Resolved Question

What should I do - neighbour's car scratched after client blocked parking.?

we have moved into a new office. The carpet guys were in putting in new carpet for us and their van took up our one allocated parking space.
Above us are flats which also use the space next to us.
We had an IT guy coming to discuss our database etc. We were meant to meet in the office but because the carpet guys were making so much noise with the banging etc I asked if he was ok for us to have our discussion in the cafe 2 doors away and he was fine with that. There was no parking so he parked in front of the carpet van.

I told our receptionist we were going to discuss the computer stuff in the cafe because of the din. We were gone for about 45 minutes. Our neighbour was spitting mad; he said he had been trying to get out and had been blocked in by the IT guy's car. He had scratched his car trying to squeeze out and wanted £100 for the damage! Apparently the receptionist said that she did not know where we were (even if I HAD forgotten to tell her it was pretty obvious given the circumstances) and she did not know who the car belongs to.

The neighbour was really angry and said he was late for work trying to get out. To be fair I had 3 missed calls on my phone but I had not heard them. I don't want to get on the wrong side of the neighbours on the first day. Should I just get the company to pay for his car damage? The receptionist could have stepped out to look for us but she did not want to leave the office unattended (understandable).

Obviously the IT guy is not at fault cos I told him to park there and the receptionist could have used her common sense but it is a lot of money for us to fork out.

What would you do? what should we do?

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

in my books, strictly speaking you don't have any liability here. after all it was the choice of the flat occupant to move his car and it resulted in a scratch.

however I think there are other issues here, and it may well be useful for you to make a contribution to the car owner. as to how much that is is entirely up to you. Personally I think £100 is steep for a scratch. but thats up to you.
it may be £100 is a simple way of disposing the issue
the alternative is to make a specific payment on presentation of the repair bill
or just ignore it. however its possible that if you don't and the person is of that frame of mind you may get minor damage to cars and or property in 'revenge'

as said before I don't think you have a liability, however I suspect it is in your interest to make some form of ex gratia payment

60% 3 Votes

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Other Answers (11)

• Consult immediately a Legal counsellor and ask for the money you have spend remaining and arranging a cafe meeting with IT customers due to all nonsenses.Make a party to sue and do not pay anything.

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• If he scratches his car for whatever reason, that is his problem. He could have had your car towed away or taken a taxi in which case you would have to pay.

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• Pay up.
  
  You could have left a note on the IT guys car saying " if you want us to move this vehicle... we are in the cafe next door"
  
  You seem unsure as to whether or not you informed your receptionist.

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• You should pay up as it was totally your fault for blocking the neighbours access in and out.
  If its your company stop blaming the staff and cough up.

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• Pay up or find yourself in a small claims court or even worse he may want to claim off your insurance which will cost you more than £100 in the long run with increased premiums.

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• Pay for the damage as a PR job and find yourself a receptionist with common sense.................

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• explain you were away for less than 45 minutes...he scratched his own car by trying to get it out rather than waiting...tell him you`ll chat to your solicitor/ insurance company if he wants to carry it on...but that he`ll have to go after the driver that parked behind him to recover his £100.....then turn on the charm and tell your neighbour you don`t want to fall out with him and offer him half

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• His fault as he caused the damage.
  
  However as you have to live with him then make an ex gratia payment.
  
  And in future do what I do in the same circumstances - leave your keys at reception so the car can be moved.

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• tell him to get a quote for the damage from a reputable garage ( headed paper and all that, not just a scrap of paper with a mobile number on it ) and bring it back to you, with him in your office, ring up and agree with the garage and the man when would be a good time to take the car in for repair, and go to the garage yourself with the quote and pay for the repair up front. Get a receipt .
  
  that way you are only paying for the so called damage which was done , you have the quote so u have a set price. and your not going to pay for him to have his car serviced and this n that at your expense.
  
  if he doesnt agree, go to the police to give him a crime number and he will have to go through insurance which will take longer.
  
  no cash has to be handed to the man, who i think would just keep it anyway and not get the car repaired

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• There is absolutely no question about this; the car your neighbour hit was not moving - his car was so he hit the immobile car and caused his own damage.
  
  You have no liability to answer for - should you wish to make a small donation towards his costs in order not to fall out with him then you should make it crystal clear that you do so "ex gratia" and "With no admittance of liability".
  
  Good luck with your new office and your business.

  20% 1 Vote
• Roger is right in that this was his fault, he hit your car that wasn't moving and so you have absolutely no liability here.
  
  But this problem is about much more than that, as you said it's about getting on with your new neighbours and saying no to that £100 bill may cost you much more in the long run.
  New business can come from many directions especially from contacts you will build up, and this starts with your neighbours to your company.
  
  It's an unfortunate start but deal with this in a bad way and you can expect it coming back to you such as your parking place being blocked as well as you instantly getting blamed for any scratches to any vehicle from any company around!
  
  As you have admitted, the circumstances were really your fault and so for only a hundred pounds i would bite the bullet. As suggested above INSIST he gets a reputable garage to do it and you will pay the bill direct, don't let him get away with not getting it done and just sticking the cash in his pocket.
  Do this and it might not cost £100 anyway.
  I would also make sure he knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on and this is a gesture of goodwill.

  20% 1 Vote