ULPT Request: Hit someone's car with a shopping cart on accident
Posted by Routine-Day6118@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 105 comments
I live in California and I hit someone's car with a shopping cart, while someone was in it and caused a minor dent (like it wont capture on camera) on the car. The police were called but they didn't charge me with anything since no one was hurt. The estimate ended up being around 1500 and I have no way to pay. They are threatening to sue if I don't cough up the money. Do I just ignore them? I want them off my back and can any legal action be pursued towards me?
Skeggy-@reddit
Ignore until you’re served. Generally always ignore legal threats until they become real.
Yes they can sue you. They have damages and a police report to validate those claim.
gogozrx@reddit
and then set up an automatic payment from your bank to pay them $5/week, by mailed check. I had a doctor's office beg me to stop doing that. I said, "write off the debt." It took a year, but they finally did.
mamaleigh05@reddit
I did the same with doctors office. They have to pay someone to do the books, send out payment papers (always demand to NOT go paperless and save them time and money), use a stamp to keep up with sending $5 payments and probably paying credit company to run it. Saves thousands and I have no problem with fucking with healthcare, DEA or the IRS! Fuck them all! I have a book tips on how to let it even go to their collections. How to let it go to collections and wipes off, etc. Don’t let insurance and hospitals fuck you. Life or death and they need you to keep paying taxes and their outrages bills.
If it gets to collections ~ oh boy, there are easy ways to make them run in circles trying to get the necessary paperwork. By then you clean your credit report and they lose money off the whole claim.
gogozrx@reddit
I had one debt that had been sold a couple of times. I missed a payment (my error, I made a change at my bank) and they demanded the full amount, said they were going to take me to court. This was subrogation, btw. So I hit them with a fedexed FDCPA request, asking for *everything*.
They came back a week or so later with the correct answer - since it was subrogation, they didn't need to provide that.
I said, "OK... but when we go to court, I bet the judge asks for that information."
She said she'd call me back. a week later, she said that she would allow me to continue my payments, but they were going to be monitored, and she'd be calling me every month!
the next month a guy called to verify the payment, and I told him that it'd arrive on the same day as the last one. he says, "Wait a minute.... you've been making this payment without issue for a year. why am I calling you?" I told him about the lady that I'd dealt with. he said, "she's a bitch, I'm discharging this. You'll get something in a week or two." :\~)
Ok-Calligrapher-8028@reddit
What is FDCPA
JustForkIt1111one@reddit
Hard to say. What is google?
gogozrx@reddit
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
mamaleigh05@reddit
Good!!
qt3_14rye@reddit
What’s the name of the book?
mamaleigh05@reddit
I’m sure there is a book, I was kidding because I have a collection of articles on the hell of the process. I’m not in medical debt now, but it’s a loss for the hospital and collection. I went through the process twice and now I know all the ins and outs. Thanks to some articles, honest hospital bill lady and one debt collector. They don’t usually win and you don’t have to let them!
diveschool@reddit
What book?
mamaleigh05@reddit
It’s more of a collection of pages I’ve obtained on how to handle them! There probably is a book on it “like “handling collectors for dummies”. 🤣
MakerBlock@reddit
Would you consider sharing? Could really use some help :)
mamaleigh05@reddit
I love to give help! I’m in a bind right now, but I’m going to spend a few to find out where I saved some pages! I can’t let my people down on Reddit because I love this app and the helpful people in here!. Give me a few….
Tylertron@reddit
Remindme!
mamaleigh05@reddit
https://www.solosuit.com/posts/fight-debt-collector-court-win#:~:text=Summary%3A%20If%20you%27re%20being%20sued%20by%20a%20debt,Compel%20Arbitration%2C%20and%205%29%20negotiate%20a%20settlement%20offer.
Charlie24601@reddit
A fried of mine did something similar. He got a bill from a neighboring state he USED to live in for unpaid taxes....for the time he DID NOT live there. He called them and said he hasn't been living there for over a year. They said prove it.
So in the end, he just cut small checks to show he was trying to pay off the debt, when in reality, it was COSTING them money to take the money. They called and begged him to stop, but they refused to remove the debt. So he paid the entirety in small checks. At one point, he was even writing checks for pennies. It was hilarious.
mamaleigh05@reddit
My mom literally mailed 4 Pennie’s to ATT after my uncle died. How did he just owe 4 cents? Must have died hours into the new billing cycle? But that was funny!
MiaLba@reddit
Can you share more tips please.
gotchafaint@reddit
What book?
Chickachickawhaaaat@reddit
That's genius and I want your other tips
Dawn_of_an_Era@reddit
You can deposit like 30 checks into an ATM at once in a stack, and they don’t expire for 90 days lol, I’d just do my quarterly deposits and be glad I’m getting anything tbh
gogozrx@reddit
Yeah, offices usually don't do that... They're usually more current on their banking
Dawn_of_an_Era@reddit
Yeah but we’re not talking about offices, we’re talking about OP hitting a person’s car. Yes, it might’ve worked for you, but you suggested it to OP in your comment, as if it would have the same effect
gogozrx@reddit
Ohhh, touché. I had forgotten the original post.
TheIronSoldier2@reddit
This is why I love that I can set up automatic check payments through my bank.
At no extra cost to me, they will regularly send a check to any US mailing address. It's meant for stuff like rent, but it also works for petty shit like this.
gogozrx@reddit
Exactly!!!
Mini_Assassin@reddit
American problems require American solutions
BornToBEAMan@reddit
maybe start putting money into a savings account just in case.
74orangebeetle@reddit
How do you not see a CAR to the point you can't stop in time and walking speed and crash into it? Were you that absorbed in your phone? I fear for the next generation...
SignatureCreepy503@reddit
You don’t have to do anything. And in the future never ever admit fault
letuswatchtvinpeace@reddit
Ignore them until it becomes a real legal issue, as in you are severed with legal papers.
If that happens, make them take you to court. Present your case, if you lose just don't pay.
$1500 should be small claims count, check with your county and see if that is the amount.
BornToBEAMan@reddit
maybe stop admitting your guilt on social media? Of course they can pursue an action you've admitted to damaging their car.
aaaaaaaarrrrrgh@reddit
I'm sure routine-day-somenumbers is their real name and/or they're the only one who recently hit a car with a shopping cart in California.
iMakestuffz@reddit
Just ignore them. They have car insurance for this reason.
austinalexan@reddit
That’s not how car insurance works lol. If they want to get this fixed through their insurance, they’re going to have to make a claim and pay a high deductible and have their premiums go up the following renewal period.
Flux_My_Capacitor@reddit
So?
Flux_My_Capacitor@reddit
A minor dent not seen on camera is $1500?
Most wouldn’t even care and would move on with their day.
slayuh@reddit
If it’s minor, paintless dent repair is the way to go. Waaaay less than bodywork
1_speaksoftly@reddit
I don't know your situation, but always consider in cases like this: sue for what exactly? Keep in mind that in any case in most states - look up what's the case in yours - they have to leave you with a home and a vehicle.
snarffle@reddit
They might take you to small claims. They might win. So what? Don't pay if you don't have it. I won small claims against someone for $4000. They never paid. Nothing happened to them except maybe, and that's a big maybe, it dinged their credit report. If you don't have anything, do you really care if your credit number is lower for a few years?
The people whose car it was will probably never get it fixed. If they do, they have insurance (I would hope) and are only out the deductible. If they show you proof of paying the deductible, you could arrange a payment plan with them in order to do the right thing.
thermal_shock@reddit
had a similar issue happen to a friends car, person just left a note and actually did call the police, there was a note on the car with a diagram of a car with the damaged area marked. he was able to massage it off with some cheap polish, didn't even care, called the guy to say thanks for reporting it and at least letting him know it happened. no insurance was required or even called.
curiouskratter@reddit
They can sue you but I would think it's more trouble than it's worth to them. Not sure how you get out of that though.
ericisatwork@reddit
small claims is an incredibly easy process. one form, $35, and voila!
curiouskratter@reddit
Ok then what do you do with your winning judgment? The court doesn't go collect your money for you....
ericisatwork@reddit
correct, but the court can, and will, assist you in having the losing parties wages and/or tax returns garnished.
source: got sued in civil court. refused to pay. wages got garnished.
curiouskratter@reddit
Oh ok, I did not know that, definitely good to know for the OP
J_Case@reddit
The police showed up for a shopping cart accident in CA? I call BS.
Glum-Suggestion-6033@reddit
I mean…if someone calls the police, they show up. It might take them an hour to get there, since nobody is dying.
altblank@reddit
they have insurance for just this reason, amongst others. they can call upon their insurance and that company will likely come after you for the deductible. if and when that happens, discuss a payment plan to cough up. or they may sue you.
(assuming they truly want to get this repaired).
until then, sit tight. the possibility that something truly will be followed up on is generally less than 50%.
10S_NE1@reddit
I’d be willing to guess they do not have insurance and that’s why they’re trying to shake down OP. There is absolutely no reason for them to not call their insurance company. Their rates shouldn’t go up for something like that, so why are they even bothering OP?
altblank@reddit
if they don't have insurance and are simply trying to shake OP down, there's absolutely no reason to worry. they simply don't have a case. they'll need to prove they're covered at the state minimum level if they go the legal route, and if they can't... well, there's no case.
OP, sit tight. if you'd like, ask them to pound sand, respectfully. you only need to be concerned (not a true worry) if you've been summoned, which in this case, i suspect won't happen.
lefty1207@reddit
You caused damage and want to just walk away and forget it? Sell something, get a 2nd job.offer to do yard work or something. Why should someone else pay for your F up?
CupAccomplished6726@reddit
This needs to be further up. OP confirmed clown.
not_REAL_Kanye_West@reddit
I hope you dont drive if you cant even navigate a parking lot with a shopping cart.
IHateHawaiianPizza@reddit
Nice job shithead, maybe this will teach you to respect other people’s property. Try to ignore them if you want, but you’re going to have to pay 😂
Kafkabest@reddit
Small claims can be perused. I’d wait em out see if they offer a settlement.
Acrobatic_Emu_9322@reddit
This, the true cost to fix the dent won’t be no 1500.
tacosandsunscreen@reddit
It really might be. Someone put a dent in my door last year and the quote came in and over $3k. Their insurance happily paid it.
Charlie24601@reddit
Sounds like you used a shitty or predatory body shop.
LadybugGirltheFirst@reddit
I’m sure $2800 of that was for labor.
No-Corner9361@reddit
Dents in body work are hard to fix in an aesthetic manner, yeah they’re labor intensive. Labor is as real a cost as any material cost, some (ie marxist economists) might argue it’s by far the most significant cost in our economy.
mikeycp253@reddit
Labor is almost always the most expensive part. I’m not a body guy but a mechanic, I recently did a $13k engine repair on a diesel Silverado. Almost $10k was labor.
Resse811@reddit
Well yeah that’s generally how you fix dents - with a whole lot of labor.
EstePersona@reddit
Their insurance got ripped off.
_Flavor_Dave_@reddit
Ask for an estimate. If you have to pay then write a check to the body shop directly. Just a way to make sure they spend the money on what they said the would.
randomhero22@reddit
Pdr is pretty cheap and they usually can come to you.
Mr_Q_Cumber@reddit
As someone who just had a box truck smash into my car with zero injuries… I learned that most lawyers aren’t interested in small lawsuits with little return for them (they are a business).
An accident with no personal injury and only property damage, they will be hard pressed to find a lawyer to take that case. What are they gonna do split 1,500 bucks with a lawyer? No way. You’re fine ignoring it till something real happens. That being said, small claims court is an option they have.
jonesin31@reddit
The amount of people trying to help a person not pay what he's responsible for is ridiculous.
SerDuckOfPNW@reddit
Check the sub
jonesin31@reddit
Oh that'll do it🤣
waterproof_diver@reddit
It’s just a money grab anyway.
Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit
Everyone's just showing presidential behaviour.
Micro-Naut@reddit
Do not open any registered mail. Deny that it is you if they ask. Nothing good arrives by registered mail
halen2024@reddit
What’s the justification behind 1500 for a minor dent? This sounds like the owner is just being a dick. Good luck to you
waterproof_diver@reddit
See r/legaladvice
writinglegit2@reddit
If you already gave them your information (and the cops made a report) then... how would you get out of this?
You can demand another estimate (how does a dent you cant see on camera cost 1500) but if you are at fault, you're screwed. I was going to say you could lie in small claims court, but if the cops came, you already admitted it to them and the person.
Ignore them, sure. But if they take you to small claims (sounds like they will if they are calling the cops over a dent) and you dont show, they automatically win, and now you are looking at payment plans or wage garnishment
Wh1skeyTF@reddit
That estimate guaranteed includes a partial repaint and blend. Nobody is doing that over a dent, this is a money grab simple as that.
waterproof_diver@reddit
Agree. I’d ask them for proof of payment that they fixed the dent and that you will pay them back. They won’t. Then mention this in small claims court if they even take you there. They just want an easy $1500.
waterproof_diver@reddit
Ask them for a receipt first to show that they spent the money on the dent. They won’t. If they get the money, they will keep it and leave the dent. Let them take you to small claims court. If they do, bring up how they haven’t submitted proof of payment to fix the dent. Judge will hopefully see that they are being unreasonable and side in your favor.
momthom427@reddit
*accidentally
Historical-Remove401@reddit
There may be free legal aid available for you. Look up legal aid for your area.
Paleoanth@reddit
Tell them to go through their insurance. That is what is is for.
binger5@reddit
Mexico is kind of nice this time of year.
TriGurl@reddit
It really is!
throwaway137494@reddit
I love this response lmao
liftguy111@reddit
I did that once for $10.00 per month. Asking for some self addressed stamped envelopes got them to cancel the debt.
jqlil@reddit
There is an episode of All in the Family about this scenario. “Edith’s Accident”
Sea_Substance9163@reddit
It was a *can of cling peaches, in heavy syrup. *
jqlil@reddit
It was a freak accident!
Unlucky-Ad-201@reddit
How bad can a shopping cart really affect the integrity of an automobile? This feels fake. You’re not going to accidentally cause $1000 of damage with a shopping cart unless it’s filled with cinder blocks.
Henri_Bemis@reddit
Let me know if I’m missing something: So they didn’t file an insurance claim - why? Who doesn’t have insurance in this situation?
Have you actually SEEN the estimate and talked to the shop that provided it?
If they did try to take you to small claims, and their only argument is that they told you to pay $1500 and didn’t, they’re not going to win.
It doesn’t make sense such a small dent would cost so much. And if it does, it’s still just a dent and could be paid off slowly in installments.
Alternatively, call the person and say you’d like to settle. Invite them in and offer them a seat and a cup of coffee or something while you write them a check - “oh my, my checkbook is in this junk drawer, who writes checks anymore, right?”
Start rifling through the drawer (and make sure it’s stuffed), and “spill” a bunch of things - a bunch of rubber bands, a box of staples, a grill lighter, an old screwdriver, a key fob, go nuts! As long as it’s normal boring shit, and you make sure you don’t touch them with your fingers. You could put them on a piece of cardboard or something and use that to scatter them.
“Omg, all this crap! Why did I think I’d ever need this? Could you please grab those for me? Thanks, oh just leave it on the table, I’ll be done in a - oh here it is! $1500, yeah? Oh god, now I need to find a pen! Oh, okay, got one!” scribble scribble. “Here you go. I’m really sorry about all this.”
Then carefully gather everything they touched and frame them for a crime.
BluebirdThat9442@reddit
There is a very good chance that they are bluffing. If they’re not, then there’s a very good chance that you only are legally responsible for their insurance deductible; which should be a lot less than $1,500.
Tell them that you will only pay the insurance deductible amount, and only pay it directly to their insurance company, (not to them). They must provide to you the printed insurance statement with the deductible payment coupon. This way, they have to prove they actually filed a claim with their insurance company, and you only pay the actual deductible.
It’s staggering how often they don’t want to file a claim because it will raise their premiums costs. So, call their bluff.
kyriacos74@reddit
There is nothing that requires them to file with insurance, so the deductible becomes moot.
BluebirdThat9442@reddit
We’re talking about a defense for small claims court. Arguing the aggrieved never filed an insurance claim and never actually did repair to the “small dent” will help with the defense not pay their bullshit claim. One quote? Insurance wants three quotes from separate companies. If they’re just milking aggrieved and are not looking to actually repair a small dent, but they want defense to pay them money anyway? Make the aggrieved prove themselves. No insurance claim, no proof of repair work completed, then no money from Routine-Day6118.
kyriacos74@reddit
I think a reasonable judge would ask for the same two or three estimates and pick the median value as just compensation. The cost may be lower than the insurance deductible. Or the owner may elect to not file. I agree the plaintiff would need to prove the amount necessary. But remember that even in insurance subrogation cases, the insured isn't required to make the repair on a comprehensive coverage claim even if the insurer pays for it. Agreed that the whole thing is bullshit though lol
iwfabrication@reddit
Insurance. I feel like a lot of post on reddit involving vehicles are simply answered by...insurance.
nein_va@reddit
There's no insurance on a shopping cart
unai-ndz@reddit
shopping cart insurance?
djasonw@reddit
I would totally ignore it. There is no way a shopping cart can cause a $1,500 dent. Besides, most people have comprehensive insurance that covers stuff like that.
Hitch08@reddit
I gotta go with….piss discs.
abofh@reddit
They can sue you, they will likely win damages - at court you can negotiate a payment plan. The alternative would be to be up front with them and try and avoid that by working out a payment plan.
cafephilospher@reddit
The phrase is "by accident" not "on accident".
hu_gnew@reddit
If you have renter's insurance you may have some level of liability coverage, my policy does.
correctingStupid@reddit
They will probably take you to small claims and easily win..up to and I clusing their deductible if they have collision. If they don't, you may be liable for more. Offer to pay their deductible when they show you the paperwork. They may have a 500 dollar deductible.