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Hi Everybody,
Just over a month ago I was looking around my local town for a parking space to do a job (I'm a field engineer so go to different locations).
I'd looked round one of the borough council's car parks and was exiting through the designated exit lane and over the top of an 'alligator' speed bump that they have installed.
For those that don't know, this is a vicious looking speed bump with about 8-10 sprung 4" metal teeth to stop people driving in the wrong way. The idea is that they fold down as you go over the top of them in the right direction and I assume bite in to your tyres and stop you if you go the wrong way.
As I slowly exited this lane (bearing in mind it exits on to a busy seafront roundabout and you have to go slowly to give way), I heard a pop and a loud hiss. I knew immediately what had happened but couldn't stop as I was in the path of traffic.
I continued round the corner to a small side road where I could safely stop and inspect the car, and whilst driving could feel that a rear tyre was flat.
On removal and inspection of the now very flat nearside rear tyre, there was a roughly 3" slash right through the inside sidewall. The angle was exactly the same as a raised tooth and there's no doubt that my tyre was damaged by one of said teeth.
As it happened, I was visiting the office where the Borough Council parking and highways team are based (I work for county council). Once in there I politely asked who I could speak to regarding the matter and was passed in the direction of a couple of employees. I explained what had happened to them. They immediately sent a 'technician' to go and look at the speed bump and he reported that it looked fine and other cars weren't having problems. They also arranged for a parking attendant to meet me at my car to photograph the damaged tyre in my boot. I was aked to send a letter explaing the incident to their head of parking, which I duly did that evening.
Two weeks later I had no reply, and knowing they have guidelines in which to reply I sent an e-mail to the complaints department who followed it up and informed me that the issue had been passed to their insurer, Zurich and I would have to wait for them to reply.
This lunchtime when I popped home, there was a letter from Zurich on the mat. Once opened, I was greeted with a short paragraph saying that since their technician had visited and seen no problem, they were not going to pay up. No asking for more information, no other explanation, just a NO.
I am absolutely fuming about this as the tyre and fitting has set me back around £160 and the damaged tyre was barely worn so would have lasted a lot longer.
Basically, and sorry for the long story, what on earth do I do next??
I'm thinking of replying and threatening small claims court, plus writing to my local councillor and the local newspaper. But I thought I would take a breath and ask the advice of you much more sensible people
Just over a month ago I was looking around my local town for a parking space to do a job (I'm a field engineer so go to different locations).
I'd looked round one of the borough council's car parks and was exiting through the designated exit lane and over the top of an 'alligator' speed bump that they have installed.
For those that don't know, this is a vicious looking speed bump with about 8-10 sprung 4" metal teeth to stop people driving in the wrong way. The idea is that they fold down as you go over the top of them in the right direction and I assume bite in to your tyres and stop you if you go the wrong way.
As I slowly exited this lane (bearing in mind it exits on to a busy seafront roundabout and you have to go slowly to give way), I heard a pop and a loud hiss. I knew immediately what had happened but couldn't stop as I was in the path of traffic.
I continued round the corner to a small side road where I could safely stop and inspect the car, and whilst driving could feel that a rear tyre was flat.
On removal and inspection of the now very flat nearside rear tyre, there was a roughly 3" slash right through the inside sidewall. The angle was exactly the same as a raised tooth and there's no doubt that my tyre was damaged by one of said teeth.
As it happened, I was visiting the office where the Borough Council parking and highways team are based (I work for county council). Once in there I politely asked who I could speak to regarding the matter and was passed in the direction of a couple of employees. I explained what had happened to them. They immediately sent a 'technician' to go and look at the speed bump and he reported that it looked fine and other cars weren't having problems. They also arranged for a parking attendant to meet me at my car to photograph the damaged tyre in my boot. I was aked to send a letter explaing the incident to their head of parking, which I duly did that evening.
Two weeks later I had no reply, and knowing they have guidelines in which to reply I sent an e-mail to the complaints department who followed it up and informed me that the issue had been passed to their insurer, Zurich and I would have to wait for them to reply.
This lunchtime when I popped home, there was a letter from Zurich on the mat. Once opened, I was greeted with a short paragraph saying that since their technician had visited and seen no problem, they were not going to pay up. No asking for more information, no other explanation, just a NO.
I am absolutely fuming about this as the tyre and fitting has set me back around £160 and the damaged tyre was barely worn so would have lasted a lot longer.
Basically, and sorry for the long story, what on earth do I do next??
I'm thinking of replying and threatening small claims court, plus writing to my local councillor and the local newspaper. But I thought I would take a breath and ask the advice of you much more sensible people
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