Advice to confront my neighbor
 

A few weeks ago I noticed a couple white chips on the passenger door. I was annoyed but I'm not huge on visual perfection so I just let it go. Later I noticed a couple ultramarine colored chips on the edge of my neighbor's driver's side door. This really annoyed me but she is an elderly obese woman, we are all human and make mistakes, so again I let it go.

This morning I come out to find two more chips! I can excuse A mistake, I'll even let ignorance go once if she didn't realize she hit my car while getting out, but this is bordering disrespect and not acknowledging my car right there.

I've only seen this woman once, never talked to her, so I'm not sure how to approach her about it, or even if I'm just over reacting. I think a note is passive aggressive, not to mention my apartment is full of less than intelligent upstanding citizens so she could be very sweet, or she could fling her doors open extra hard next time as an FU to me for confronting her about it.

I thought about getting an orange traffic cone to place between our cars as a buffer so her door will hit it instead, but that could also make it more difficult for her to get out of her truck. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

I'd confront her directly and be polite but assertive/concerned - letting her know that this is something that you're serious about.

This

get a scarey ass mask then jump out and scare the shit out of her. maybe she will have a heart attack!

Did you take pictures? If you did and can prove it was her, contact the police and get a police report then get her insurance information, then try and find a new place to park.

Take some pictures of the damage and culprit's door. Confront her and get her to pay for the damage. If she doesn't want to own up to her negligence. Call your insurance company and get their advice on if a claim can be made where they'll go after her for the damages. I'm pretty sure you've got a good case against her for the damages. File with your own insurance and have them go after the bills from her insurance. Good luck.

*edit* Make sure you take pictures of how the cars are parked next to one another. So you can prove your case that the arrangement of the damage and culprit's car coincide.

Yea, I would contact your insurance first. See if they can help you out. And definitely get pictures of the dings on both cars.

useless comment, spare us your keystrokes!

OP- I'd just politely approach her and dont get too excited when you tell her. Offer to show her the damage and the coloured chips on both cars.

If she is uncooperative or belligerant I'd possibly contact the landlord if it is a rental and ask for assistance (move your parking spot?) or get paint free dent removal/polishing done and present her with the (non inflated) bill. If she doesn't comply, then just get the heck away from her and her truck with the four slashed tires!

This plus some small claims court if she doesn't comply. Judge Judy WOOT WOOT!

I have a pair of these things I install real quick when I'm in tight areas. They simply install by suction cups, and are like 25 inches long by 6 inches wide.

I keep them under the trunk mat and whip 'em out when needed.

Seems like the perfect solution for overnight parking in a cramped parking lot.

http://www.autoanything.com/garage-a...Fc6DQgodJVcARQ

I should have said this is in an apartment complex where the car ports are separate from the apartments. I've only seen her once because I don't think she has a set schedule, not sure if she works, but her truck is always there no matter when I leave or return from work. I also don't know where she lives so I'd have to just sit by my car to wait for her to come out, if she even leaves her apartment that day...

I'm also not concerned about getting the chips repaired or compensated, I just want her to be aware and not cause any more damage. I would ask for a new space but this is my second assigned spot after my old car was scraped from a car driving by and scraping its side against my rear bumper (I found the punk in his new Nissan Cube with a paint matched scrape all along his driver's door...)

Sounds like you need to move. Apparently, people living there don't give a rat's ass about other people's property.

I would go to the apartment office and ask for a new spot, saying that the person who parks next to you is damaging your property.

Are there security cameras which view your parking spots? Maybe you can ask for the footage to submit to insurance.

You are being much more polite about this than I would be. I wouldn't so easily forgive some old lady who ate a few too many cheeseburgers and now can't get out of her car without swinging the door all the way open. It is 100% her fault and I wouldn't just let it slide if it's damaging your car like that. It's ruining the resale value and yes, people do notice dings like that, especially if they're all over the side of the car.

You will regret it if you dnt tell her cuz it's gonna keep happening

I am sure with the license plate and vehicle description the building management should be able to tell you who the owner is.

I retired after handling insurance claims for 25 years. You can forget about your insurance company going after her or going to small claims court. Unless you have proof (witnesses) that she hit your car nothing will happen.

Those side protectors look like a pretty good idea.

Buy her a salad to show you are concerned about her health and well being (weight). Then ask her how she would like to pay for the repairs? If it continues, find something she considers of value ( not twinkies ) and start systematically destroying that. Maybe then she will get the idea to treat other peoples property with respect. Out of curiosity is her car a minivan?

Park somewhere else man

I would mount a go pro or something and cat h her in the act so she can't deny it but yes I would confront her.

So the lady's ignorant behaviour costs the OP more $??

Call your insurance agent FIRST and inquire on what options you have.

I would approach her and express yourself in detail of door nicks/dings, as well as informing her that it costs money to repair and is damaging the vehicle. If she becomes beligerant and uncoorperative. (make sure you have detailed photos of her door marks on your car as well as the marks on her door edges)
Call the police and file a report. They will not place blame on anyone because it is private property HOWEVER they should require both parties to exchange insurance information.

Cheers

Because slashing her tires is a FANTASTIC solution (sarcasm)

I never suggested HE do that. I was assuming it would do itself :lol:

Piss in her mail box....or I can kill her for a small fee....your choice.

right....

Bribe her with a cheeseburger.

If you don't know where she lives and don't want to camp outside, leave a note. Leave your number on it or something so she can call you. I don't think it's passive aggressive, especially if you choose your words carefully and can't get a hold of her any other way.

a fat old lady driving a truck lmao. gl with confronting her. most women truck drivers dont give a fuk. atleast down here they dont

^This

I learned the hard way. I got 2 HUGE dent on my passenger door, but there were no witness, so I go totally screwed!

If I was you, get some security camera hooked up on your car and rec for the proof before tell her. If telling her gets sour, you have proof vid to show to police that she hit it

I thought this was a great idea at first, but then I wondered... How many people hit these just because they can?! Plus no offense to my fellow countrymen but we have A LOT of sloppy Americans that would just see this as an invite/excuse to be negligent when opening their door.

Have you experienced anyone abusing your application of these???

Heres what i would do: set up a ridiculously overelaborate trap triggered by her door touching yours and ending with her getting tipped over onto her back with a cupcake dangling barely out of her reach. thatll show her

Why not a simple shock alarm?

I dont think the cops can use your video evidence. The value of the damage is too small anyway and it's a civil matter. Cops and insurance are not the best route at this stage.

Just leave her a note and see what happens.

Very true. Even with witness it'll go into civil court for all the BS stuff...

If she's overweight and elderly, she may not be able to avoid bumping your car when she gets out (may need a wide door opening), so talking to her may be futile.

If she was a normal sized lady, I'd say go talk to her directly, but in this case, I would go with the solution below. Just throw it on whenever you park at home. Cheap and quick, and solves the problem.

Honestly, I would invite her over for dinner.. Wine her and dine her. Give her some dessert too. Then make an offer she can't refuse. :)

Because having a dash cam is a bad thing?

OP could continue to use the camera to record driving adventures or as a security cam just in case it occurs again with someone else or if she takes revenge on him

Hell you can buy a cheap ass $20 dollar cam and that would work too

Agreed especially with the end part. Easiest way to got about it is through your landlord. Tell them your not looking to give her shut just want her to be more aware of it in the future. If she is the type to be a botch and purposely damage your car after that then call the cops. I agree its no reason to go off the handle about... Yet... A mistake is a mistake but continued mistakes and purposefully damage can't be tolerated. Are u in the states or Canada?


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I always wondered. If it turns out that you do "give a rat's ass" is that a good thing?

Sure. Two incidents already in the same apartment complex. One can assume there's inconsiderate people living there. Why not move and save all the headache?