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Original poster

AIBU to refuse extra payment for neighbour's delayed car repair?

42 replies

BurnoutGP · 02/07/2026 14:48

DD2 scraped our neighbours car a year ago.
He got some quotes and then gave me an invoice which I paid a year ago. 3 months later he told me it actually still hasn't been done and would be done soon and did I want my money back in the meantime.
I said if it was likely to be soon to hold onto it. I assumed the original invoice was just that not a quote. I then heard nothing.
Until now when he says is being done next week but as so long there might be extra money needed.
I feel I paid in good faith a year ago and as far as I am concerned it was settled and the work had been done.
I believe I shouldn't have to pay any more now a year later.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Locutus2000 · 03/07/2026 13:04

Agree with a PP that he has almost certainly added some damage since you settled the invoice/quote and is trying to get the lot done on your dime.

BoredZelda · 03/07/2026 13:02

Nope. You paid what he asked, unless you prevented him from getting it fixed then, the cost of the delay is his problem.

StrawberryWater · 03/07/2026 12:58

BurnoutGP · 03/07/2026 12:19

So sent this with the help of chat GPT. I didn't think I could just block/ignore as he knows where I live and he has moved fairly close so didn't fancy having to deal with it in person. Am shitting myself he will still turn up and confront me 😳 what happens if he now reports to insurance??
Hi xx
I'm surprised to hear the repair still hasn't been carried out. The last I heard from you was last October, so around nine months ago. When I paid the amount you gave me last July, I understood that to be the agreed cost of the repair and considered the matter settled.
Given how much time has passed, and that the delay in having the work done wasn't on our side, I don't think it's reasonable or fair to ask us to pay any additional costs now. I paid the agreed amount in good faith over a year ago, and I'm not prepared to contribute any further towards the repairs at this late stage.

The insurance will laugh at him and consider the matter long settled. If he turns up on your doorstep call the police.

purpleme12 · 03/07/2026 12:36

Good idea

Original poster
BurnoutGP · 03/07/2026 12:19

So sent this with the help of chat GPT. I didn't think I could just block/ignore as he knows where I live and he has moved fairly close so didn't fancy having to deal with it in person. Am shitting myself he will still turn up and confront me 😳 what happens if he now reports to insurance??
Hi xx
I'm surprised to hear the repair still hasn't been carried out. The last I heard from you was last October, so around nine months ago. When I paid the amount you gave me last July, I understood that to be the agreed cost of the repair and considered the matter settled.
Given how much time has passed, and that the delay in having the work done wasn't on our side, I don't think it's reasonable or fair to ask us to pay any additional costs now. I paid the agreed amount in good faith over a year ago, and I'm not prepared to contribute any further towards the repairs at this late stage.

OP posts:
TeaIsLovely · 02/07/2026 18:00

BurnoutGP · 02/07/2026 14:48

DD2 scraped our neighbours car a year ago.
He got some quotes and then gave me an invoice which I paid a year ago. 3 months later he told me it actually still hasn't been done and would be done soon and did I want my money back in the meantime.
I said if it was likely to be soon to hold onto it. I assumed the original invoice was just that not a quote. I then heard nothing.
Until now when he says is being done next week but as so long there might be extra money needed.
I feel I paid in good faith a year ago and as far as I am concerned it was settled and the work had been done.
I believe I shouldn't have to pay any more now a year later.

If you have the quote/invoice, call the garage and see if it’s legit. Sounds like this guy probably created a quote/invoice himself to be honest.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 02/07/2026 17:58

I wouldn't reply. Ignore, delete, block etc.

Walkerzoo · 02/07/2026 17:57

They spent the money on something else.
I would probably block them

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 02/07/2026 17:56

“Dear Neighbour,
I paid you the money for the repair when you first asked for it, X months ago. If you have not had the repair done, and now there is more work that needs doing as a result, that is 100% your responsibility, and we will not be paying another penny.
Love and hugs,
@BurnoutGP.”

Original poster
BurnoutGP · 02/07/2026 17:54

willitevergetwarm · 02/07/2026 16:27

I read the message under the invoice that it's been done but he's not collected it yet following repairs as he's away and the repair were delayed because of paint booth problems

could be wrong but either way he's taking the absolute piss

Show quote history

Thats exactly how I read it and then heard from him in Oct then nothing since. So assumed all sorted

OP posts:
Original poster
BurnoutGP · 02/07/2026 17:53

RetiredFromExplaining · 02/07/2026 16:23

Why not go through the insurance companies? It would have been resolved at the time.

DD2 was still on learner insurance so really didn't want to go through insurance. He said he needed it done quickly 🙄 so was more than happy with that

OP posts:
Larrythecatforpm · 02/07/2026 17:02

I would block him.

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 02/07/2026 16:54

BurnoutGP · 02/07/2026 15:32

It looked like an invoice. He presented it as an invoice.

Show quote history

A pro-forma invoice can be issued in advance of work being done (often done if you want payment up front).

So it may not have been done, but he's had the money and the opportunity so he's been made whole.

If the price has gone up now that's on him. He had an obligation to minimise his losses.

Sucks to be him.

willitevergetwarm · 02/07/2026 16:27

BurnoutGP · 02/07/2026 15:36

These are the WhatsApps

I read the message under the invoice that it's been done but he's not collected it yet following repairs as he's away and the repair were delayed because of paint booth problems

could be wrong but either way he's taking the absolute piss

purpleme12 · 02/07/2026 16:25

People avoid it because they don't want their insurance to go up do they

RetiredFromExplaining · 02/07/2026 16:23

Why not go through the insurance companies? It would have been resolved at the time.

Charmingpls · 02/07/2026 16:18

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Aligirlbear · 02/07/2026 16:04

If you have paid an invoice that’s work done or a pre payment so no further funds are due. His problem if he decided to wait 12 months.

MsGreying · 02/07/2026 16:02

An unmended scratch might cost a lot more to repair as the damaged paintwork might get down to metal and that'll rot.

ToThePoint2026 · 02/07/2026 15:50

My other problem with this is the deteriorating after a year of not being done should not have to be paid by you and it will have deteriorated more requiring more work which is not your fault. My brother's garage does a lot of jobs like this and I think you have had a lot of excuses as to why it wasn't fixed and they clearly weren't bothered as this can be sorted by the majority of garages very quickly and fairly cheaply aswell for scrapes etc

Notasbigasithink · 02/07/2026 15:49

BurnoutGP · 02/07/2026 14:48

DD2 scraped our neighbours car a year ago.
He got some quotes and then gave me an invoice which I paid a year ago. 3 months later he told me it actually still hasn't been done and would be done soon and did I want my money back in the meantime.
I said if it was likely to be soon to hold onto it. I assumed the original invoice was just that not a quote. I then heard nothing.
Until now when he says is being done next week but as so long there might be extra money needed.
I feel I paid in good faith a year ago and as far as I am concerned it was settled and the work had been done.
I believe I shouldn't have to pay any more now a year later.

Reply with something like
No I won't be contributing any further to the repair of your car for the incident that happened on x date. I paid the invoice in full on x date and consider the matter closed.
Then block

SilenceInside · 02/07/2026 15:44

To be clear I’d also tell him that you’ve paid and if the work hasn’t been done then that’s his look out. You’ve no idea if additional damage has been done by him over the last year, so no way should you be paying anything extra now.

Undecided2025 · 02/07/2026 15:43

OP - between both photos you’ve posted your old neighbours full name.

SilenceInside · 02/07/2026 15:43

That’s a quote. There’s no invoice number or other details you’d expect to see on an invoice after work has been done. The wording at the start “to repair…” is also the wording of a quote not an invoice.

TreeDudette · 02/07/2026 15:40

He is a total chancer, ignore, block and continue on with life!