Valet damaged my car, advice please?

[Whiteice78]

Dear all,

 

Today is a sad day. I brought my wife to SGH for a checkup. As the carpark opposite the A&E was full, I had to use the free stack alet service found in the car park.

 

Mr Singh took my keys when I entered the carpark and handed me a valet slip and adviced my that tipping was optional as the service was free. When I went back after 2 hours to collect my car, Mr Singh was already waiting for me at my car and even wound down my windows. I exclaimed to my wife on how good the service was, even wound down the windows to let the heat escape. I happily passed Mr Singh the slip and the tips, got in and drove off.

 

When I reached Marine Parade after 20mins and parked my car. I was tearing my coupons when my wife who was standing in front of my car asked me "How come u scrapped your front? so ugly.". I was shocked, huh? I just resprayed my front bumper and lower lip a month ago. I literally jumped out and to my dismay, my front lower lip was scrapped on the left causing the paint to crack and peel. Upon inspection of the damage, the "wound" was still powdery and "fresh". There were black markings on the "wound" which indicated it was scrapped along a painted curb.

 

I'm 100% sure th damage was caused by the valet. However, I knew using the valet was at your own risk. But I can't stomache the fact that Mr Singh did not even have the ethics nor professionalism to inform me. It's hard to beleive that he was ignorant of the damage done was it was a rather long gash (10cm x 2cm). Anyone has similar experiences? Anyway to seek redress? Thanks all

[macrosszero]

You 100% sure it is the valet? Sometimes your car can be damaged by hit and run at carpark. The valet won't remember whether your car had a scratch in the front or not.

[Boxster]

Quite difficult as there is no evidence.

[Whiteice78]

There's only 1 lane/section in the carpark where this free stack valet operates and there's 3 valet operators. Surely one of them must have seen if there was a hit and run.

 

Secondly, if you look at the damage, it's isolated only on the lower front lip. Obviously caused by driving against's a curb. If another car reverse into mine, how can the upper bumper section be spared?

[Silver_blade]

Unfortunately, I feel you have little chance of getting the valet to pay for your car's damage...cos you did not identify it and brought to their attention on the spot.

 

You can try your luck to call the carpark management or SGH and see if you get them to pay for the damage. No harm trying.

 

I believe most valet co. should have some kind of insurance to cover such damages or the property manager will look into such incident....unless it specifically stated very clearly that using such service is at your own risk.

 

If your damage is not too serious, foot the bill and take it as a lesson learned.

 

I'll usually walk round my car to have a quick scan before driving off. Tho I may miss out minor damages...I should be able to spot the major ones (I hope).

Edited November 4, 2008 by Silver_blade

[Rickster]

Sorry to hear about ur case bro...but without hard evidence, u might end up with more unnecessary problems if u decide to pursue the case with them.

[Hub_n_mona]

how are you going to prove the valet did it?

can any markings o the scratch be tracked to any distinctive coloring in the carpark?

if not, very hard dude..especially since you already drove some place else..you might have had a case if you found out and questioned the valet on the spot..

[Redplanet]

"I'll usually walk round my car to have a quick scan before driving off. Tho I may miss out minor damages...I should be able to spot the major ones (I hope). "

 

Yes, that's a good habit.

 

Personally washing your car regularly will also help identify the new flaws from old ones.

[Redplanet]

I feel for you bro...but like many have said, it's gonna be fruitless if you pursue the matter.

 

Guess you have to do up your car again to make it look good and let your anger be appeased somewhat...

[Robo]

i have witness an incident there before. i believe its the carpark directly opposite sgh blk 1 the a&e dept.

 

i just finish my appointment while collecting my car there was this wish owned by this butch. cut the crap short.

 

this singh valet, forgot to off the headlights aircon, radio of the car. thus the car when being collected cant start.

 

i tried to help by lending my cables to em. but to no avail. i think most prob the battery kaput liao! cuz it had been left like this for the past 6 hrs!

 

in the end i heard this butch wanna call for a mechanic to replace the battery and the cost charge to the valet.

 

from den on. i nvr ever let them touch my car anymore!

 

but this was in the way "red handed" so the valet cant deny its fault.

 

but in your case, quite hard. they can press that they didnt do it. u might have just caused the damage yourself, as u didnt identify the problem when collecting the car.

 

bro i suggest u try to go back and tell him the problem, scare him a little if needed. he seem to those who wanna avoid trouble. he probably knows that its his fault anyways. no harm trying. complain all the way to SGH's mgmt.

 

if really no use den rule it as bad luck.

 

i always do a walk around check whenever i retrieve my car, being it by a valet or just parking at any CP being MSCP or not.

 

good luck!

[Kwchan]

u will be surprised where they "hide" the car key for the "free" valet parking at SGH.

 

In order to cut down the time to search and retrieve car keys from a secure, centralized location, they keep the car key on the tire, under wheel arch!

 

Someone can easily slip his hand to take the key and drive the car away when the valet busy parking at the other end of the carpark.

 

Now I know why they can shift the cars so quickly

[Vratenza]

you may be able to have your headlamps on with engine switched off but aircon and radio?

Unless you are saying the Valet left the car running for 6 hours? Even if engine running for 6 hrs, the battery should still be charging what?

 

In this case, I suspect that the car battery is almost dead anyway, and the tipping point is probably the headlamp being left on for 6 hours. IMHO, the Valet is just sway that he got this case AND forgot about the lights (or did he?)......

[RadX]

Dear all,

 

Today is a sad day. I brought my wife to SGH for a checkup. As the carpark opposite the A&E was full, I had to use the free stack alet service found in the car park.

 

Mr Singh took my keys when I entered the carpark and handed me a valet slip and adviced my that tipping was optional as the service was free. When I went back after 2 hours to collect my car, Mr Singh was already waiting for me at my car and even wound down my windows. I exclaimed to my wife on how good the service was, even wound down the windows to let the heat escape. I happily passed Mr Singh the slip and the tips, got in and drove off.

 

When I reached Marine Parade after 20mins and parked my car. I was tearing my coupons when my wife who was standing in front of my car asked me "How come u scrapped your front? so ugly.". I was shocked, huh? I just resprayed my front bumper and lower lip a month ago. I literally jumped out and to my dismay, my front lower lip was scrapped on the left causing the paint to crack and peel. Upon inspection of the damage, the "wound" was still powdery and "fresh". There were black markings on the "wound" which indicated it was scrapped along a painted curb.

 

I'm 100% sure th damage was caused by the valet. However, I knew using the valet was at your own risk. But I can't stomache the fact that Mr Singh did not even have the ethics nor professionalism to inform me. It's hard to beleive that he was ignorant of the damage done was it was a rather long gash (10cm x 2cm). Anyone has similar experiences? Anyway to seek redress? Thanks all

Take it to the press.....I have never used valets and never will.....have seen how they mishandle cars

[Whiteice78]

Sorry to hear about ur case bro...but without hard evidence, u might end up with more unnecessary problems if u decide to pursue the case with them.

 

What do you mean by more unnecessary problem, you mean inconvenience or?

[Xmenfreak2]

Agree with u bro.. that is why at this hard times, washing our own car makes ur understand and know the parts of our wife... opps I mean ride..

[Evoluzio]

Used it once, and the valet twisted my key fob. Nuff said.

[Whiteice78]

i have witness an incident there before. i believe its the carpark directly opposite sgh blk 1 the a&e dept.

 

i just finish my appointment while collecting my car there was this wish owned by this butch. cut the crap short.

 

this singh valet, forgot to off the headlights aircon, radio of the car. thus the car when being collected cant start.

 

i tried to help by lending my cables to em. but to no avail. i think most prob the battery kaput liao! cuz it had been left like this for the past 6 hrs!

 

in the end i heard this butch wanna call for a mechanic to replace the battery and the cost charge to the valet.

 

from den on. i nvr ever let them touch my car anymore!

 

but this was in the way "red handed" so the valet cant deny its fault.

 

but in your case, quite hard. they can press that they didnt do it. u might have just caused the damage yourself, as u didnt identify the problem when collecting the car.

 

bro i suggest u try to go back and tell him the problem, scare him a little if needed. he seem to those who wanna avoid trouble. he probably knows that its his fault anyways. no harm trying. complain all the way to SGH's mgmt.

 

if really no use den rule it as bad luck.

 

i always do a walk around check whenever i retrieve my car, being it by a valet or just parking at any CP being MSCP or not.

 

good luck!

 

Yes, must be the same Singh guy at the carpark opp SGH A&E. I know that even if I went back to SGH half and hour after driving off, Mr Singh would deny everything. I have since contacted Wilson Parking. They have assigned an officer to assist me in making a report and will inform me of the outcome after their investigations. I usually try to avoid valets at all costs but you know the SGH carpark, it's always full. Sort of no choice.

[Whiteice78]

Taking it to Press like overkill leh. I will see how they resolve this issue first. Personally, I hate to use valets too. Reputable hotel valets are fine, maybe they are used to driving more expensive cars and thus take more care. Problem starts when you get any bangalee, singh, or cheena man in smaller locations. To them, jus whack only.