HAD TO PONY UP AFTER THE DUMB MISTAKE I MADE

chief38

chief38

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About a month ago I was driving back home from a Home Depot trip and just before I turned into our development I got a phone call. I answered it through my cars bluetooth and about 10 seconds later I got another call while still on the first one. The second call was one I had been expecting and an important one. Just at that time I was at the entrance to our development and the gate went up to let the car in front of me in. I had gotten the recent email from our HOA about the new gate only letting one car in and not to follow that car or the gate will come down on your car. That was a new feature just recently added to the gate, but in the heat of my phone calls I was distracted and forgot while switching calls. Well guess what happened..... The gate came down and put a nice dent in the A pillar of my Yukon. :eek: I never realized just how hard those gates come down!!

I was really pissed off but had no one to blame but myself! We were notified and they had done that so someone not authorized can not follow a resident in, - got it and forgot it. I was angry at myself for being distracted and stupid! The dent was just a thorn in my side and that evening I tried my hand at paint-less dent repair. Never having done that before I actually got out about 60% of the damage but came to a halt when no more improvement was noticed after a few more attempts - at least I was smart enough to stop when I hit the wall and before I damaged the paint. Tried to live with that, but every time I looked at the car the dent was where my eyes went of course. :(

We then left for our cruise a day later and I had forgotten about the incident. When we returned and I picked up my Yukon in the ship's terminal parking lot, the dent was there to greet me - just about eye level too. I was again reminded what a stupid thing I did. I made a few calls to friends and one of them came up with a paint-less dent removal guy he used before so I called him immediately. He requested that I send some photos which I did and he said that is one of the roughest areas to remove a dent from because it is a very strong structural part of the car. There is also a factory crease that comes to a peak in the middle of the A pillar and that part is quite strong. Because they could not access the inside (airbags in the way), he said that most of the dent could probably be fixed but not 100%. Being the anal OCD me, I figured OK - see what he can do as I did not want to look at it every day. We made an appointment for him to come over this morning.

So today the dent removal guy showed up right on time and I had the car pulled in my garage which is very well lit. After about 45 minutes of tapping and pulling with a hot melt glue pulling system, he successfully removed pretty much all of it. I'd say it was restored to 98% original with 2% not being able to go any farther. He did try a few more times but he said that's about the best he could get it without intrusive and more extensive work - and I was very happy with his repair. No holes were drilled and no paint damage or peeling occurred. He charged me $150 which I thought was very fair since he came to my house. Tomorrow I will re-wax the area as he had to remove the wax I had on the car, so the hot melt glue would stick.

I did try and take some before and after pic's but being that my car is white and my garage is lit up like an operating room, they had quite a strong glare and were just not worth posting here. Suffice it to say no one except me would ever know it happened and I'd dare anyone to actually find it now. I did learn a valuable lesson and will not make that mistake anytime in the future. OK - the $150 it cost me was not terrible but just unnecessary aggravation. Accidents happen in a split second when we least expect them. If nothing else, please learn from my dumb mistake when going through gates, toll booths, parking garages, etc. I should have just called the second caller back instead of playing with the buttons to try and transfer to the second call. And now I know! :o
 
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Having the music cut out replaced by the ringtone made me jump every time. I haven't synced the phone with the truck since I replaced the battery which is just as well since I would hang up instead of answering due to unfamiliarity with the controls due to so few calls.
 
Chief, was there a pre existing gate that was replaced or was the gate completely new ? If it was not pre existing was your development completely in favor of it ? I ask because we’re taking bids and design ideas for gates in my community in Naples. I’m totally in favor of it. But was surprised how many residents don’t like the idea.
 
Bald1 said:
Chief, was there a pre existing gate that was replaced or was the gate completely new ? If it was not pre existing was your development completely in favor of it ? I ask because we’re taking bids and design ideas for gates in my community in Naples. I’m totally in favor of it. But was surprised how many residents don’t like the idea.
Click to expand...

The gate was an upgraded version I believe. They kept the actual piece of wood that comes down but they changed the mechanism AFAIK and re-timed it to only allow 1 car per cycle. They also sped it up quite a bit now - comes down in about 1.5 seconds! They did send out an email regarding the change and I did see it. I just did not think of it while yapping on the phone. Totally my fault and I do not blame the development. I will not do that again!

AFAIK the HOA Board (made up of 5 residents) made the decision to do that after many complained that people could keep caravanning in if following a legit resident through the gate (both sides used to to open simultaneously). I also happen to agree with that decision as it works quite well as a deterrent. They also made only one side open (resident or guest side) so that a guest waiting to get in can not come through the residents side. There is an island between the two sides.

BTW, after 6pm there is also a real swinging 12 foot high gate that closes behind the two vertical "scissor gates". I guess no matter how smart humans think they are - we still wind up taking stupid pills once in a while. :o
 
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chief38 said:
The gate was fine.
Click to expand...
You may have had a case. Gates are supposed to have a sensor to prevent damage if/when they encounter an object. Similar to what garage door openers have. Think of what would have happened to someone driving a convertible with the top down and that thing came down on their head.

Years ago, my garage door came down on my daughter's bike. The opener screwed up two of the garage door panels instead of stopping like it should have. The opener company sent me a check to replace the door without a lot of argument after I mentioned product liability laws.
 
Tom S. said:
You may have had a case. Gates are supposed to have a sensor to prevent damage if/when they encounter an object. Similar to what garage door openers have. Think of what would have happened to someone driving a convertible with the top down and that thing came down on their head.

Years ago, my garage door came down on my daughter's bike. The opener screwed up two of the garage door panels instead of stopping like it should have. The opener company sent me a check to replace the door without a lot of argument after I mentioned product liability laws.
Click to expand...
For the $150 is cost me I did not think it was worth even pursuing - case or no case. The repair came out so well, it's like it never happened and I can't see it anymore. At the end of the day it was my own fault and although you might be correct, there were warning emails sent out so we were forewarned. I screwed up and I took responsibility for my own foolishness. I can tell you one thing...... I will never do that again - lesson learned. lol! :rolleyes:
 
chief38 said:
About a month ago I was driving back home from a Home Depot trip and just before I turned into our development I got a phone call. I answered it through my cars bluetooth and about 10 seconds later I got another call while still on the first one. The second call was one I had been expecting and an important one. Just at that time I was at the entrance to our development and the gate went up to let the car in front of me in. I had gotten the recent email from our HOA about the new gate only letting one car in and not to follow that car or the gate will come down on your car. That was a new feature just recently added to the gate, but in the heat of my phone calls I was distracted and forgot while switching calls. Well guess what happened..... The gate came down and put a nice dent in the A pillar of my Yukon. :eek: I never realized just how hard those gates come down!!

I was really pissed off but had no one to blame but myself! We were notified and they had done that so someone not authorized can not follow a resident in, - got it and forgot it. I was angry at myself for being distracted and stupid! The dent was just a thorn in my side and that evening I tried my hand at paint-less dent repair. Never having done that before I actually got out about 60% of the damage but came to a halt when no more improvement was noticed after a few more attempts - at least I was smart enough to stop when I hit the wall and before I damaged the paint. Tried to live with that, but every time I looked at the car the dent was where my eyes went of course. :(

We then left for our cruise a day later and I had forgotten about the incident. When we returned and I picked up my Yukon in the ship's terminal parking lot, the dent was there to greet me - just about eye level too. I was again reminded what a stupid thing I did. I made a few calls to friends and one of them came up with a paint-less dent removal guy he used before so I called him immediately. He requested that I send some photos which I did and he said that is one of the roughest areas to remove a dent from because it is a very strong structural part of the car. There is also a factory crease that comes to a peak in the middle of the A pillar and that part is quite strong. Because they could not access the inside (airbags in the way), he said that most of the dent could probably be fixed but not 100%. Being the anal OCD me, I figured OK - see what he can do as I did not want to look at it every day. We made an appointment for him to come over this morning.

So today the dent removal guy showed up right on time and I had the car pulled in my garage which is very well lit. After about 45 minutes of tapping and pulling with a hot melt glue pulling system, he successfully removed pretty much all of it. I'd say it was restored to 98% original with 2% not being able to go any farther. He did try a few more times but he said that's about the best he could get it without intrusive and more extensive work - and I was very happy with his repair. No holes were drilled and no paint damage or peeling occurred. He charged me $150 which I thought was very fair since he came to my house. Tomorrow I will re-wax the area as he had to remove the wax I had on the car, so the hot melt glue would stick.

I did try and take some before and after pic's but being that my car is white and my garage is lit up like an operating room, they had quite a strong glare and were just not worth posting here. Suffice it to say no one except me would ever know it happened and I'd dare anyone to actually find it now. I did learn a valuable lesson and will not make that mistake anytime in the future. OK - the $150 it cost me was not terrible but just unnecessary aggravation. Accidents happen in a split second when we least expect them. If nothing else, please learn from my dumb mistake when going through gates, toll booths, parking garages, etc. I should have just called the second caller back instead of playing with the buttons to try and transfer to the second call. And now I know! :o
Click to expand...
I'm glad you got your car fixed! - That gate should never come down that hard! Could you imagine a child walking or playing near it and get hit? I think the owners should have paid for your car to be fixed. The owners will be in big trouble if that gate his anyone! (JMHO) Rocko
 
HARLEY0 said:
I'm glad you got your car fixed! - That gate should never come down that hard! Could you imagine a child walking or playing near it and get hit? I think the owners should have paid for your car to be fixed. The owners will be in big trouble if that gate his anyone! (JMHO) Rocko
Click to expand...
While you may be correct, it's worth the $150 to me not to have to appear in front of the HOA board and look like a fool- lol. I was the one who made the mistake even after getting the email - and now I will never repeat it.

BTW, the gate height is above small children's height. Don't know the measurement exactly, but it's got to be at least 4.5 - 5 ft in height. This is a vehicle only entrance and I have never ever seen anyone even attempt to walk through. The cross bars that come down are backed up by a regular cast aluminum gate and only go up after the regular gate opens up. The only time the regular aluminum gate isn't closed is when there are multiple vehicles coming in at he same time. No one can walk through because the gate transponders are on each vehicles windshield. There are no keychain fobs or anything that would allow a pedestrian to open the gates.
 
I have relatives and friends that live in gated communities and they are growing increasingly weary of the male and female Karens that put in complaints about the most petty of grievances and having to go before "the board".

The only HOA in my future will be the Hall Of Angels.
 
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I AM the HOA where I live... in the middle of 35 acres of pine trees. Also have a gate at the road, operated by a garage door-type opener. One day I was surprised by an unfamiliar vehicle pulling up to the house shortly after I returned home. He got trapped by following me in the gate, which closed a minute later. He said he was here to give me $50 for the downed pine tree I let him cut up and remove about a year earlier. I told him to use it to buy his son a nice gift, then escorted him back to the gate.
 
Man, that sucks, but $150 is a cheap "oops" these days. Glad it could be repaired as well as it was.
Reminds of the time I bought a used car to please a woman. She didn't like my truck and there was no place for her son to be strapped in. So I bought a used sedan, washed and cleaned it until it sparkled, and went to her house to show her. She was happy. then I went to leave. New car, I was talking to her out the window, and I had forgotten that I had the wheels cranked to pull into her covered parking space. When I gave it a little gas to back out, I wasn't used to the throttle and goosed it right into the support beam. Hit it right at the seam between the passenger door and the fender. The door still opened, but it made a noise that could wake the dead. She busted up laughing, I got pissed and left. Broke up with her and sold the car for a $500 loss.
Having heard news of the female in question over the years, I think I got out relatively cheap.
 
chief38 said:
About a month ago I was driving back home from a Home Depot trip and just before I turned into our development I got a phone call. I answered it through my cars bluetooth and about 10 seconds later I got another call while still on the first one. The second call was one I had been expecting and an important one. Just at that time I was at the entrance to our development and the gate went up to let the car in front of me in. I had gotten the recent email from our HOA about the new gate only letting one car in and not to follow that car or the gate will come down on your car. That was a new feature just recently added to the gate, but in the heat of my phone calls I was distracted and forgot while switching calls. Well guess what happened..... The gate came down and put a nice dent in the A pillar of my Yukon. :eek: I never realized just how hard those gates come down!!

I was really pissed off but had no one to blame but myself! We were notified and they had done that so someone not authorized can not follow a resident in, - got it and forgot it. I was angry at myself for being distracted and stupid! The dent was just a thorn in my side and that evening I tried my hand at paint-less dent repair. Never having done that before I actually got out about 60% of the damage but came to a halt when no more improvement was noticed after a few more attempts - at least I was smart enough to stop when I hit the wall and before I damaged the paint. Tried to live with that, but every time I looked at the car the dent was where my eyes went of course. :(

We then left for our cruise a day later and I had forgotten about the incident. When we returned and I picked up my Yukon in the ship's terminal parking lot, the dent was there to greet me - just about eye level too. I was again reminded what a stupid thing I did. I made a few calls to friends and one of them came up with a paint-less dent removal guy he used before so I called him immediately. He requested that I send some photos which I did and he said that is one of the roughest areas to remove a dent from because it is a very strong structural part of the car. There is also a factory crease that comes to a peak in the middle of the A pillar and that part is quite strong. Because they could not access the inside (airbags in the way), he said that most of the dent could probably be fixed but not 100%. Being the anal OCD me, I figured OK - see what he can do as I did not want to look at it every day. We made an appointment for him to come over this morning.

So today the dent removal guy showed up right on time and I had the car pulled in my garage which is very well lit. After about 45 minutes of tapping and pulling with a hot melt glue pulling system, he successfully removed pretty much all of it. I'd say it was restored to 98% original with 2% not being able to go any farther. He did try a few more times but he said that's about the best he could get it without intrusive and more extensive work - and I was very happy with his repair. No holes were drilled and no paint damage or peeling occurred. He charged me $150 which I thought was very fair since he came to my house. Tomorrow I will re-wax the area as he had to remove the wax I had on the car, so the hot melt glue would stick.

I did try and take some before and after pic's but being that my car is white and my garage is lit up like an operating room, they had quite a strong glare and were just not worth posting here. Suffice it to say no one except me would ever know it happened and I'd dare anyone to actually find it now. I did learn a valuable lesson and will not make that mistake anytime in the future. OK - the $150 it cost me was not terrible but just unnecessary aggravation. Accidents happen in a split second when we least expect them. If nothing else, please learn from my dumb mistake when going through gates, toll booths, parking garages, etc. I should have just called the second caller back instead of playing with the buttons to try and transfer to the second call. And now I know! :o
Click to expand...
It happens, don’t be to hard on yourself.
 
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