's not the operator's responsibility no more that it's the responsibility of a night club if someone scuffs your new shoes while you're queuing at the bar.

Don't assume the presence of manned security is there to protect you car, it's usually only there to protect the premises and its insurers.

Big Nelly

slimjimmc wrote: »

I agree the signs are there to deter spurious claims and have no legal standing but isn't the car parks's liability limited to damage which they cause?

Afaik, unless they advertise you car will be secure and safe from damage then they're only providing a space for you to park in and there is no guarantee of safety for your car. Therefore if a third party (especially another customer who is on the premises legitimately) causes damage it's not the operator's responsibility no more that it's the responsibility of a night club if someone scuffs your new shoes while you're queuing at the bar.

Don't assume the presence of manned security is there to protect you car, it's usually only there to protect the premises and its insurers.

My point, which was forgot, the car park is not liable for a car parked in it unless they advertise they will provide full security. 99% of car parks(not yet to see one who provides full security) will say they do not accept liability. I have had experience in shopping car park and my own companies car park. They are not liable. Read the law people!!!

CiniO

If they have CCVT case seems to be very straighforward.
Get a CCVT material to the guards, and they should find the culprit.

Stercus Accidit

Gingersnaps wrote: »

I'm not really sure about this but I heard before that those disclaimer signs in car parks are not worth the boards they are written on. The car park owner is actually inviting you on to his premises to provide you with a service, i.e. car parking. Should the owner/manager be somewhat responsible for damage to your car caused in their car park under their control????
It might be something worth checking out legally, but the fees involved might cost more than the damage to your car.
Just my tuppence worth.

I'm pretty sure this is correct, the signs are put up to discourage claims, but have no legal basis, it is simply legal to put them up so they do.
I would imagine that the car park management company is liable for the damage to your car while it was in their care.
Price a solicitors letter, it may be well worth it to ask them while doing so if those signs are binding.

Big Nelly

CiniO wrote: »

If they have CCVT case seems to be very straighforward.
Get a CCVT material to the guards, and they should find the culprit.

You will find most carparks have a steady stream and not recorded data. I know thats what I have found. If you know CCTV it takes a lot of capacity to keep a steady stream recorded over even a daily period. Companies do not want to go to this expense so they just put camera's in place and hope this will deter thief's. Thief's dont read this thread please:D

arybvtcw0eolkf

RoverJames wrote: »

All well and good but in many cases the paint will crack, now the likes of a dent doctor etc may well be able to get the dent out without damaging the paint for a reasonably small charge

If its not badly creased it'll be grand. Done it a ton of times over the years without a crack.

CiniO

Big Nelly wrote: »

You will find most carparks have a steady stream and not recorded data. I know thats what I have found. If you know CCTV it takes a lot of capacity to keep a steady stream recorded over even a daily period. Companies do not want to go to this expense so they just put camera's in place and hope this will deter thief's. Thief's dont read this thread please:D

Please tell me you are joking.
In these days when 2 TB (terabyte) harddisk costs 70 euros, and we have very effective compression algorithms, you can store the recordings from 100s of cameras for months with a very simple and cheap device.

oldyouth

slimjimmc wrote: »

I agree the signs are there to deter spurious claims and have no legal standing but isn't the car parks's liability limited to damage which they cause?

Afaik, unless they advertise you car will be secure and safe from damage then they're only providing a space for you to park in and there is no guarantee of safety for your car. Therefore if a third party (especially another customer who is on the premises legitimately) causes damage it's not the operator's responsibility no more that it's the responsibility of a night club if someone scuffs your new shoes while you're queuing at the bar.

Don't assume the presence of manned security is there to protect you car, it's usually only there to protect the premises and its insurers.

What he said IMO

Big Nelly

CiniO wrote: »

Please tell me you are joking.
In these days when 2 TB (terabyte) harddisk costs 70 euros, and we have very effective compression algorithms, you can store the recordings from 100s of cameras for months with a very simple and cheap device.

The compression algorithm you mention was developed in the 70's. It is the same one since then. Nothing has changed. A 2Tb drive from Aldi is not a proper drive apart from holding porn and movies on it for the day by day user. A proper 2TB drive is no where near 70 euro. Go to most of your supermarkets/shops/parking lots etc and they do not store the feed and never will. You would be surprised at how much it costs to hold that amount of feed. Believe me! or you don't have to!!

Big Nasty

Big Nelly wrote: »

Pack your trunk and say goodbye to the circus!

slimjimmc

Stercus Accidit wrote: »

I'm pretty sure this is correct, the signs are put up to discourage claims, but have no legal basis, it is simply legal to put them up so they do.
I would imagine that the car park management company is liable for the damage to your car while it was in their care.
Price a solicitors letter, it may be well worth it to ask them while doing so if those signs are binding.

The signs are not binding but that's not really the issue imo.

My understanding as previously stated, is they're providing a parking service, not a car minding service. They advertised on that basis, they admit you on that basis and you entered on that basis. No further responsibility stated or implied.

Unless they claim safe secure parking they only have to ensure they or their agents don't cause the damage. It's not their fault if you assume the car will be safe from other peoples negligence or intent.

EPM

Bad luck. Always seems to happen a new cat! Painless dent removal would be a better idea than a plunger. It's cheap, quick and you don't run the risk of doing more damage than good. Google someone in your area. Might be a very easy fix.

Patricia_

Thanks again for all your advice and opinions guys ;-) I will make sure that the car is fixed properly (plunger or no plunger ;-) ; also, e-mailed the solicitor asking if private car parks are liable for any damages. At the end of tha day actions take place on their premises. My car wasn't hit by another car ( round dent on the boot door very high , not even a scratch on the bumper ) How do I know that it wasn't one of the car park workers? I am entitled to find out what had happened.

I am sure I will have to pay for the repair myself, however we all should expect at least decent customer service from very pricey car parks...

Patricia_

Two days later:

Legal information: Generally, Car Parks have a big sign saying "All cars parked at owners risk". The sign should more properly be displayed at the entrance to give car drivers a chance to opt out. The user then knows the terms of the contract and accepts. Therefore a contract is concluded. The Car Park operators will rely on this.

Car-park actions: Was informed that the report is ready but still hasn't seen it. ;-( Was also offered free parking on Friday.

The dent: I got it repaired for €70 by the dent specialist and it took an hour. The dent most likely happend when someone got either pushed and hit the car or leaned against the back door, it was at the hip level.

Hope: to get a voucher from RDS for €70 to cover 11 days parking. We will see.

Thanks again for all you help guys.

rabbitinlights

For next time.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Mn3YWIaCg

dr.fuzzenstein

rabbitinlights wrote: »

For next time.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Mn3YWIaCg

Tried that on about 5-6 dents over 3 different cars.
Didn't work once.
I'd say one in a hundred, tops.