"Your bin scratched my friend's car..."

[VoldysGoneMouldy]

Bins here go out on a Monday morning. We leave it up the top of the drive, and then bring it back to the pathway the side of our house afterwards. It's collected during the school run period, and then we both had appointments, so it was probably moved back about 1030. It's shelted by the side of the house and doesn't move from there.

This morning, my neighbour stopped me in the drive way and said, "I'm not complaining but your bin blew and scratched my friend's new car yesterday, she's only had it three weeks, she's really upset..."

She repeated herself a few times, kept putting emphasis on how upset the friend was and how she'd only just got the car. It struck me when she'd said it three times that she was hinting we should cover the cost for repairs. I apologised and commented on how awful the wind had been yesterday, and how I hoped her friend had got home okay. I got a bit of a dirty look at that point, she got in the car and drove away.

Now I didn't see the car, I didn't see the bin hit it, I don't know where she was parked, I didn't see the scratch - not saying she's lying but I obviously don't know what exactly has happened. Her friend was insistent it was our bin apparently, again, didn't see any of this, when we got home the bin was blown over but on the drive. And the wind was obviously horrendous here yesterday, as it was everywhere, with the storm.

Was I BU to not offer to pay for repairs?

[etttvatre]

It was very windy and she parked her car near a bin, which can obviously get blown about!

Her own fault, definitely.

[TaliZorahVasNormandy]

Not your fault and also you cant control where the bin man put the bin after they've emptied it. She shouldnt have parked so close.

[IoraRua]

Nope, I wouldn't give them money.

[MajesticSeaFlapFlap]

I'd of shrieked

'Shes upset?! My poor bin is battered ant tramatised'

[Angeladelight]

I don't see how you're at fault. I very much doubt your neighbour would pay if the roles were reversed either!

[jonquil1]

Her friend can claim on her insurance if she wants. [shrug] Storm Imogen caused a lot of damage in a lot of places, totally an accident,

[acasualobserver]

You are no more responsible than if the car was hit by a slate blown from your roof or a branch from a tree in your front garden. Bad luck is all and your neighbour's friend will have to suck it up.

[MintyBojingles]

She should be thankful it was a bin and not a tree or a brick wall. She can claim on her insurance if she's so worried. You deff shouldn't pay!

[Lurkedforever1]

Tell her your bin was also harmed yesterday, and while it wasn't in showroom condition, the damage is all the more upsetting as it is of irreplaceable emotional value, and you had hoped to pass it on to your descendents as a heirloom in its previous upright state. Then ask if her friend would be interested in joining a you in a class action law suit against the British weather, reassuring her you will not rest till you make that wind bastard pay for the harm its done.

[DustyBustle]

I worry about this, - I live at the end of a close near the coastline and the wind howls down and blows all the neighbours bins around, I now tuck mine protected from it, but when the bin men then leave it somewhere else what can you do? - you're not liable I'm sure.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Not you're fault that it was windy when the bins were taken. Does she think your the God of weather and that you can somehow stop wind from howling.
You have to take them ( bins) outside on to the pavement as they won't come In and fetch them.
Can her friend not speak for herself. Is your neighbour somd sort of hard knock. That fights her battles for her and holds her hand.
YNBU. To not pay a penny. It was an accident. Caused by the wind.

[SoleBizzz]

God some people are so petty.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Your not you're

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Line 2 you're not your.

[sleeponeday]

You're responsible if you either caused Imogen, or could have lessened the severity. I suppose the question is: are you the Almighty? If not, she's being a twat.

[VoldysGoneMouldy]

Ah thank you all - was wavering! Really laughing at the image of an heirloom bin.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

It's an act of God

[WhimsicalWinnifred]

Would your bin be marked as well? I'm not sure but could work as proof.

Either way, I don't think you should pay. Like you say, you have no proof of any of it. If she wanted you to pay, she would have asked. If she hasn't got the bollocks to ask them she can't be that bothered.

It is really sad but it's just one of those things.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

It's not really sad, Winnifred. It's a scratch on a car. No one died.
Children dying of starvation in the 21st century is "sad"

[tinofbiscuits]

YANBU. I assume the bin is the property of the council, not the householder. So it's not "your" bin. The friend should take it up with the council, not get your neighbour to badger you!

[AcrossthePond55]

Yeah, the friend scratched the neighbour's car on accident and is blaming it on you.

[PippaHotamus]

It'll probably buff out. It probably just took off the clear coating stuff and not the actual paintwork. Costs very little to get that sorted.

[PippaHotamus]

and anyway, she left the scene of an accident without exchanging details with the bin...that's negligent really isn't it? Ifshe had wanted to take it further she could have at least got photographic proof, or stayed there in position until you got home.

[bessiebumptious2]

I assume the bin is the property of the council, not the householder. So it's not "your" bin. The friend should take it up with the council, not get your neighbour to badger you!

This!

[GeorginaWorsley]

I don't think you are responsible at all!
However I get stupidly annoyed on bin day as our neighbours wheel their bin down our drive next to my car instead of round the other side of their house down their own drive!
It is the silliest most trivial thing but it infuriates me!