Neighbour Continually Parks Against My Bumper - What To Do?

[DaVibe]

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4271/picture347ha0.th.jpg (http://img5.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture347ha0.jpg)
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1784/picture345kx0.th.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture345kx0.jpg) http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9391/picture346al1.th.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture346al1.jpg)
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6752/picture351bn2.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture351bn2.jpg) http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/8633/picture352tx4.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture352tx4.jpg)


I often park my car in a designated 2-car park area in a dip in the road within my townhouse complex. I often find my neighbour cm's away from my bumper, I've found bumps on my actual bumper and today, I found this (1st picture) against my neighbour's car. The vehicle in question is the car.
Both cars are suppose to stick out a small bit but the car in the picture has chosen to drive up to the mini-van's bumper, as opposed to using the space available.

What would you do to fix this issue? I've yet to talk about it with the offender.

[cheapmeister]

T-dot parking sucks man. Those damn civil engineers are to blame for this. I say tell them not to hit your car and move back 6".

[pupazzo]

Get some pointy steel spikes mounted to the front of your bumper or license plate.

[spf1971]

I would go back to the first post I made about this. http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=698940

[DaVibe]

I would go back to the first post I made about this. http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=698940

New thread because everyone was harping on WHERE the spot was, as opposed to what was happening AT that spot ... there's a difference.

Different question, new thread. I also altered the thread for deletion.
Thanks for your input, once again.

[NDman]

I've yet to talk about it with the offender.

Then do it

[DaVibe]

Then do it

Right, but I'm also looking for some ideas as to how that conversation should go. Again, I have small bumps and scrapes on my car and the obvious visual of this person parking so close to my car but I don't have any actual eye-witness proof of them hitting me and then walking away.
I've never SEEN IT ... I've only seen the after effects.

[Venom]

I would probably print an invoice of the damages and leave it on his windshield with a note with your phone number, or he'll be going through insurance...don't worry about witnesses until he brings it up.

[Hunter316]

Get some pointy steel spikes mounted to the front of your bumper or license plate.

I would not choose this route as you would might forget to remove the item before you drive and hurt someone. Also don't expect the police or an insurance agency to take your side if they get involved since it is a deliberate attempt to damage the other vehicle. Have you tried parking in such a way that the other person does not have room to park in front or in back of you?

Finally you could stick to one thread per issue.

[DaVibe]

I would not choose this route as you would might forget to remove the item before you drive and hurt someone. Also don't expect the police or an insurance agency to take your side if they get involved since it is a deliberate attempt to damage the other vehicle. Have you tried parking in such a way that the other person does not have room to park in front or in back of you?

Finally you could stick to one thread per issue.

Well, it's a 2-car parking space, so whether I like it or not, I have to let them park there.
You can sort of tell (but hard if you don't live there) to tell in the pictures, but the mini-van is at the end point as to how far back the vehicle can go before their out in the road ...
The car is far from it and should be further back from the mini-van, not touching it's bumper.

So even when I THINK I've given enough room, they seem to still find a way to plow themselves into my vehicle.

[Rehan]

How noticeable are the scratches? Is it your 2001 Alero that we're talking about here?

There's no need for this poll... You should just go talk to the guy. That was what you wanted some other guy to have done to you when you were speeding in the work parking lot (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533623).

Maybe the guy's from some other country where nudging bumpers is okay/normal (http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/amgrant/amgworldtrip/1133229600/bumper_to_bumper.jpg/tpod.html) and doesn't realize that people get upset with that here in Canada.

[Snicla]

Scratch his car up bro.

[Carnage]

Scratch his car up bro.

The guy drives a rusted up piece of crap. I don't think he'll notice.

[Snicla]

The guy drives a rusted up piece of crap. I don't think he'll notice.

It would make the OP feel better.

[DaVibe]

How noticeable are the scratches? Is it your 2001 Alero that we're talking about here?

There's no need for this poll... You should just go talk to the guy. That was what you wanted some other guy to have done to you when you were speeding in the work parking lot (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533623).

Maybe the guy's from some other country where nudging bumpers is okay/normal (http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/amgrant/amgworldtrip/1133229600/bumper_to_bumper.jpg/tpod.html) and doesn't realize that people get upset with that here in Canada.

Hahaha wow, well cited ;)
Yes, it's my car we're talking about here.

The driver hasn't "pushed in" any of my bumper or anything like that as of yet, but my Dad (who parks here as well) complains about a clunking transmission sometimes (when pulling out of the spot) due to being hit and shifting the car ...
For my car, it's nothing I'd call "significant" at this point but enough to bother me ... doesn't make it RIGHT is all I'm saying.

I'm not regularly checking my bumper for new scratches or dents either so ... who knows.

Side Note: For the record, I drive REALLY SLOW in my parking lot now, but it's not my problem that my stereo easily hits over 120db's ... :)

The guy drives a rusted up piece of crap. I don't think he'll notice.

Oh I guess I'm not the only one that noticed ...
Quebec license plate as well ;)

[Jucius Maximus]

I had a similar problem, so I put a really polite note on their windshield with my name and number, asking them extremely politely not to do it.

The next time I saw her, she apologised profusely and it's never happened since.

[radeonboy]

I had a similar problem, so I put a really polite note on their windshield with my name and number, asking them extremely politely not to do it.

The next time I saw her, she apologised profusely and it's never happened since.

I'd say do this note thingy or talk to the person. Last resort will be extending your license plate mount to stick out farther than it currently is. My brothers Miata has its license plate holder bracket sticking out 2-3 inches away from the front bumper instead of lying flush.

[milhouse6]

Is it too much to ask, after over 100 years of car manufacturing, to have bumpers that can withstand a bump or scratch please?

Why we're supposed to drive these boxes of glass around in public and pretend it's reasonable for nothing and no one to ever touch them is beyond me.

[Emancipated]

It would make the OP feel better.

Yes but it's not the right thing to do and you know it! What happened to open communication? It's funny coming from such an introvert/passive person like myself, but if I had any fortitude and conviction, that's what I would do.

As Rehan mentioned, some countries do this and it's no big deal. Some European countries are so tightly packed, they actually make use of the "bumper" and accept it as a way of life. Anyway, go and have a talk but be diplomatic. Make sure to over use sir/madam, etc. and you should be fine.

[professionaldude]

First thing I'll do is to talk to the person politely telling him/her not park it too close to my car and hopefully it will resolve the problem.

[DaVibe]

You guys aren't going to believe this ...
That picture I took and put up in the original post is from TODAY. This afternoon I went out and both cars were gone. Tonight I've just come home and the cars are reversed and guess what ... THE CAR IS IN THE MINI-VAN'S BUMPER!

This time, it's not even plate to plate ... it's bumper to bumper, so now YOU KNOW he hit the car, scratched it and then put the car in park and rolled back ... I can't believe it ... TWICE IN ONE DAY!

I'd be SO PISSED if that was my car (and this is what I'm afraid of because I park here too).

I'm either going to see this person this week and speak to them personally or I'm writing them a note and sticking it on their window. I'm hoping for #1.
I'm in shock.

[milhouse6]

Remember to be nice. With a beater like that the other driver has nothing to lose. As others have said they may think it's perfectly normal -- hell in Montreal it's not unusual at for parallel parkers to touch & bump.

But in that parking spot there's clearly no need whatsoever. Just lazy driving.

With a smile on my face I might say "I really don't want to have to put a collision claim against you through my insurance for a new bumper & paint job if the damage gets much worse".

[DaVibe]

I'm hoping to run into this person this week ... easier said than done. If not, it will be a knock on the door.

This week would be good as well since it hasn't been my car parked down there and therefore hasn't been getting bumped ... otherwise, I'd fly off the handle.

If there's a follow-up, I'll be sure to post it.

[fenrus]

i thought engineers were suppose to be smart at designing things.

[pierrefleur]

go medieval on him.

[Snicla]

Yes but it's not the right thing to do and you know it! What happened to open communication? It's funny coming from such an introvert/passive person like myself, but if I had any fortitude and conviction, that's what I would do.

As Rehan mentioned, some countries do this and it's no big deal. Some European countries are so tightly packed, they actually make use of the "bumper" and accept it as a way of life. Anyway, go and have a talk but be diplomatic. Make sure to over use sir/madam, etc. and you should be fine.

Fine, talk first, but it won't help. People like that don't give a ****. If his car is a beater and he doesn't care about scratches he might care if you cut his tires, or at least let the air out of them one night.

[untaka]

Would you like me to come over and talk to him for you?

[radeonboy]

I hope you don't end up speaking to a nutjob, then everything will get worse:-0

[hugh_da_man]

Looks intentional...he's probably looking to get back at you for the times you've "stolen" the visitor parking from him. My guess is he's waiting for you to come talk to him so he can go postal on you. No one is that bad at parking that they need to ram the car in front of them repeatedly.

[r0binh00d]

What is the red and white sign you both are parking in front of?

Since you are in Toronto - and there are so many of us RFDers in GTA and you know the types of pranks we like to play, how about you tell use where you live and let us know when this happens and a dozen or so of us could come out and "move" the offending car onto the grass - or somewhere else.

That will teach the bum

As for "visitor parking" - should either of you be parking there if you are tenants?

[Gloaming]

get a trailer hitch and then park so that he has to bump the hitch.

[laptop-tech]

1 - Key his car front to back.
2 - Slash his tires.
3 - Break the windows.
4 - Murder his family.

[MrBurns]

Wait till Saturday and piss on his windshield.

[sassysue]

Wait till Saturday and piss on his windshield.

lol good one typical of toronto thow heh

[cheapmeister]

So lets get this straight, your building only has those 2 spots for visitors parking? Thats crazy, the civil engineers on this forum should explain this, especially the ones that make a 6 figure salary :lol:

[Becks]

There are some people (low class trash) who take offense at being told to refrain from doing X, even though it is common sense that it is rude to do X. You have to ask yourself if you are prepared to expect a bad/uncooperative response from the offender.

If you aren't prepared to run the risk of escalation by confrontation (eg. the talk), you can always try putting out an orange cone in front of your car.

If the driver runs over/parks over the cone, then you probably have a better idea of the kind of driver they are.

[jstaneon]

some people only learn if they get hurt physically or financially.

[Matrixvibe]

Scratch his car up bro.

The guy drives a rusted up piece of crap. I don't think he'll notice.

lol haha

[cmge]

Get some pointy steel spikes mounted to the front of your bumper or license plate.

+1 .. i betcha he/she wont park near u n e more... problem solved :lol: