Advice to confront my neighbor

[that_one_guy]

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?

[Bonburner]

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

[ApoNono]

Originally Posted by Bonburner

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

This

[dorifuto]

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

[White64Goat]

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.

[shyong]

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.

[Shagaliscious]

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

[wbradley]

Originally Posted by dorifuto

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

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!

[Kimsey47]

Originally Posted by wbradley

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.

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

[InstinctRacer]

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

[that_one_guy]

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...)

[shyong]

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

[campy]

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.

[Fnbeast86]

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