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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be fed up with this driver and not know what to do?

40 replies

Crashedpost · 21/05/2014 18:27

Apologies for name change but in case those involved read it I don't want it linked to other posts.

A woman knocked on my door on Monday morning telling me that she had hit my fence post and knocked it over. She had knocked over the post breaking it off at ground level, smashed the close board fence, knocked over and killed a tree, a complete mess. The fence post had hit DH's car (sitting on the drive) and cracked the rear bumper. She gave me her name, number and I took the registration number and she said she would call me with details.

She turned up again an hour later with her husband and they admitted that the damage had been done to the car by the fence post and he said they were insured and would sort it.

Since then there have been a series of text exchanges where the husband has tried to say the fence could be patched together and that the damage to the car was the sort you can get in any supermarket car park so we should just paint over it, that he would send someone to look at the damage yesterday then today, no sign. We insisted it needed to go through insurance. DH and I got very fed up and have now said we want insurance details today. He has responded saying he has a better idea and is now not responding.

We rang our insurance company on Monday when it happened, but they opened and closed the case saying it wasn't anything to do with them as the other driver was entirely at fault so no help from them. This can't be right can it?

Obviously it isn't a police matter, but if he refuses to talk to his insurance company are we just stuck with paying to repair our fence and car? Is there anything we can do next.

OP posts:
Crashedpost · 21/05/2014 19:22

Thanks. We are going to say that he needs to give us his insurance details in the next hour or we will take things further, then ring insurance companies tomorrow.

He gave DH some huge sob story and DH said "can I stop you there, because I don't actually care" which I think is quite funny.

I am annoyed because I am sure we will be slagged off to our nursery owning neighbours now.

OP posts:
Nomama · 21/05/2014 19:22

Oooh! I had forgotten that site, Brian.

Good shout!

BrianTheMole · 21/05/2014 19:28

Its a good site Nomana.
Can't see how he can slag you off op. Seeing as he hit your fence and now he doesn't want to pay for it. I'd tell them that.

Nomama · 21/05/2014 19:31

Sounds like your DH has the pillock all sorted Smile

Crashedpost · 21/05/2014 19:39

That seemed to get results. He has told us that he has called his insurance company (named) and they will call us tomorrow. I think we should ask for his policy details but DH wants to wait to see if we get a call.

Apparently, he said to DH earlier, "I drove past your house earlier and I thought it must be much easier to park your car without the fence post and fence in the way, you should be thanking us". Cheeky fucker. Good job he wasn't talking to me, I would have hit the roof. Of course, so much better with no privacy, a dead tree and all the rubbish from the street blowing in.

Aaargghhh, need to let this go a bit.

OP posts:
matildasquared · 21/05/2014 19:45

"can I stop you there, because I don't actually care"

LOL I'm stealing this.

Still make a police report!

Nomama · 21/05/2014 19:46

Yes, lose the anger. Maybe cry in front of other neighbours. Make him look/feel like a complete nutcase!

PumpkinPie2013 · 21/05/2014 19:53

Glad they (sort of) gave you the details of the insurer.

If you don't hear anything by 1pm tomorrow please pass it to the local police - they will deal with it.

I had similar when someone drove into the back of me. I got their name/address/phone number and reg but then she wouldn't answer calls/messages for insurance details so I went to the police station and they sorted it.

Good luck - I hope it's sorted soon x

MrsWedgeAntilles · 21/05/2014 21:01

"Can I just stop you there, because I don't care"

I could use that a million times a day, OP, and never get tired of it :)

HandbagCrazy · 21/05/2014 21:49

I work in car insurance claims. If his insurance doesn't contact you tomorrow, ring your insurance company back and request the name of the other insurance company as you would like to pursue them directly. They will have free access to the mid website and the company should have come up as soon as you gave the other registration. All you need is the company name and their drivers name and reg. call his insurance directly and report the claim. A lot of company's will help you deal with the property damage and offer repairs for your car.
Btw, at work I'm always amazed at how many people cause an accident and then are only concerned about their car/excess/policy and don't even think about the innocent third parties - and the nicer the car/better the job the worse they tend to be!!

Good luck - and let us know what happens

HandbagCrazy · 21/05/2014 21:51

Also, love your DH's way of dealing with the cheeky git Grin

LilacRoses · 21/05/2014 21:58

Crikey the bare faced cheek of some people!!! You should be thanking him! Bloody hell! That alone would make me want to be as formal and ruthless as possible. I cannot stand dishonest chancers like that. It was an accident, that is why they have insurance, they need to grow up, be honest about what happened......you have plenty of proof, get it sorted and move on. Idiots!

Sorry, pointless rant but people like that really get up my nose! Hope they come to their senses soon!

pigsDOfly · 21/05/2014 23:35

I find that really odd attitude from your insurance company OP. Maybe I'm wrong but surely they should be working on your behalf.

When my car was written off by a lorry - entirely the lorry drivers fault - my insurance company dealt with the whole thing. I was more than happy with the settlement I got and it did not affect my insurance premiums or my no claims bonus.

Icimoi · 21/05/2014 23:59

If he cares that much about his no claims bonus, he should just offer a realistic amount to cover all the damage. But with the way he is pratting about, I wouldn't trust him to keep any promises.

I bet he's furious with his wife for being so honest and not doing a hit and run.

Yambabe · 22/05/2014 01:44

You don't have to go through his insurance company.

HE is liable for your damages, and what he needs is a kick up the backside in the form of a nice legal letter with large but genuine estimates explaining that if you don't hear back from his insurance company within 24 hours you will be pursuing your damages from him personally, through the courts if necessary.

Although I also agree with all the others who have said your insurance company should be pursuing this. It might even be worth contacting a no-win-no-fee solicitor at this stage to do the letter though.

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