Someone's continually scratching my car...

[Vini]

I've recently noticed some vertical scratches on my car, about 1-2 inches high. There's about 10 down one side, and it had confused me as to what was causing them/how they were getting there.

I practically ruled out someone opening there door into me, as there's a black bump strip that runs down the side (Ford Focus MK1)...

I discussed the scratches with a few people who said they definitely look like door dings. So I racked my brain wondering where they may be coming from, and it almost instantly clicked.

My flat has an allocated space, in an under croft garage/car ports type thing. Each under croft car port has room for two cars, albeit they're very, VERY tight! The person I park next to doesn't own a flat onsite, but instead owns/rents an office and therefore has his own allocated space in our car park, typically next to mine. I've been in this flat for 7 months now, and not really had a problem. Originally when I moved in the car I parked next to was an Audi A4 and was pretty big, especially when compared to the Alfa that's now using the spot.

The good bit for me is that the car I share the port with is only there during business hours (Mon-Fri 9-5) so I get loads of room after hours, and room for my friends etc... The downside is that because I only work a couple of miles from my flat, I am home for about 5:15 so this other car is still there, making parking difficult - precision perfect, and getting out of my car almost impossible without dinging his car. So what I do is clamber over to the passenger side and get out, totally avoiding his car/any other cars.

However, I don't think I can say the same for the owner of the vehicle I share the port with. I've been in my flat 7 months now, and for most of those I've never had a problem. I've only started to notice these scratches appearing over the past 6-8 weeks or so (since the car changed from the Audi to the Alfa)...

Anyway when I came home last night at 5:30 the Alfa was still there, so I decided to try something... As all the scratches are down the drivers side (due to parking facing forwards), I decided I would reverse in, offering the Alfa my clean, unscratched passenger side.

Lo and behold when I left my flat later that evening at 8pm, the Alfa had gone and there was a new 1-2 inch scratch on my car... which is pretty much conclusive.

Now this opens up a whole can of worms, and also raises problems. What the hell can I do next?

It's almost 99.9% certain that the owner of the Alfa has caused all these scratches which run down the drivers side front wing, door, rear door, back wing and now also passenger side door. But where do I go from here?

A letter to the business which own the space is probably step one, but where do I stand on getting the scratches sorted?

Getting solid proof is going to be difficult, unless I sit outside with a camera...

[GoNz0]

tell em what you told us, u parked the car the other way and once he was gone it was damaged meaning it can only be them, if they get ****ty use your insurance company legal team.

i suggest taking some b4 pics when you know its about to happen again.

[Mossy]

put vandal grease down the side of the car the remeos on he / she will soon get the point.

[mycarsavw]

You'll need;

• Sheet of A4
• Marker pen
• Brown parcel tape

Using the marker pen, write the following on the sheet of A4

"Thank you for scratching my car, next time I'll use nails to affix this."

Parcel tape it to the windscreen of the Alfa.

[GoNz0]

or hang something off your car that will trash his when he hits it, like a metal sheet that u can slot down the window, bit of rubber to protect urs but metal folded out at 90 degrees to crease his door.

he will be carefull then

[Mossy]

Who says its a He lets take bets....

[PeterStoba]

I'd say it was a woman

[Clunk]

Land mine.

[Stringent]

Find some snails. Plonk them on his car. Keep doing so every so often till he moves.

[samcross]

Land mine.

Problem Solved

Edit: 50th Post wooooooooooo

[sammyc]

I've recently noticed some vertical scratches on my car, about 1-2 inches high. There's about 10 down one side, and it had confused me as to what was causing them/how they were getting there.

You're sure they don't have a dog?
edit: ah, seen the pics. Columbo moment over.

[XA04]

Brake fluid..

[Vini]

This is a bad pic of whats what, down the drivers side. This has obviously started now, on the passenger side...



...yes my cars dirty!

[Jay]

wow, thats nasty! I would talk to the guy in passing about "people who scratch cars" etc. Don't make it directed at him but more directed at everyone else.

[Dareos]

talking to the guy in passing isnt going to pay for the repairs, have it out with him, with a sledgehammer if necessary

DISCLAIMER : the above point of view is mostly humorous and the poster is not condoning violence of any kind where a sledgehammer is the weapon of choice, also a plea of Dareos told me to do it, will not hold any weight in a manslaughter/murder trial.

[GoNz0]

he needs to pay for the damage, its obvious he isnt just dinging your door the gits holding the door hard against your car as he is getting out.

any sign of damage to his car ? i would go as far as calling the police for that