Hit and Run
 

Walked out into my parking garage and noticed this damage to my car. It is a valet garage but I usually park it myself to avoid door dings and the like. The parking spot my car was in this morning wasn't the same spot I had parked it in before so one of the employees moved it for some reason or another.

Anyways, this will be my 3rd complaint for damage, all previously denied. This time the owner/manager said he will have it fixed for me at my request. Told him I was going out of town first weekend of June so I will have it done then.

Hopefully all turns out ok and the place that fixes it does a good job. There are no cracks, only paint damage and the bottom part of the bumper looks like it is just pushed in. Anyone have anything similar fixed or any advice?
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Don't live in the city?

But seriously...sorry to hear.

I would strongly urge you to get the manager on record as to his agreement to pay for this..FIRST.

This might be $1000-1400 done right. That bumper skin may be distored enough that a quality shop would not want to risk that it ages poorly as a spot repair flexes with age. Find a very good shop (NOT necessarily the BMW dealer recommended shop) and get an estimate.

DO NOT just leave it with the parking lot manager to take care of....

A

Thanks that is good advice. I am not really sure I have a choice in the matter. The manager said he will personally take my car to their shop, have the job done and my car back all by the time I am back from my vacation. I am pretty pleased with the offer because in the past three years I have filed complaints for damage to my cars and all three were denied. I guess it is better than the alternative which is they could have done nothing. I think the only reason why they offered this is because I just filed a damage complaint a week earlier, or one of the parking attendants did it and they just aren't telling me.

I think the reason they are fixing it this time is because they know exactly who did it and how. I would bet the previous times nobody fessed up so nothing was done. Once I was accused of tearing one of the leather seats of an airplane I was working on. I was told that nobody else entered that aircraft and it had to be me. It wasn't me but the outfit decided to pay up and have the seat recovered anyway to keep good customer relations. People make up damages all the time so owners are always reluctant to act unless they know for sure it is their fault.

You are being foolish, IMO.

They could F up the color match, create more problems, damage the car in other areas...and you will have zero recourse. He could bring the car back, and if there are issues he will deny ever doing anything- not even the repairs.

I'd call my insurance, tell them what happened- that the parking place is taking responsibility. See if they let it proceed. You COULD tell the parking guy "My insurance requires the work be done at one of their certified shops- I am fine with you handling it, but the work MUST be done at a shop that [BMW, my insurance] recognizes. I am sure you understand."


Like most people with nice things, something to lose, in the City, you are faced with "Well they are screwing me, but if I complain they can really screw me..."

More good advice.

Do you think I should file a police report like most hit and run accidents? If I do file a police report should I mention on it that the garage immediately offered to fix it?

File police report, report to your insurance and proceed the way your insurance wants you to. If you go with the nice guy offer you will get screwed in the long run. Take ards good advice...