Hi there everyone, would be grateful for your opinions, advice and suggestions on this one as well as if there are and legal side of things I should be aware of too (not too great with all that stuff).
So last weekend I went up to Manchester with a few friends and cousins to celebrate one of my cousin's 21st (had a great time BTW). We were staying at an apartment for two nights in the central area of Manchester (won't mention which one at this point). So the plan was to park the car at a secure car park opposite for £5/night for the two nights as the apartment wanted £15/night for their underground car park. Well turned out I had to get a ticket in advance for the car park opposite as it was not manned after 8pm. Street parking wasn't really a viable option for me as I have had bad experiences in the past with my last car and it is P&D Mon-Sun from 8am-8pm so I think that means I'd have to get up in the morning to display a ticket?
Anyway, I kinda sweet talked the security guard into letting me into the car park as I didn't wanna park in the street and kinda lied saying I had paid for it but didn't get a code e-mailed to me when in fact I never (karma is a bi*** I know!). So he kindly let me in also asking me not to tell the morning staff that he done so too.
So I drove down into this car park once he had opened it and it was so tight and dark! The tube lights were only lit at the edges I could only see what my headlights/tail lights would light up. Anyway theres a sharp left followed by another sharp left bend as you go down with walls either side. I tried checking my side mirrors to check the clearance but couldn't see anything due to the lack of lighting in the car park. As I was on my own and reversing back round backwards didn't seem like a good idea with my headlights being my best form of lighting I decided to just drive on. BANG! SCRAPE! Hit a part of the wall I didn't see on the left rear quarter wheel arch area.
I got out and had a look and almost cried when I saw the damage that had been done. The wheel had taken most of the damage (as I have spacers fitted) but still left the paintwork prone to some damage.
So I went up to the apartment and told one of my cousins what had happened, so we came back down to car park to have a look and noticed EVERY single car in the car park had been inflicted with the same/similar/worse damage in the same area! So I began taking pictures at this point of the other vehicles damages, the car park, the lighting (or lack of) and the damages I had suffered. I also noticed the various different colours of car paint on the wall as well as the fact it had been rebuilt/cemented a number of times. I won't post all of the pictures here but I also snapped up a part of the T&C's of our stay which mentions a bit about parking which may be of interest to those of you with the legal knowledge/background.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do as of yet but I was thinking about e-mailing them demanding full contribution towards the damage or I shall pursue legal action with the following:
Thanks in advance, Azeem.
So last weekend I went up to Manchester with a few friends and cousins to celebrate one of my cousin's 21st (had a great time BTW). We were staying at an apartment for two nights in the central area of Manchester (won't mention which one at this point). So the plan was to park the car at a secure car park opposite for £5/night for the two nights as the apartment wanted £15/night for their underground car park. Well turned out I had to get a ticket in advance for the car park opposite as it was not manned after 8pm. Street parking wasn't really a viable option for me as I have had bad experiences in the past with my last car and it is P&D Mon-Sun from 8am-8pm so I think that means I'd have to get up in the morning to display a ticket?
Anyway, I kinda sweet talked the security guard into letting me into the car park as I didn't wanna park in the street and kinda lied saying I had paid for it but didn't get a code e-mailed to me when in fact I never (karma is a bi*** I know!). So he kindly let me in also asking me not to tell the morning staff that he done so too.
So I drove down into this car park once he had opened it and it was so tight and dark! The tube lights were only lit at the edges I could only see what my headlights/tail lights would light up. Anyway theres a sharp left followed by another sharp left bend as you go down with walls either side. I tried checking my side mirrors to check the clearance but couldn't see anything due to the lack of lighting in the car park. As I was on my own and reversing back round backwards didn't seem like a good idea with my headlights being my best form of lighting I decided to just drive on. BANG! SCRAPE! Hit a part of the wall I didn't see on the left rear quarter wheel arch area.
I got out and had a look and almost cried when I saw the damage that had been done. The wheel had taken most of the damage (as I have spacers fitted) but still left the paintwork prone to some damage.
So I went up to the apartment and told one of my cousins what had happened, so we came back down to car park to have a look and noticed EVERY single car in the car park had been inflicted with the same/similar/worse damage in the same area! So I began taking pictures at this point of the other vehicles damages, the car park, the lighting (or lack of) and the damages I had suffered. I also noticed the various different colours of car paint on the wall as well as the fact it had been rebuilt/cemented a number of times. I won't post all of the pictures here but I also snapped up a part of the T&C's of our stay which mentions a bit about parking which may be of interest to those of you with the legal knowledge/background.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do as of yet but I was thinking about e-mailing them demanding full contribution towards the damage or I shall pursue legal action with the following:
- Statement of what had happened.
- Invoice of damages.
- Similar/same/worse damage to ALL other vehicles in the car park. Coincidence?
- Improper lighting in car park (very difficult to see at night)
- Car paint markings on the wall.
- Rebuilt/recemented wall.
- No warning signs to be seen anywhere.
Thanks in advance, Azeem.
