As has probably been covered by the MNPR ride thread, here’s the short version:
Last week we were just finishing up in the pub in Prestwich after the ride.

And old boy kicks off in the pub and is asked to leave – escorted through the now-silent mountain bikers to the door. Carrying a plastic bag of empty bottles or crockery, not sure what.

I leave soon after in the car – drive past him half way up the road, literally shaking his fist at us and flicking the vees.

I stop at the end of the road, waiting for the traffic – I see him walk up the street still, heading our way.

He stops and launches (impressively over-arm) his bag of whatever, which bangs off the back of the car.

We decide to stay in the car, he’s made whatever point he wanted to make.

He picks up his bag of now broken bottles/novelty teapots in the road and throws it point-blank at the side door of the car.

David and I get out, as does Daz in the car in front to ask what he’s playing at. The old boy mumbles something and walks across the road into another pub.

Called the pub the next day and they have his name and address because he dropped off a letter the next day, apparently complaining about his treatment and asking if he was barred. (He is)

All this has been passed on to the Police who almost immediately told me that they wouldn’t be pursuing it as it wasn’t in the public interest. I’m not a vulnerable or minority group, I’m probably insured and they have bigger things to be doing – despite witnesses, a pretty cast-iron suspect and so on.

Anyway… my question is – how do I pay for the dents in my (previously shiny) Doblo? Do I claim on my insurance and lose my no claims? Do I pass all the case details on to the insurer and get them to pursue it? Do I try to make a small-claims, er, claim? Do I write threatening letters to the old boy? Visit with Bombers? Wee in his shoes?
Or do I just drive around with a pair of dented doors?

All suggestions welcome.

Next year, get your dad a proper Christmas present. A facebook update and promise to sponsor a goat in Malawi just doesn’t satisfy some old folk.

Sounds like the bloke has issues, you sound of sound mind.

Get the car fixed, maybe claim on your insurance maybe not.. may cost a few hundred quid, may not.

IANAL

Wee in his shoes?

I expect he does that for you on a daily basis, by the sounds of it.

You could follow him home and smash his back doors in, by way of karmic retribution.

Honestly, I can’t see you getting anywhere (financially) with pursuing the old git. I suppose it’s effectively the equivalent of having it done outside your gaff without you seeing the perp.

Annoying , but I imagine someone will be along shortly to tell you not to fret over material things.

Anyway… my question is – how do I pay for the dents in my (previously shiny) Doblo? Do I claim on my insurance and lose my no claims? Do I pass all the case details on to the insurer and get them to pursue it? Do I try to make a small-claims, er, claim? Do I write threatening letters to the old boy? Visit with Bombers? Wee in his shoes?

The problem is – no matter how culpable he is… he’s a useless drunk arsehole. He’s not going to have public liability insurance or a wedge of savings or earnings that a court order can make an attachment too. If your insurers involve him he’s just going to be an obstacle and delay to you resolving your claim.

Just as well it wasn’t a windy day or your car may have also been struck by a wheelie bin……

you sound of sound mind

You’re talking about the man with the fevered imagination that spawned this forum.

It’s shit but because you haven’t got an insurance co to claim from, even if they arrest him, prosecute him, and make an award of damages toward you, you’ll probably only get it in instalments of a groat a month and still have to pay to fix your car,
If the dents aren’t going to be an mot fail just leave em, it’s a Doblo, it’s already worthless and can’t look any uglier..

Why can’t the police just give him a ring to get him to do what’s right? Hardly asking a lot, is it.

An old man drove into the side of my car whilst my wife was in Tesco. Didn’t stop or leave a note, but an anonymous witness left a note on our windscreen with the registration number. One 5 minute call from the police and he fessed up (didn’t realise he did it apparently) – and covered by his insurance.

Do you have a name and address for him? If so, go through insurers and ask that the legal expenses cover be used so that they pursue him?

Or, get the work done and issue Small Claims proceedings to recover the amount direct, at the end of the day you have Police ref number and witnesses.

If you don’t have details, do the Police?

So I was just sat in traffic…

Editing the editor:

“So I was just sitting in traffic”

Happened to me once. In traffic at the lights near the Heaton Park Hotel and some arsewipe launched a bottle of Holsten Pils at my car. Dent and scratches to the wing. Nothing I could do.

All this has been passed on to the Police who almost immediately told me that they wouldn’t be pursuing it as it wasn’t in the public interest. I’m not a vulnerable or minority group, I’m probably insured and they have bigger things to be doing – despite witnesses, a pretty cast-iron suspect and so on.

That’s quality polis right there. Fuds.

Or….. if you can get his number, then just pretend to be the police.

It’s not as if the police will bother prosecuting you if they find out – judging by their earlier response. Unless he’s a minority that is.

That’s quality polis right there. Fuds.

[1980s]

He’s probably a mason

[/1980s]

I think it’s worth doing a bit of investigation on the guy, he might be a disheveled scruffbag who is also minted.

Happened to me once. In traffic at the lights near the Heaton Park Hotel and some arsewipe launched a bottle of Holsten Pils at my car. Dent and scratches to the wing

Ironically Chipps, Derek starship has reminded me of an incident where almost that exact thing happened to me too.

Even more ironically it was at the top of Church Lane on Bury New Road, probably within a few yards of where the old Gipper attacked your car.

However – that car was owned and insured by Greater Manchester Police Authority. Care to hazard a guess what happened to the miscreant in that case???? Arrested – kept in custody overnight and charged when he’d sobered up. (Granted it was almost 20 years ago but I’d wager the outcome would be the same if it happened today)

I was present on the night when Chipps’ offender was chucked out of the pub but the damage occurred after I’d left. This little episode has ****** me right off with the state of affairs in my force. It’s a bloody disgrace.

That’s quality polis right there. Fuds.

It’s worth pointing out however that this was entirely due to a policy introduced in the force to try to prioritise incidents based on risk of threat, harm and vulnerability. The cost cutting of recent years have devastated staffing levels and something – apparently- has had to give.

I DON’T agree with it. But that’s what I’ve been told when I tried to poke my nose in.

Years ago, my then-girlfriend’s ex took it upon himself to kick in all four door panels on my new (to me) car. Police found him hiding in the bushes (presumably so that he could watch our reaction).

Long story short there was about a grand’s worth of damage, a court case where he was found guilty, and he was ordered to pay for the damages. I got awarded the money – as he paid it, at ten pounds a fortnight. So I wouldn’t recommend that as a course of action.

(In the end I got the money – he stopped paying after a few months, I complained and they made him pay the full balance in one lump.)

Doblo

Doblo

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0YO_E0c4Is[/video]

Maybe he took exception with your fugly car?

You can claim on your own insurance, just as though it had happened when the car was parked up. If your no claims is not protected you will lose it, and you will have an excess to pay. Taking Khani’s point on board you will need to decide if that is worth it.

You’ve reported criminal damage (not to mention potentially public order offences) to the police, including providing the identity of the offender and witnesses I’d be going to have a little word with the Inspector and asking him to explain in writing his decision on prosecution. You might want to familiarise yourself with your PCCs, and if not satisfied ask for the complaints procedure.

He’s not going to have public liability insurance or a wedge of savings or earnings that a court order can make an attachment too.

that may well be the case but he has some source of cash that he manages to spend in the pubs…

I’m not a vulnerable or minority group

I think I’d be going back asking for a second opinion

Surely a magazine mogul such as yourself could just buy a new Doblo?

Go see my mate Dave, he’ll sort out the Doblo. He even likes bikes 🙂

He’s nr Halifax

https://www.facebook.com/autorefinishing/

apparantly you can remove dents with a hair dryer and a aerosol air duster

aggression…snap….

I shall give your mate Dave a shout, Woody. And write a stiffly worded letter to the old git – in green pen. And follow up with Bombers if that doesn’t work…