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FIL 'took' Our car!

358 replies

LostMyCar · 15/05/2024 21:16

Evening all,

I'll start by saying that I've NC as I don't want this linked with my previous posts. This is a long one so I do apologise in advance...

Dh and I live abroad and will be visiting the UK for a couple of months next month. We've been looking for a cheap car to use for the month with the intention of reselling when we leave.

FIL has been kind enough to help with the search and the other night found a good deal. He went to view the car and arranged to buy it the next day. FIL had 1k of our money (from selling a car last year) and we transferred the remaining balance of the car over. We're excited that we've got a good deal and BIL mentions that he might want to buy the car off us when we leave. Great!

The next day DH gets a message from FIL to say that he and BIL are on the way to collect the car. All good. Then BIL sends a message to the group chat saying he's going to need to borrow our car whilst his car is getting an MOT. He doesn't ask, he assumes.

Bit of backstory - BIL (by Dh's own admission) is an immature man child who is often reckless and verbally abusive when he doesn't get his own way. He can't hold down a job and FIL is constantly bailing him out of messy situations. FIL is definitely his enabler.
DH says no I'm really sorry but I don't want you using my car. I'm not buying it for someone else to use. FIL gets angry at this as asks why BIL is good enough to pick the car up then? DH says he thought FIL would be driving our car and BIL would drive FIL's car back. Had he have known this wasn't the case, we could have asked someone else to collect the car.

Anyway, it's all blown into a huge argument. FIL phoned DH and did nothing but shout and scream. How can he not trust his brother? He's trying to get his life together! DH reiterated that he didn't want to upset BIL but he doesn't want him having access to our car. It ended with FIL telling DH to go fuck himself and to get someone to come and collect our car off his drive way that night. Whilst all this is going on, BIL sends a message to DH saying our car drives like a dream to further antagonise the situation.

I phone my parents and ask them (1.5 hour round trip) if they would mind collecting the car from FIL and driving it to MIL's house as she has space in her garage for it. My parents kindly agreed to do so. DH messages FIL to say that my parents will collect the car from him when he's ready. A few minutes later, FIL messages DH and says that the car isn't ours, it's his. He's keeping it and then he transferred our money back to us. So now we have no car.

We suspect FIL will end up giving BIL the car. We now also suspect that BIL was probably always going to use our car instead of his own (on its way out) secretly before we return to the UK.

AIBU to think FIL and BIL have both acted like twats? DH is really upset that his father has treated him this way and I'm furious at the way FIL has spoken to DH. I'm sure in time, DH will forgive them both which is fine but AIBU to want nothing more to do with them?

Thank you if you've made it this far 🙏

OP posts:
Eggplant44 · 19/05/2024 22:30

LostMyCar · 15/05/2024 21:52

No massive drip feed here. FIL offered to help and would have been offended if we had refused/someone else did it. We never wanted BIL involved, he was already with FIL on the way to the car.

I don't think just because someone helps you, you can no longer refuse them a favour if it's something you're uncomfortable with. DH didn't deserve to be screamed and sworn at just because he didn't want someone else using his car.

It's not cheaper to rent, we've looked into it.

Most people see favors as reciprocal. I guess with you it's a one way street. Good luck the next time you make demands on your husbands family.

NoraBattysCurlers · 19/05/2024 22:27

FIL messages DH and says that the car isn't ours, it's his. He's keeping it and then he transferred our money back to us. So now we have no car.

The OP and her DH are not resident in the UK and as expats would have paid a significant premium to insure a car here. From the above, they avoided this by sending money to FIL to buy a car and insure it in his name even though they believed the car was theirs.

Their scheme has backfired. FIL has returned the money and kept the car. He can do this as the car is officially in his name.

In terms of the insurance, I don't know the ins and out. My DH deals with it as he's the one who will be driving the car. I know when you buy a new car, you can buy temporary insurance for an hour whilst you drive it home. Details of insurance is irrelevant anyway because it's not the purpose of the thread.

Little wonder the OP does not want to discuss the ins and outs of insurance. What the OP and her DH planned on doing is 'fronting' and this is considered as committing insurance fraud.

murasaki · 19/05/2024 22:21

LostMyCar · 19/05/2024 22:20

BIL can't access the car at all. It's safe.

Good news!

LostMyCar · 19/05/2024 22:20

BIL can't access the car at all. It's safe.

OP posts:
murasaki · 19/05/2024 22:18

Where are you leaving the new car? As BiL will be using it if he knows where it is.....

LookItsMeAgain · 19/05/2024 21:44

Anonymous2025 · 19/05/2024 21:17

I get why you did it as we tried to rent a car a month and as it was a 7 seater it would be a minimum of £270 a day plus deposit .
Your mistake was trusting Fil . Did he return your money ? At least op ?

It's literally in the opening post:
"A few minutes later, FIL messages DH and says that the car isn't ours, it's his. He's keeping it and then he transferred our money back to us. "

Anonymous2025 · 19/05/2024 21:17

I get why you did it as we tried to rent a car a month and as it was a 7 seater it would be a minimum of £270 a day plus deposit .
Your mistake was trusting Fil . Did he return your money ? At least op ?

ShoveItUpYourArseMargaret · 19/05/2024 21:01

BIL sounds grabby. He wants whatever your DH has. Truly pathetic.

katepilar · 19/05/2024 20:27

Mumdiva99 · 15/05/2024 21:36

I get why you don't want bil using the car. It's your car and bil didn't ask. It's jist a repeated pattern. The reason it is so inflammatory for your husband is because he has faced this all his life. Bil being entitled and dad enabling it.

Stand by your husband.

(The worst bit is your husband will forgive. Doesn't mean you need to forget.)

I agree with this.

Eskimal · 19/05/2024 19:36

Shade17 · 19/05/2024 18:37

That’s irrelevant really, but FIL’s now I’d imagine.

It’s probably the most relevant question that’s been asked

drusth · 19/05/2024 18:45

LostMyCar · 19/05/2024 18:32

Evening all,

I've debated whether or not to come back to this thread as some of the comments were just rude and some people really do love to kick others whilst their down. It's clear that some people haven't read the OP correctly and have formed an opinion on something that it inaccurate.

Thank you for those of you who have given their opinion without the name calling and hate, it's appreciated.

In terms of the insurance, I don't know the ins and out. My DH deals with it as he's the one who will be driving the car. I know when you buy a new car, you can buy temporary insurance for an hour whilst you drive it home. Details of insurance is irrelevant anyway because it's not the purpose of the thread.

Upon reflection, it does feel there was a hidden agenda with FIL and BIL. Everything was done so quickly and so rushed it feels as if they were counting on us buying a car quickly so BIL could use it whilst his is in the garage.

It's not fair to say that DH and I are all take and no give. You have no idea what we're like. No idea how we have helped others in the past. We have let BIL live with us temporarily in the past whilst he was working nearby. We spent a chunk of money setting him up and covering his costs. We even spent a lot of time trying to help him with his finances and to help him get out of debt.

I also don't believe that favours should come with strings attached. When I help people, I do it because I care them/want to help. I don't expect things in return and I certainly don't think that a person owes me anything. Like I've said previously, FIL wanted to help. Others also wanted to help but we accepted FIL's help because if we didn't, he would be upset. If we had known FIL's favour came with strings attached, we'd have said no thanks.

The comment I said about BIL drink driving was probably unfair. I obviously don't know for sure if he would drink drive but I don't trust that he wouldn't. I don't believe he would look after the car and if anything were to go wrong, BIL wouldn't accept responsibility and doesn't have the money to replace the car. Whilst the car is a cheap second hand car, we are not made of money and can't afford for things to go wrong. If things did go wrong, we'd end up with no car and we'd find it hard to forgive BIL.

Anyway, we have bought a car now. All is good. I'm sure it'll all blow over between FIL, BIL and DH but I will be keeping my distance. My DH did not get pissy or horrible with FIL on the phone, he was calm and level headed. The words he used were, 'I just don't feel comfortable with John using the car. Please don't let him'. That doesn't deserve the verbal abuse that was thrown at him and I won't be forgiving of anyone who speaks to my DH like that.

Good post, OP, and I hope it teaches some people not to make assumptions about people.

Hope the car lasts you well.

Silvers11 · 19/05/2024 18:42

@LostMyCar Glad you have now bought a car, which hopefully you are happy with. Also hopefully, the family argument will calm down now.

I don't blame you both for not being keen on BIL driving the car before you got there either and I'm sorry you got a hard time from some on here.

This, though, is Mumsnet and you need a hard hat on very often, unfortunately, if you are brave enough to post, especially on AIBU

I hope you have a good trip over for your holiday.

Shade17 · 19/05/2024 18:37

Eskimalita · 19/05/2024 18:02

Whose name is on the log book?

That’s irrelevant really, but FIL’s now I’d imagine.

LostMyCar · 19/05/2024 18:35

Hiring a car is not cheaper, the cheapest quote we have had it for £1.4k.

The car we've bought is in great condition and we're hoping to keep it for our next holiday.

OP posts:
LostMyCar · 19/05/2024 18:32

Evening all,

I've debated whether or not to come back to this thread as some of the comments were just rude and some people really do love to kick others whilst their down. It's clear that some people haven't read the OP correctly and have formed an opinion on something that it inaccurate.

Thank you for those of you who have given their opinion without the name calling and hate, it's appreciated.

In terms of the insurance, I don't know the ins and out. My DH deals with it as he's the one who will be driving the car. I know when you buy a new car, you can buy temporary insurance for an hour whilst you drive it home. Details of insurance is irrelevant anyway because it's not the purpose of the thread.

Upon reflection, it does feel there was a hidden agenda with FIL and BIL. Everything was done so quickly and so rushed it feels as if they were counting on us buying a car quickly so BIL could use it whilst his is in the garage.

It's not fair to say that DH and I are all take and no give. You have no idea what we're like. No idea how we have helped others in the past. We have let BIL live with us temporarily in the past whilst he was working nearby. We spent a chunk of money setting him up and covering his costs. We even spent a lot of time trying to help him with his finances and to help him get out of debt.

I also don't believe that favours should come with strings attached. When I help people, I do it because I care them/want to help. I don't expect things in return and I certainly don't think that a person owes me anything. Like I've said previously, FIL wanted to help. Others also wanted to help but we accepted FIL's help because if we didn't, he would be upset. If we had known FIL's favour came with strings attached, we'd have said no thanks.

The comment I said about BIL drink driving was probably unfair. I obviously don't know for sure if he would drink drive but I don't trust that he wouldn't. I don't believe he would look after the car and if anything were to go wrong, BIL wouldn't accept responsibility and doesn't have the money to replace the car. Whilst the car is a cheap second hand car, we are not made of money and can't afford for things to go wrong. If things did go wrong, we'd end up with no car and we'd find it hard to forgive BIL.

Anyway, we have bought a car now. All is good. I'm sure it'll all blow over between FIL, BIL and DH but I will be keeping my distance. My DH did not get pissy or horrible with FIL on the phone, he was calm and level headed. The words he used were, 'I just don't feel comfortable with John using the car. Please don't let him'. That doesn't deserve the verbal abuse that was thrown at him and I won't be forgiving of anyone who speaks to my DH like that.

OP posts:
Tigger72 · 19/05/2024 18:29

Whole situation is bizarre, you can hire a car for a month for around £1k subject to any license restrictions so why have the added cost & time of buying one for a month!

Eskimalita · 19/05/2024 18:02

Whose name is on the log book?

AlwaysGinPlease · 19/05/2024 17:47

This is all on you and your DH. You're both the problem.

NoThanksymm · 19/05/2024 17:38

I mean not ‘nothing’ let your husband take the lead on it. Sounds like he comprehends his family, he should be reasonable.

but I totally wouldn’t be helping mend fences!!

Girlmum1995 · 19/05/2024 15:41

I have a brother like this, he “borrows” things without asking would drive peoples car like a go kart, wreck it and when you ask him to do work on it and you will pay him (he’s a mechanic) he says oh it’s a piece of shit scrap it. My mums just sat with no car for 8 week because he broke something on hers and my BIL had to sort it. I don’t blame you one bit for your reaction

DecoratingDiva · 19/05/2024 15:16

So many questions here.

who paid the insurance? Who was covered on the policy to drive the car? Why couldn’t BIL drive the car when you are in a different country and were going to sell it to him anyway? Why not just hire a car for the time you are here?

All seems like a lot of anger & drama over something much more deep seated than the car.

Kjpt140v · 18/05/2024 20:38

Jegersur · 18/05/2024 08:46

Do they? It looks to me that they have to get FIL to sell the car once they have gone.

Maybe, but they will get there money back either way.

wombat15 · 18/05/2024 19:35

T1Dmama · 18/05/2024 16:37

Oh and @LostMyCar i’d also report the number plate as a possible drink driver and let the douche enjoy!

That is a ridiculous suggestion.

T1Dmama · 18/05/2024 16:37

Oh and @LostMyCar i’d also report the number plate as a possible drink driver and let the douche enjoy!

T1Dmama · 18/05/2024 16:36

In your position I would be blocking both FIL & BIL, getting someone else’s help with getting a car, and not having anything further to say to either of them!
I would be done!

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