Wwyd-I think the window cleaner keyed my car

[ImNotAZebra]

Last year we had a window cleaner that came, I would say intermittently. With covid restrictions/poor weather etc it certainly wasn't once a month. If I'm honest I didn't really keep track of when he came.

2 weeks ago at 8am there was a knock at the door. I answered and it was the window cleaner. Saying I owed £40 from 2 months last year. I said I'd sort it, if I owe him money I'm quite happy to pay. I'd not heard from him for months prior to this

Monday just gone and there's a knock at the door at 8am again but I'd just got out the shower and wasn't dressed. So didn't answer. But him knocking reminded me I hadn't paid him yet so transferred £20 to him with the intention of paying the other £20 later in the month. (I'm struggling financially like lots of people at the moment, maybe even the window cleaner)

I go to get the kids in the car at 8.30 and there's a scratch right across my bonnet, left to right. I was in the car Sunday and didn't notice the scratch, I'd definitely had noticed if it was there before as my car is a dark colour.
My drive is a private drive so there's no one passing, you have to intentionally come down the drive to reach the house.

I was going to leave it as I do feel it's my own doing in one way, as it is a late payment. But on the other hand I did say I would pay and this is going to cost hundreds to repair. Which I won't be doing as I can't afford it. Would you confront the window cleaner?

No, because there are other factors that mitigate who may actually be responsible, yes you could accurately connect the two and conclude x, but with out direct proof, it will be you suspect and the person says x then it creates more issues.

Not if I couldn't prove it was him!
You are only assuming it was him but have no actual proof.

No good will come of confronting especially without evidence. And I would pay up asap and decline further services.

I am sorry, whoever did it is a scumbag.

So you are basing your assumption on the fact that a self employed man has asked you to pay what you owe him?

Pay him and grow up. As in get another window cleaner, if you can, and leave this poor bloke alone.

Would you work for nothing or for half your wage? (the £20 you gave him).
Pay the man.

I doubt he'd risk his business to key your car. You need to pay him and then clean your own windows if you can't afford it.

No point in confronting him: he'll deny it and you've no proof.

You are being very unreasonable not to pay a longstanding debt though!

How do you even know it was him who knocked Monday morning, if you didn't answer?

I'd be gutted that my car was scratched, but I'm struggling to see how you could pin it on the window cleaner.

Pay what you owe and get some t-cut.

Did you explain you were only paying half but would pay more later?

Would you confront the window cleaner

Absolutely not. You've no proof whatsoever it was him. You're already massively taking the piss with the poor man as it is. Id be mortified if someone had to keep coming to my door for money I owed them

You didn’t answer the door so how do you know it was him even knocking?
You have no idea if he was the one who damaged your car.