Terrible day - car stolen by car washer and trashed
06 November 2008, 05:54 PM
#62
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I wonder how many legal opinions expressed here have been made by qualified lawyers.
It's all very well to make a statement preceded by
I think
as far as I'm aware
what a friend did
what you ought to do is
but they are of no help at all to someone if you don't know what you are talking about.
And quite frankly, most people on here don't when it comes to what the law is. Giving false hope or encouraging a false expectation is reprehensible.
Stick to what you know, not what you think you know.
It's all very well to make a statement preceded by
I think
as far as I'm aware
what a friend did
what you ought to do is
but they are of no help at all to someone if you don't know what you are talking about.
And quite frankly, most people on here don't when it comes to what the law is. Giving false hope or encouraging a false expectation is reprehensible.
Stick to what you know, not what you think you know.
06 November 2008, 06:13 PM
#63
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Gutted to read about this, i'm not even going to mention about lessons learnt etc as that's already been covered!
Your car is identical to mine i'd be gutted if i was in your shoes!
Is the car still in storage? if it is i'd see about getting it released to you because if your insurance doesn't cough then you may find a hefty recovery and storage bill coming your way
Hope everything works out, keep us posted
Your car is identical to mine i'd be gutted if i was in your shoes!
Is the car still in storage? if it is i'd see about getting it released to you because if your insurance doesn't cough then you may find a hefty recovery and storage bill coming your way
Hope everything works out, keep us posted
06 November 2008, 07:18 PM
#65
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Sorry to hear about this...the cheek of some people is unbelievable! 
I would be vex if I knew someone had taken my car out for a spin after leaving it in thier care so they could do a job & nothing more...its just bang out...
Hope you get it sorted...defo agree about negative press
...they can't get away with it!
I would be vex if I knew someone had taken my car out for a spin after leaving it in thier care so they could do a job & nothing more...its just bang out...Hope you get it sorted...defo agree about negative press
...they can't get away with it!
06 November 2008, 08:55 PM
#67
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Many years ago, my mates Landy 110 was at the dealers for a warranty repair, again, and they told him they had to keep it overnight as it was still being worked on. He needed a hand getting some stuff from B&Q, so I took him in my old Discovery to collect a whole load of stuff. When we came out of B&Q, there was his 110 parked next to my Disco, with one of the salesmen from the dealer loading boxes of tiles, grout, adhesive, into the back, next to some hired heavy duty power tools, 110/220 transformer. I fully expected him to go ballistic, but he was very calm as he explained to the guy that he would be speaking to the MD at the dealers in the morning, and if it wasn't resolved to his satisfaction, the police. Funnily enough the guy was sacked the next day, for taking the vehicle, which had most of its interior and seats missing to sort a leaking roof.
I just glad I live somewhere "safe" and don't have to worry as much. What with OP's story, and other threads about people getting their front doors kicked in, or paint stripper poured over their new car. Bring back the birch for the scum that do this sort of thing 
I just glad I live somewhere "safe" and don't have to worry as much. What with OP's story, and other threads about people getting their front doors kicked in, or paint stripper poured over their new car. Bring back the birch for the scum that do this sort of thing
06 November 2008, 09:52 PM
#68
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its good advice, you do not need to wait until all avenues are exhausted!
if at any point you feel that your insurance company are not doing there job, you can contact the ombudsman, there are also independent specialist that can help.
do some research before you make a BAR ROOM comment
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except if you have not fully discussed the matter with your insurer the ombudsman will bounce it back.
Don't take my word for it, perhaps I can quote you the following excerpt from the Ombudsman site
It's important that the business you think is responsible for a problem has the chance to look into any complaint – before the ombudsman steps in and decides who is right or wrong
You?......
Oh, and thanks for the finger and other mature smilies
06 November 2008, 10:09 PM
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will the insurer try and get out of paying the claim because the policyholder effectively gave the vehicle with keys to someone who had no insurance?
last policy i had stated on the covernote 'theft cover will be removed unless a thatcham cat 1 alarm system is fitted and activated whilst the vehicle is left unattended'
hopefully it turns out to be fine
last policy i had stated on the covernote 'theft cover will be removed unless a thatcham cat 1 alarm system is fitted and activated whilst the vehicle is left unattended'
hopefully it turns out to be fine
06 November 2008, 11:50 PM
#72
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For those of you who think i'm too calm then I am now starting to rapidly get uncalm about this due to your comments. I am aware with hindsight that I did a very stupid thing but I had left the car there once before with no problem; apart from the guy in question I know all the other workers there by sight as I often walk past there on my way to work as a nurse; they know who I am and where I work, although obviously they have no respect for that and no doubt share your opinion that I am just a stupid female.
However I will continue with my philosophy that it is better to believe the best of people not the worst, and if one of those guys came into my surgery ill or injured then I would still give him the same care that I would give anyone else.
Also I try to be calm about these things because at the end of the day no-one was injured or killed; I have had to cope with far worse things in my time.
But I did love my car and to those of you who suggested the press to name and shame this lot then that is a very good idea, thank you.
06 November 2008, 11:52 PM
#73
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07 November 2008, 12:23 AM
#74
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[/COLOR]
Not my understanding of it at all.
My lad has fully comp. He has a claim in with MIB which they have accepted, and they themselves told him that if it is upheld he will get his excess back, and they will reimburse HIS insurers who have paid out so far, so that they, in turn, will reinstate his ncd.
MIB are also looking into his and his passenger's claims for injury compensation, loss of earnings etc.
Sorry to dispute an expert, but that's definitely what he has been told.
Not my understanding of it at all.
My lad has fully comp. He has a claim in with MIB which they have accepted, and they themselves told him that if it is upheld he will get his excess back, and they will reimburse HIS insurers who have paid out so far, so that they, in turn, will reinstate his ncd.
MIB are also looking into his and his passenger's claims for injury compensation, loss of earnings etc.
Sorry to dispute an expert, but that's definitely what he has been told.
07 November 2008, 12:27 AM
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07 November 2008, 08:31 AM
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Sorry to hear this mate i hope you get the money back that you have lost !!! a similar thing happened to me when my turbo tomcat went into the body shop for repairs the tech though he would take it for a spin didn't relise i worked on the same trading estate !!! needless to say i fliped turned out he did'nt evan have a license !!!!!! what did i get a sorry and a tank of fuel after the finally found my car key's And the kid got sacked i'd never use a ford dealership again .
07 November 2008, 09:36 AM
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One tip for people worried about similar situations.
Whenever taking your car somewhere and leaving it, make sure you leave the trip computer / mileage counter to run for a while before, so it is showing a few hundred miles.
Check the reading when you drop the car off, and then again when you pick it up and you know how many miles the car has done while supposedly sitting in someones workshop ( make sure you dont zero the trip meter, as the garage could easily put 50 miles on it, then just zero it again a mile from the garage ).
Whenever taking your car somewhere and leaving it, make sure you leave the trip computer / mileage counter to run for a while before, so it is showing a few hundred miles.
Check the reading when you drop the car off, and then again when you pick it up and you know how many miles the car has done while supposedly sitting in someones workshop ( make sure you dont zero the trip meter, as the garage could easily put 50 miles on it, then just zero it again a mile from the garage ).
07 November 2008, 11:06 AM
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One tip for people worried about similar situations.
Whenever taking your car somewhere and leaving it, make sure you leave the trip computer / mileage counter to run for a while before, so it is showing a few hundred miles.
Check the reading when you drop the car off, and then again when you pick it up and you know how many miles the car has done while supposedly sitting in someones workshop ( make sure you dont zero the trip meter, as the garage could easily put 50 miles on it, then just zero it again a mile from the garage ).
Whenever taking your car somewhere and leaving it, make sure you leave the trip computer / mileage counter to run for a while before, so it is showing a few hundred miles.
Check the reading when you drop the car off, and then again when you pick it up and you know how many miles the car has done while supposedly sitting in someones workshop ( make sure you dont zero the trip meter, as the garage could easily put 50 miles on it, then just zero it again a mile from the garage ).
Remember a lad in the FTO club seeing his P&J parked in a layby with a mechanic eating a burger from the grease wagon in it. Called the garage and asked where his car weas and got told "out on a test run"
Needless to say he told them to come and get the bloke and ordered him out of the car and left him standing there. Lad was raging they'd treat his motor like that when he wouldn't eat in it himself. Lot of dodgy types out there still unfortunately!
5t.
07 November 2008, 11:34 AM
#80
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Years ago when i was a bike mechanic we had a rather bemused gentleman come in wondering why he'd just seen his limited edition VFR800 being wheelied up the bus lane in our local town centre.
Unbelievably the offending party wasn't sacked.
Unbelievably the offending party wasn't sacked.
07 November 2008, 12:27 PM
#81
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One tip for people worried about similar situations.
Whenever taking your car somewhere and leaving it, make sure you leave the trip computer / mileage counter to run for a while before, so it is showing a few hundred miles.
Check the reading when you drop the car off, and then again when you pick it up and you know how many miles the car has done while supposedly sitting in someones workshop ( make sure you dont zero the trip meter, as the garage could easily put 50 miles on it, then just zero it again a mile from the garage ).
Whenever taking your car somewhere and leaving it, make sure you leave the trip computer / mileage counter to run for a while before, so it is showing a few hundred miles.
Check the reading when you drop the car off, and then again when you pick it up and you know how many miles the car has done while supposedly sitting in someones workshop ( make sure you dont zero the trip meter, as the garage could easily put 50 miles on it, then just zero it again a mile from the garage ).
07 November 2008, 01:39 PM
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One other thing I can do on my car as it has a Greddy boost guage with a memory is reset it and check it afterwards - if any mysterious extra miles have appeared on the car, I can check to see if they were booting it while nipping out for their lunch in it.
07 November 2008, 02:37 PM
#86
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One tip for people worried about similar situations.
Whenever taking your car somewhere and leaving it, make sure you leave the trip computer / mileage counter to run for a while before, so it is showing a few hundred miles.
Check the reading when you drop the car off, and then again when you pick it up and you know how many miles the car has done while supposedly sitting in someones workshop ( make sure you dont zero the trip meter, as the garage could easily put 50 miles on it, then just zero it again a mile from the garage ).
Whenever taking your car somewhere and leaving it, make sure you leave the trip computer / mileage counter to run for a while before, so it is showing a few hundred miles.
Check the reading when you drop the car off, and then again when you pick it up and you know how many miles the car has done while supposedly sitting in someones workshop ( make sure you dont zero the trip meter, as the garage could easily put 50 miles on it, then just zero it again a mile from the garage ).
Talk about making things harder and more complicated than it needs to be
07 November 2008, 02:41 PM
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07 November 2008, 02:45 PM
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My mate (also Asian) has a couple of car wash businesses, one automated and one handwash but thankfully he is a responsible chap and trustworthy.
But there are cowboys out there, unfortunately ethnic groups these days, who setup a service but don't know the first thing about running a reputable business.
The guys who crashed your car should have trade insurance as a minimum or they can't be operating so you can pursue them through this channel and get legal advice on how to do this.
Also trading standards is another option and depending on what the coppers told you, go down the legal route for the reported crime (if it holds up as one).
You live and learn, sorry to hear about the loss but you never know what can happen and something like a scooby is always tempting regardless of the fact that some 'ethnic' group is running the place or not (my mate Simon's Mk2 RS was returned as a lump of metal on the back of trailer by a so called ford tuning shop in Essex).
I personally never leave my car with anyone and if I have to the alarm is set to only allow arm/disarm but no engine starting/movement.
But there are cowboys out there, unfortunately ethnic groups these days, who setup a service but don't know the first thing about running a reputable business.
The guys who crashed your car should have trade insurance as a minimum or they can't be operating so you can pursue them through this channel and get legal advice on how to do this.
Also trading standards is another option and depending on what the coppers told you, go down the legal route for the reported crime (if it holds up as one).
You live and learn, sorry to hear about the loss but you never know what can happen and something like a scooby is always tempting regardless of the fact that some 'ethnic' group is running the place or not (my mate Simon's Mk2 RS was returned as a lump of metal on the back of trailer by a so called ford tuning shop in Essex).
I personally never leave my car with anyone and if I have to the alarm is set to only allow arm/disarm but no engine starting/movement.
07 November 2008, 05:23 PM
#89
will the insurer try and get out of paying the claim because the policyholder effectively gave the vehicle with keys to someone who had no insurance?
last policy i had stated on the covernote 'theft cover will be removed unless a thatcham cat 1 alarm system is fitted and activated whilst the vehicle is left unattended'
hopefully it turns out to be fine
last policy i had stated on the covernote 'theft cover will be removed unless a thatcham cat 1 alarm system is fitted and activated whilst the vehicle is left unattended'
hopefully it turns out to be fine
iant thatcham cat 1 alarms supposed to activate after 30 secs of inactivity? so she would get caught out by that clause
07 November 2008, 05:36 PM
#90
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the clause is so that even if you have a cat 1 alarm, theft cover can be removed if it doesnt work. i think the answer was this when i asked them about it