Car damage caused by abandoned shopping trolley

I have a rather different problem in my town and that is people taking shopping trolleys away from the supermarket and then abandoning them about the town, some quite a distance away; no trolley collector will come and collect them if he/she does not know where they are.

Kids then use the trolleys as a means of transportation.

I had a slightly different trolley damage incident at Tesco today. As always, I'd parked at the far end of the car park to minimise the risk of my car being damaged. As I was leaving the store, I stopped at the zebra crossing (in the car park, approaching the exit) and suddenly heard a large crash. I realised that somebody had let their trolley roll off the kerb and into my car, leaving a nasty dent in it. In the few seconds it took me to get out and go round the side of my car, they were happily walking away. I went after them and found they were a couple of young girls (one was 15 and the other 16) who weren't actually from this country and couldn't give me an address or any details other than their names and a mobile phone number. By this time a massive queue was building up and the car park attendant (who had been nowhere to be seen when it happened) asked me to move my car, which I did. The lady in the car behind me gave me her details and agreed to act as a witness.

I can't see these two schoolgirls being able to pay for the damage they caused and, if Tesco's car park is classed as private property, presumably the insurance company won't be interested either. Thinking about it now, the car park at thios particular store seems really silly, with a busy exit where queueing traffic seems to build up very quickly, a narrow kerb and the car park itself is on a bit of a slope. Even though the damage seems to have been caused by the carelessness of individuals, I wonder if it's worth pursuing the matter with Tesco. I too am a loyal Tesco shopper and buy 99% of my groceries there, Any advice would be gratefully received.

My car was also hit by a Tesco trolley in windy weather. This morning I received their "Not our problem" letter. My gripe is that Teso trollies, unlike those from other retailers, do not have brakes!

Meanwhile, I am pursuing this further - and I hope you do as well.

I like to now if you interest to buy damige supermarket car

MikeP, in the past you have been abusive towards me for no understandable reason, Indeed even communicating your desire to punch me in the face. Now you casually ask me to engage in dialogue with you. I do not feel that is appropriate or fair. Do you?
(please, please, please no comments on my comment from grumpyoldwoman, Thankyou)

" at the end of the day I do think it is really down to the driver of the vehicle to avoid driving into trolleys or other objects."
* Mr Hicks 08-Sep-2009 11:46 -

At the end of the day .... but presumably at other times of the day he doesn't have to avoid driving into trolleys or other objects. Please explain why this should be so.

I sympathise with you joanne, but at the end of the day I do think it is really down to the driver of the vehicle to avoid driving into trolleys or other objects.
(please, please, please, no replys from grumpyoldwoman)

I too have had a Tesco trolley use my car as a crash barrier - I complained in store and wrote to Tesco's HO, received a letter back basically telling me tough luck!

Replied with the following letter;

Re: Your reply dated **.**.**.

Thank you for your reply.

Firstly, although the store manager has assured you the trolley team were working on the date in question, I fail to understand why the trolley bay I was parked in front was over flowing with trolleys when I returned to my car...

This coupled with the fact that even in the sloping areas of the car park (one of which I was parked in front of) there are NO precautions to any of the G****** stores bays ie a kerb, to prevent trolleys from rolling away from these areas. Therefore customers may well 'return their trolleys safely and securely after use', However, the sheer nature of a trolley is to roll, with no barrier installed to prevent its travel, it will, as in my case roll away from the trolley bay into my car that was parked directly in front of the bay.

I am also fully aware that you are legally responsible for your trolleys, albeit be on your property, such as the car park or indeed else where. I therefore urge you to take my complaint more seriously, rather than attempting to exempt yourselves on your responsibilities.

I will also take this opportunity to remind you that I am a loyal Tesco customer. I am at present disgusted by the response I have received regarding this matter and expect better from such a large company.

I look forward to your speedy reply.

Yours

Outcome; Tesco's paid for the repairs to my car, which one of their trolleys damaged, whilst parked in their car park - STICK WITH IT.

Do you really want to get to stressed out over this? Forget suing Tesco. Get a quote for the repair and try to cover it yourself without involving your insurance company. And the next time you park up at Tesco look out for any wayward trolly and keep well away from it. This is why I park well way from the front door - away from the idiots who can't seem to help bashing my car door with their car door or their trolly.

You are on private ground, whether the public have access to it or not. Plus if you check the highway code shopping trolley's do not count as motor veichles... Here IS some good advice, do not tell your insurance company it was a trolley, and do not admit to witnessing it on private land.

REASON?

Insurance companies will view debris in the wind as an Act of God, hence not insured. If the damage was caused by another car, that drove off after the accident and before you discovered it you are insured. Private land = no insurance alot of the time, be careful with that too.

Save yourself A LOT of stress. Don't waste your time.

Tesco (or indeed any other supermarket) car parks are "private" property, they are merely opened for the convienence of visitors to the store. I sometime wonder if a car insurance company could worm out of paying out if an accident or damage was on private property.

On a more positive note, if the 'Trolley Assistant" was on a break, surely the store was negligent by not providing cover? I assume they don't close the store when the H&S or Fire reps are "on a break"?