Can't believe what just happened to my wife's car, from a lemon.

[POORSH]

She was driving down a street to our after school care facility when she heard a loud "bang". She thought she had ran over something and didn't think much of it.

I went to meet her at the school. Upon pulling up next to her Odyssey, I noticed a dent along the "C" pillar of about 6x6". I questioned her about the dent and she had no recollection of what happened other then the loud "bang" she heard minutes prior. I then got into the Odyssey with her and headed down the street to check out what the "bang" could have been from. On my way down the street, I felt a "bang" on the side of the car also. I quickly made a U-turn to see what had just happened. Stopped on the side of the road to ask a young lady getting out of her car if she had seen anybody throwing things at passing cars. She said no, but as she was walking up her friend's house, she saw her friend's three brothers out behind their van. I approached them and sure enough they denied having thrown anything.

Got on the phone and called the police. Two police cars arrived and began the questioning process. The parents and kids initially denied having done anything wrong. The kids then came clean and admitted they had been throwing lemons at passing cars. The interesting thing about all of the this is not the dent on the car (which I'm also pissed off about), but the fact that the parents continue to lie to the police enough after the kids had admitted guilt. What kind of role models are these parents to their kids? We didn't press charges or anything. We figured we would teach them a lesson since no one got hurt, just the Odyssey. Sure, it will cost me $500 in my deductible to fix it but that is not the point. The point is when do we teach our kids right from wrong. The police officer encouraged me to take them to court, but what will that resolve other than hours and hours of added headache. As parents to two young boys, we teach our kids to stand up and take responsibilities for their actions. Apparently, not all parents share the same philosophy. It was really sad to see their parents get schooled by the police in front of the kids.

The other interesting thing I learned from this is when I told my third grader of what happened, he wanted to go down there and punch them out. He was so upset about this that he couldn't stop crying. I had to spend 30 minutes calming him down and explaining to him what is right and wrong and why getting physical with anybody is never the right thing to do. This is exactly why I don't put him in martial arts.
[IMG][/IMG]

[Noah930]

I'd have the parents of the kids pony up the $500. Or else I'd press charges. Their call.

[Bill Douglas]

Yes, make them pay. It will be a great lesson to the parents and kids.

[tevake]

Wow that sure is a big dent in a curving part of the panel to be caused by a lemon.
It may pop out if you can get behind it.

I too would bring a bill to the parents, they need to stand up and take care of the damage their kids caused.

Really poor example the gave to the kids!

[look 171]

Yeah, some people should not be parents. When I was a shop teacher, some parents would defend their kids for cursing at me saying I should not have disrespected their kids by raising my voice at them in front the class. you can't win with lower class people like that. I just say ok, and send them on their way. I move on with my day.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Damn right - the parents eat the cost of any deductibles and/or premium hikes. I'd bill them for the time I spend wasted on reporting the claim and so-forth too, and I get $200 an hour flat rate (I can support this with records too).

Maybe when those yokels get a court judgement of a couple thousand clams they might take their responsibilities/roles a bit more seriously.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by tevake

It may pop out if you can get behind it.

Good thinking. Google paintless dent removal, they use something to suck the dent out and it doesn't need refinishing.

[porsche4life]

See that crease in the center left of the dent? It won't pop out. Paintless only works where you can push on it from behind, in dents with no creases.

[Rick Lee]

I'd press charges and sue the parents in small claims court. Take this to the max and make them feel it.

[Rick V]

Kids will be kids, and this is just a part of it but you are correct, the parents should be made to fix your van simply because they are showing bad parenting skills. The kids will hopefully see that mommy and daddy had to pay for their mistake and realize that isn't cool.
I got a call one evening from a local cop who had pulled my 17 year old son over for his driving, I listened to the cop, and told him to do as he saw fit but when my son gets home I am taking his license myself and if he was convicted of the violations I was going to revoke his license through DMV (parental right involving a minor in Va) and that he would be walking for a bit. The cop liked the respectful way my son spoke to him, and realized I was not going to let my son get away with his actions. He let the kid go. I'm not a great parent but at least I made my kids pay for their mistakes

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by POORSH

This is exactly why I don't put him in martial arts.
[IMG][/IMG]

I have been a certified martial arts instructor for almost 20 years. Over that time I have had many children (and a few adult!) referred to me for anger and other issues. The real goal of a good MA school is not to create a street bully, but rather to instill sufficient self esteem so that lashing out or wanting to fight no longer becomes the first response to external pressures. The actual martial arts moves, forms, weapons, etc are merely window dressing to allow such life skills as respect, honor, self control, integrity, etc. to be taught to the student. I have found that most students improve in their school work and learn to persevere in what ever task confronts them. Martial arts is especially good "therapy" for someone with anger management problems and for those with a general lack of respect for themselves and others. If you can manage the time, I would highly recommend taking MA classes with your child. The time that you will spend together training and practicing will create a bond that is simply unbelieveable. My son and I started as beginner white belts and trained and tested together all the way to 3rd Degree black belt. That was an experience that neither one of us would sell for a million bucks! I understand that MA are not for everyone, but don't dismiss the idea because of misconceptions.

[slow&rusty]

I am sorry to read this! I went through this same event except with rocks, I made a thread about it in 2008 here:
Have To Vent...Disrespectful Kids Today..Throwing Rocks At Cars! My CAR!! :(

The kids were charged and I was paid $1800 in retribution for damages to my car based on a quote I provided to the courts , every month I would get a check for $250-$300 until it was paid in full.
Yasin

[onewhippedpuppy]

Based on the parents' actions I would absolutely press charges. At this point both the parents and kids are being rewarded for their lies, and you're paying out of pocket.

If that were one of my kids, punishment under the law would absolutely pale in comparison to what they would face from me. No tolerance in my household for behavior like that. Those parents lost a good opportunity to teach their kids to take responsibility for their actions and make it right.

[svandamme]

heat it with a hair dryer, then ice it with an air can upside down... it might pop out that way if the metal isn't creased.

[klm2500hd]

Why would you not make the parents / kids pay for the damages? Unless the lesson you're trying to pass on is that the consequences of getting caught is that there are no consequences.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I'd have the parents of the kids pony up the $500. Or else I'd press charges. Their call.

+1. Only way to teach them a lesson is hit them in the pocketbook.

[billh1963]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I'd have the parents of the kids pony up the $500. Or else I'd press charges. Their call.

Yes.....

Or, kill them all now and get them out of the gene pool.

You are not doing them or society any favors by letting them not being responsible for their actions.

[A930Rocket]

Hit them where it hurts: in the wallet and courts.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by fred cook

I have been a certified martial arts instructor for almost 20 years. Over that time I have had many children (and a few adult!) referred to me for anger and other issues. The real goal of a good MA school is not to create a street bully, but rather to instill sufficient self esteem so that lashing out or wanting to fight no longer becomes the first response to external pressures. The actual martial arts moves, forms, weapons, etc are merely window dressing to allow such life skills as respect, honor, self control, integrity, etc. to be taught to the student. I have found that most students improve in their school work and learn to persevere in what ever task confronts them. Martial arts is especially good "therapy" for someone with anger management problems and for those with a general lack of respect for themselves and others. If you can manage the time, I would highly recommend taking MA classes with your child. The time that you will spend together training and practicing will create a bond that is simply unbelieveable. My son and I started as beginner white belts and trained and tested together all the way to 3rd Degree black belt. That was an experience that neither one of us would sell for a million bucks! I understand that MA are not for everyone, but don't dismiss the idea because of misconceptions.

This is correct.

Also, to the OP, I would pursue the deductibles for both of your cars being fixed, as a bare minimum. Can you afford $1000 to have your cars fixed? Also, since it was malicious damage, your insurance company might go after them. And don't forget, you insurnace company can increase your rates...

[Steve Carlton]

PM me and I will hook you up with one of the best paintless dent repair guys in the country.