So - tints - that ended up being far more eventful than it should’ve been; involving a steak restaurant under construction, an angry Tamil, and the police!
Car went in on Wednesday morning to autoshades in Sutton - my go to place for window tints for all my cars since forever. Highly recommended.
I wanted a light shade at most (35%) all round - but wifey dearest wanted to go even darker. The rear windows were already around 35% from factory, but by applying a 50% film, that took the rears to 22ish % (classed as a “medium”). I don’t like it that dark, but i was over-ruled!
Looks darker in the pics than in person.
This was done by lunchtime so I asked on the off chance if they could squeeze in the R8 for their lightest shade..they could, so swapped the cars.
When I came back at end of day - autoshades asked if I’d noticed any damage to the golf as they’d had a neighbour come in and say they saw one of the other neighbours (a Tamil lady) reverse her Sharan into the golf while it was parked on the street!
We checked CCTV and it showed the bump (will try to upload a clip). Not knowing the extent of damage as the golf was at home, I went round to where the Sharan driver lived, above a restaurant opposite autoshades. Although they were in - no answer.
This is the car that hit the golf - the rear bumper has seen some action!
Went home and checked the damage - not too bad. The number plate plinth was broken and the pressed plate a bit scuffed and bent. BUT the ACC sensor surround had half come off - and Sof noticed while driving around that the front assist warning went off randomly a couple of times - which suggests it’s been knocked out of alignment. That’s £720 at Epsom VW!
Next day (Thursday) I knocked up a note pointing out that they’d committed an offence by not reporting an accident within 24hrs, and that I had CCTV footage and a witness, and if they got in touch and sorted this amicably I wouldn’t need to report to the police.
Nothing.
So Friday evening after work, I went round. Parked the R8 about 500m away and out of sight, and approaching the restaurant/building site a Tamil guy walks out. So I catch up with him and ask if the Sharan was his - he says yes, so I explain that a female driver reversed into my car on weds morning causing damage, didn’t leave any details, and that I have it on video if he wants to see.
He became evasive at this point - denying any knowledge. He tried to get into his flat, and I figured if he gets inside - game over for me. So I got between him and the door. All the while remaining calm and telling him this isn’t a big deal, I don’t want to take it further, just want to get car sorted and it’s not a lot of damage. He’s getting agitated and goes to another door (before I can get in front) and darts inside - I grabbed the door and stopped him closing it. At this point he lost it. No idea what he was saying at this point, but think Apu from the simpsons crossed with an angry chimp. I wouldn’t let go of the door (still trying to get him to chill the f*ck out) so he tried to kick me! It didn’t actually land but got my jacket...
Motherfu*ker!
So I called the police and reported an assault following a collision - bit of a stretch, but hey...
He got on the phone to them too and said I’d hit him! (Wish I had - but no). Five other people, looked like all family, appeared at this point too.
The police were great. I explained what happened, showed them the footage, and an estimate from Camspec for the repairs (£330).
He was still being a moron - even when the police asked if I wanted to press charges and I said no. He denied any knowledge of the incident (wouldn’t watch the video), denied ever seeing the note (I reckon his wife chucked it) and kept asking if there’s been an accident why didn’t I report it at the time to the police. He also denied kicking me - despite the footprint on my coat haha!
It took the police lady shouting at him that I was doing him a favour by not reporting it, giving him a chance to settle, and that she’d arrest him (for assault) and his wife (for not reporting the accident) - for him to calm down. He finally watched the video.
The police officer made him go to a cash point and settle it there and then! Legend!
No insurance involved this way!
Who knew tinting windows could be so eventful!
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