Hi, sorry this may be long winded but stay with me. I'm at a loss as this situation is completely bazaar. First of all ill set the scene. We live opposite a wood yard and when closed, they don't have a problem with us parking there. There is usually us and another car parked either side of their gates overnight (although several people use these two spaces so it is pot luck if you get it).
Tuesday evening, a man (I didn't recognise him but don't talk to my neighbours but turns out he lives opposite us next to the wood yard) ran over to me as I was putting the kids in car and accused me of 'hitting his car the other day'. I automatically denied this as am certain I have not been any scuffles recently (in fact ever!). He then told me 'you definitely did, I've got it on cctv, I've informed the police and my insurers as its a hit and run so thought you should know.' he also showed me a picture of the damage and said it matched up to some scuffs on my car which I told him had been there for months (they definitely have!) I then started crying as am terrible in these situations. I told him it must have been my husband and I'm sorry. His immediate reaction was 'well as long as he doesn't threaten me he can knock my door to discuss'. I actually said to him then and there that's a really odd thing to say and he's not like that so wouldn't. Anyway I got in a bit of a state and left to pick up my husband who I immediately shouted at for being so stupid. He was utterly confused and after I calmed down and explained he said it wasn't him and if it was he had no idea he had done it but would go straight there and sort it. So off he went (I wasn't there) and the bloke told him the same story in more detail (although said he didn't want to go through insurance when he told me he already was). He told him it happened between 9am and 12pm which my husband responded well I was at work before 9am so can't be me. The guy then said it's definitely you on cctv, you turn around in the yard and then you can see my car wobble as if you hit it. My husband does not recall turning around although it isn't entirely impossible, it is unlikely as to go to work he wouldn't have needed to. Anyway my husband suggested they go over to the wood yard together to look again but he told him 'the guy that deals with it is on holiday for a while now.' So they left it that he'd come back to speak another time and if it was him, he'll sort it out.
The next day my husband went into the wood yard to ask to see this cctv. It turns out they hadn't shown the neighbour any cctv yet as they didn't know how to work it. He had apparently phoned up accusing the wood yards lorrys of doing it. This annoyed my husband and so he knocked on the neighbours door and asked why he lied. He completely denied saying he'd seen it he claimed he said he was still waiting for it! He then said 'your wife told me you did it' !! Whilst laughing in bemusement My husband replied something along the lines of 'youre ****** lying, how can she tell you I did something I don't even know I've done!?' But was then accused of being aggressive and to get out his house, which he did immediately. An hour later we see him go into the wood yard. My husband went in also as thought it would be a good idea to have witnesses for any future conversations. He overheard him asking for cctv and came in to join the conversation. By this point the wood yard owner was getting annoyed and said he would do it but has a business to run so was in rush (fair enough!). The neighbour then told us we had misunderstood him and so although we know this is not true they shook hands and agreed it was a misunderstanding on both sides and we would leave it there until we had BOTH seen the cctv and if it turns out to be us we will sort it and if not we would appreciate an apology. We thought it was resolved until today when we had a phone call from our insurer's informing us he has made a claim!!! We are now concerned from reading online that even if we aren't found completely liable that it will end up 50/50 we may have to pay the excess and our premium s will go up. I also have full no claims bonus and a clean license and I would hate all of this to be ruined because of something we are (90%) sure we haven't done. My husband is now doubting himself but I told him he would have remembered hitting a car! I feel like we've been utterly exploited and lied to by a neighbour. If it was us we would have been cooperative but it has left a bitter taste in my mouth and I'll be furious if he gets away with this. Any advice appreciated
Tuesday evening, a man (I didn't recognise him but don't talk to my neighbours but turns out he lives opposite us next to the wood yard) ran over to me as I was putting the kids in car and accused me of 'hitting his car the other day'. I automatically denied this as am certain I have not been any scuffles recently (in fact ever!). He then told me 'you definitely did, I've got it on cctv, I've informed the police and my insurers as its a hit and run so thought you should know.' he also showed me a picture of the damage and said it matched up to some scuffs on my car which I told him had been there for months (they definitely have!) I then started crying as am terrible in these situations. I told him it must have been my husband and I'm sorry. His immediate reaction was 'well as long as he doesn't threaten me he can knock my door to discuss'. I actually said to him then and there that's a really odd thing to say and he's not like that so wouldn't. Anyway I got in a bit of a state and left to pick up my husband who I immediately shouted at for being so stupid. He was utterly confused and after I calmed down and explained he said it wasn't him and if it was he had no idea he had done it but would go straight there and sort it. So off he went (I wasn't there) and the bloke told him the same story in more detail (although said he didn't want to go through insurance when he told me he already was). He told him it happened between 9am and 12pm which my husband responded well I was at work before 9am so can't be me. The guy then said it's definitely you on cctv, you turn around in the yard and then you can see my car wobble as if you hit it. My husband does not recall turning around although it isn't entirely impossible, it is unlikely as to go to work he wouldn't have needed to. Anyway my husband suggested they go over to the wood yard together to look again but he told him 'the guy that deals with it is on holiday for a while now.' So they left it that he'd come back to speak another time and if it was him, he'll sort it out.
The next day my husband went into the wood yard to ask to see this cctv. It turns out they hadn't shown the neighbour any cctv yet as they didn't know how to work it. He had apparently phoned up accusing the wood yards lorrys of doing it. This annoyed my husband and so he knocked on the neighbours door and asked why he lied. He completely denied saying he'd seen it he claimed he said he was still waiting for it! He then said 'your wife told me you did it' !! Whilst laughing in bemusement My husband replied something along the lines of 'youre ****** lying, how can she tell you I did something I don't even know I've done!?' But was then accused of being aggressive and to get out his house, which he did immediately. An hour later we see him go into the wood yard. My husband went in also as thought it would be a good idea to have witnesses for any future conversations. He overheard him asking for cctv and came in to join the conversation. By this point the wood yard owner was getting annoyed and said he would do it but has a business to run so was in rush (fair enough!). The neighbour then told us we had misunderstood him and so although we know this is not true they shook hands and agreed it was a misunderstanding on both sides and we would leave it there until we had BOTH seen the cctv and if it turns out to be us we will sort it and if not we would appreciate an apology. We thought it was resolved until today when we had a phone call from our insurer's informing us he has made a claim!!! We are now concerned from reading online that even if we aren't found completely liable that it will end up 50/50 we may have to pay the excess and our premium s will go up. I also have full no claims bonus and a clean license and I would hate all of this to be ruined because of something we are (90%) sure we haven't done. My husband is now doubting himself but I told him he would have remembered hitting a car! I feel like we've been utterly exploited and lied to by a neighbour. If it was us we would have been cooperative but it has left a bitter taste in my mouth and I'll be furious if he gets away with this. Any advice appreciated