I just don't understand.

[pomme]

I don't understand how people think... and i certainly don't understand why everything is setup to make life harder instead of easier.

Let me explain.

Today i watched a kid push a trolley into my polo. Now the kid didn't do it on purpose, he pushed his trolley into the stack... then the stack went by itself into my car. It didn't cause alot of damage... a small dint (much like a car door, and 1/2 cm scratch to go with it). Now watching it happen, i think isn't as bad as finding it 2 weeks later when you wash the car and wonder when and where... obviously i was kind of upset, but accidents happen, however the reaction of this kids mother really rubbed me up the wrong way.

When the trolley hit the car, the mother who had been watching the whole thing asked the kid if he was ok... didn't seem to care that the car had been hit, and i was a little distressed. She didn't respond to me suggesting she should be worried about damaging other people property, she just started to leave. No apology for the kid (which i guess is forgivable, he was quite young (10-14) and probably a little scared), no apology from the parent (which i think is certainly not forgivable)... just started to drive off. At this point i saw red, start shouting and abusing her, ranting about respect of people property, setting example for her children a little overboard maybe, but considering she wouldn't apologies on behalf of her kid for damaging a car i was pretty pissed. We had a heated exchange, and she said it wasn't anything to do with her, was entirely the shopping centers fault for having trolleys around.

Anyway, up until this point i wasn't really going to do much about it, very small scratch hardly worth the trouble, annoying but not worth the trouble, however because she was such a bitch, i felt that it was worth the trouble. I took down her rego, and details and contacted my insurance company.

Its at this point i just don't understand why the systems in place are in place to make my life harder. The insurance company said because it wasn't done intentionally, and she most probably won't admit to it (even though myself and a friend witnessed the entire event), then they really can't get her to pay and i will have to pay the excess. They didn't seem to understand my comparison with real car accidents, where no-one intentionally has the crash, and no-one admits fault, yet someone always gets screwed. They suggested the only thing i can do... assuming the damage is greater than my excess... is to get them to write a letter to the shopping center asking them to pay... but that a) wouldn't work and b) isn't really fair on the shopping center.

I was really pissed at this point, and phoned the police to see if anything could be done... they can't do anything because it was the child that caused the damage, apparently, not an adult.

So it seems children can damage whatever they want (intentionally or unintentionally) without any repercussions. Trolleys can be thrown into cars and so long as it was an accident and you don't admit you did it, also without repercussions.

The general public, from my experience are a bunch of idiots that have no respect for anyone, no time for anyone but themselves. Won't apologies when they have clearly done something wrong... i just don't understand.

If i damaged anything, i'd apologise, leave a message, i'd pay for anything i'd done, its common decency... i work damn hard to pay for my car, i'm i get very upset when it gets damaged.

I hate idiots.

[leck]

People suck like that. Especially in supermarket car parks for some reason .

Because it was a child, you could probably sue her because the child was under her care/supervision and it was her negligence that led it to happening. But i am definately not a lawyer, and for a small scratch/dent, it probably just isnt worth it.

Drop past a panelbeater and they could probably fix it up in quite cheaply and life goes on. I know its unfair and shouldnt be the way, but thats the way it is with some people. You end up with a story, out of pocket, and a jaded sense of justice.

Now get back to enjoying your shiny beast!

[DaveMack]

Pomme ... you're in Brisbane, right? I know how you feel ... had the same happen to my Pogo (only I wasn't there to witness it).

The damage you have (and I had) can be mended reasonably easily thru a mate of Jimmymacs (he had my dent removed while I was over in NZ).

It doesn't make it any easier to deal with people like that ... but at least there is a relatively simple remedy.

Cheers.

Dave

[pomme]

I have a of dints now... i had loads on my old car, i must be unlucky with them. I realise it part of parking in shopping centers, but its the fact i caught them red handed, and nothing from them.

I might look into fixing it at a later date... pretty busy atm.

Thanks though

[DaveMack]

I have a of dints now... i had loads on my old car, i must be unlucky with them. I realise it part of parking in shopping centers, but its the fact i caught them red handed, and nothing from them.

I might look into fixing it at a later date... pretty busy atm.

Thanks though

Cheers, Mate. PM Jimmymac sometime ... he'll give you details.

Dave

[archangel_7]

G'day pomme, my friend you are not alone beleiveee mee! I couldn’t agree with you anymore. Here are a few things that have happened to me in my GTI POLO...mind you; I only just bought it a few weeks ago. I used to drive a jag which cost me a lot of money to keep it running! The amount of disrespect I got from the general public, friends family was unbelievably ridiculous. When I bought the polo with my hard earnd cash I thought fk dat, I will not tolerate disrespect for my anyone.

The first day I bought the car and drove it out of the dealers onto a main road which was getting repaired, thousands of lose stones everywhere with the speed restricted to 40kms. Mate, I was amazed to see a 4X4 fly past me at 80kms which consequently blew dust and stones on my car left stone chips everywhere! I cracked it chased him beeped at him abused him, told him that "40 kms means 40kms" the restriction is there for a reason! Do you think he cared? NO ... selfish really pissed me off


Second one was when a bus driver drove into my lain and broke my review mirror off! I made him pull over... he denied it! I couldn’t believe it. I said mate why are you denying it, and he said because I can and I will deny it... cut a long story short went to my insurance they said don’t worry about it’s not worth the trouble.

Third, washed my car yesterday and found a massive scrape on my front left rim. I freaked! I did some investigating and found out my bro had driven it out of the garage to put his car in and somehow hit the gutter!
Ok, so i’ve had to change my mirror, touch up the stone chips and now I’m up for big bucks fixing my rims.. what can you do? the world is full of arrogant and inconciderate people, I’m just over it

[jfive]

I feel for you guys, it's quite pathetic the amount of respect people have these days. Some parents really should have been sterilised at birth.

[Jmac]

I agree with that. I have given my wife strict instructions to park as far away from 4wds shop entrances, and trolley parks. Shame really, and like you say some of these people get just dont care. I think they get something from dinting your pride and joy. It really is the the ultimate sign of disrespect. I assess at NRMA at the moment and i really do feel for some of the people coming through, with Scum damaging their cars. 90% i would say is damaged whilst parked.
Shocking

[OilBurna]

I feel your pain... people don't care anymore.

I jsut park as far away as I can at shopping centres and get some exercise. Wif'e shopping trolley has a few small dings here and there from people opening doors. It is hard with small kids though, but you have to teach them to learn and understand.

[SoVeReIgN]

Solution - Approach them as a concerned citizen rather than the owner of the car.. So should you get into a fight you can't be tracked.

Or immature (but satisfying) solution #2 - Take down their plate and just keep an eye open for their car over the next little while. If you happen to see it.. who knows how many trolleys might just happen to roll into it?

But too be fair - If he pushed it into the stack (and you mean trolley bay) and then they all rolled out its more the fault of the shopping centre for having such a ****ty design.