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Original poster

DS scratched neighbours car

15 replies

DreamTeamGirl · 17/04/2010 13:58

Just wondering how best to handle this without starting a neighbourhood feud -sorry its a bit long

DS is 5 and we are lucky to live on a fairly quiet cul-de-sac populated by lots of other young families with similar age children

Yesterday they were all playing out and DS and 2 others had their bikes out

This morning a neighbour knocked and said that 'my children' had scratched his car- he said there were '2 scratches that weren't there yesterday'
I was a bit shocked partly as they are all a right bunch of tell tales constantly running in and out with x child fell over, z child sprayed water on your bin, y child said a rude word (shut up) etc etc so was surprised I hadnt heard about it before, so said 'gosh sorry, I will make sure he doesn't ride his bike in that area again' -it was on a shared drive way shared by 2 of the other children and this neighbour with the start being a communal area. I did point out that they weren't all my children, just one and he said 'yeah the ginger one' ( as I hate people sneering about his hair colour)

Obviously had a long chat with DS who says he did knock the car one time but not twice, but on walking past pointed to a totally different car and that he doesnt know who else banged the car- not that it matters. If he did it once I would have expected him to come and tell me so we could go and sort it out and I have made this VERY clear to him.

Anyway he has copied a note in a card to say sorry and that he wouldn't ride his bike there again and he bought some chocolates out of his money box and we have taken both round. Neighbour wasn't there but we gave them to his BIL and apologised verbally too and he said he was impressed at DS for saying sorry and that he would pass it on

I simply CANT pay for or offer to pay for repairs (havent looked and dont know what level of damage there is) as I cant afford it, so I guess I am asking, is
Is what I have done enough? WWY have Done?

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 17/04/2010 14:00

No, you need to pay if he did it and make payments until it is done.

Is it covered on your home insurance?

LaurieFairyCake · 17/04/2010 14:01

And your DS being only 5 is unlikely to know which car he scratched.

andiem · 17/04/2010 14:02

I think you need to pay as well. Our next door neighbour reversed into dhs car when it was parked on the road. He had to pay up for the damage.

rainbowinthesky · 17/04/2010 14:03

You need to pay up.

piratecat · 17/04/2010 14:05

so he has said he knocked a car, but ultimately you don't know if it was that one, or if it's his fault if he pointed to another car?

I have had something similar happen last week to my car. Headlight smashed, very annoying as whole headlamp (£50) had to be replaced. Some of the kids in the shared carpark, admitted they may have done it, they are all between 5-9. I can't point the finger, so have paid for the damage, as accidents happen.

Hard to prove for the car owner, altho I would be really pissed off as bodywork damage is more £££ to repair than a headlamp.

I just asked the parents to remind their kids to keep away from the cars.

wingandprayer · 17/04/2010 14:05

Unless it is particularly deep one of those mobile scratch people can probably fix it, keeping the cost down. Even though was an accident you should pay for it though, or at least offer too and see what neighbour wants to do.

waitingforbedtime · 17/04/2010 14:13

You should pay, even in installments.

onadietcokebreak · 17/04/2010 14:13

Is it something that can be T cut? You need to look at what damage their is before you decide what to offer.

Original poster
DreamTeamGirl · 17/04/2010 14:14

He hasn't asked for any money at this stage and as I say I dont know how much damage there is

DS said straight away he did bump the red car, neighbours car is green and there were at least 4 other children also out there 2 on their own bikes and the other 2 getting on and off each others.

DS' bike has rubber handle bar edges and brakes so I wouldnt have thought it could do TOO much damage. At least I hope it wasnt

I agree I would be cross too, although probably not furious as they are kids aged 3-7 not hooligans.

I guess if there is damage I will need to go and speak to all the other parents and see if any of them are going to fess up to having bumped into any cars yesterday ... And talk to home insurance as I dont have spare cash right now

OP posts:
tootyflooty · 17/04/2010 14:33

it doesn't sound like a scratch could have been caused by your son because of the rubber bits on his bike, also it may not have been him. I don't think you can be liable to pay for the damage unless you are sure he did it. But it was very decent of you to go round with a card and chocs. If it was me I would be glad to have had the apology .

plimsolls · 17/04/2010 14:47

I think that if you have already apologised and taken a card round etc it might be hard to then say "but we're not certain it was DS" if you are asked to pay for the damage, unless your neighbour can see the reasoning behind being happy to apologise for something that you aren't sure was your DS' fault but being unhappy to pay out for it. FWIW, I can see the reasoning, so hopefully he will too.

SouthMum · 17/04/2010 15:07

Apologies have been issued - Forget about it unless neighbour brings it up again

I could have been any one of the kids.

If it was me I wouldn't pay unless he really kicked off and then it would be very grudgingly and I would also arrange for the repair myself to get the best price. But I would not pay for any other damage in the future unless it can be proved it were my kid.

Unfortunately if you have a car but no drive, or choose not to park it in the drive this sort of thing might happen quite alot.

SouthMum · 17/04/2010 15:07

Obviously I wasnt any of the kids, I mean "it could have been any one of the kids"....

saslou · 17/04/2010 15:17

I think you have done enough, given that you can't be sure your child actually caused the damage. Your dc may well have bumped into the car, but not caused the scratches. If the neighbour raises it, then say the card was an apology for bumping the car, not for the damage as this could have been caused by any of the children playing there.

If you knew it was your dc, then yes you should pay for it, but in these circumstances unless all the other parents are going to share the cost then no, you needn't pay

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 17/04/2010 15:20

You need to find out who did it and if it was your child you have to pay. You have no other option.

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