claim culture means people can't act decently any more

aaaaaaahhhhrrrrgggghhhh

Couple of days ago a kid got out of his dad's car on his own and walloped the door into the side of my car, making an impressive dent which pushed the swage line in so that the panel couldn't be popped straight out again.I approached the parents incredibly politely....accepting that nothing deliberate had been done, regretting the upset this would cause them but pointing out that my car had sustained damage.

I asked the dad to open the back car door, which he did, and I showed him how the car door fitted the dent perfectly.and he said, "So what are you saying?"And he kept saying it, in an increasingly threatening tone. I repeated that I thought the damage had been done unintentionally, ....but I didn't recommend a solution....I wanted to let him just respond...at very least apologise.

Of course, he didn't.

So, I asked what he would have felt was an appropriate response if I had accidentally dented his car. And he immediately said that wasn't relevant becaue he has a nice car and I have a crappy one. He went on to point out its age and the rust on the wheel arches.So of course I said, does my car being old mean that it is ok with you if your child whacks it? And he just walked away and told me I was being unreasonable. He said, I'm not talking to you until you can come up with something different because you are talking sh1t.

I called the police and they said that unfortunately, as the car was in a private carpark, the road traffic act did not apply, and as the child was under ten, they could not be done for criminal damage.They were staying in a cottage next to ours in a holiday let. Needless to say, I seethed for a couple of days.Yet again (having had a hit-and-run prang only a month ago) I am absolutely pissed off with people's lack of decency and respect.

I remember walking past someone's car about ten years ago and accidentally swiping his wing with a rucksack. I left a note on his windscreen with my phone number and when he phoned he thanked me for owning up and said there'd be nothing to pay. Likewise, my friend (and host this weekend) accidentally swiped another car and apologised and the owner was so charmed by her attitude that he said it wouldn't be a problem.I know insurance companies say never admit fault, but these were all circumstances where the car was off the road and where insurance didn't come into it.But it is that very insurance and claim culture which means that people seem incapable of being honest and decent; and instead go on the offensive.

My next door neighbour says he would just have dented the other guy back, but the irony is that if I had, I could have been done for criminal damage, where the other guy could not.

Yet again, the bastards in the world come out on top.