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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

neighbour, car, accident, money

36 replies

persephonejonesthesecond · 17/08/2017 13:07

Here goose nothing. I've NC for this..

My neighbour (an old man) accidentally pranged another neighbour's car. The car he hit already needed the wing mirror fixed after another accident. My neighbours have charged this man the full price of fixing the mirror when it wasn't him who broke it. I'm just a bit shocked that they'd charge him to fix something he didn't break. The old man didn't stop when he bumped the car (very gently I should add) and this has been his downfall.

I feel really uncomfortable about the whole thing

OP posts:
Original poster
persephonejonesthesecond · 17/08/2017 13:08

WWYD?

OP posts:
MrsCK · 17/08/2017 13:10

If you saw it happen, I'd write a statement to the old man for his information on what you saw including the state of the other car.
Other than that there's not much you can do

Original poster
persephonejonesthesecond · 17/08/2017 13:11

I didn't see it happen Sad

The neighbours who are charging him told me at the time that it already needed fixed and this was a good way to get it done. I feel so guilty as this old man is lovely.

OP posts:
Flyingflipflop · 17/08/2017 13:16

I wouldn't miss a heartbeat. I'd tell the chap. If he's on a pension, money might well be tight for him.

Why should he be disadvantaged because of these avaricious gits?

Urubu · 17/08/2017 13:27

The only way it could be ok was if the mirror was damaged but still usable before and not usable anymore after the incident.

Original poster
persephonejonesthesecond · 17/08/2017 13:30

The mirror was taped on but electrics broken so they're charging him to fix the electrics that were broken in a separate incident.

I feel just as bad as them by not saying anything

OP posts:
Intothenestofvipers · 17/08/2017 13:37

God this is awful. I'm really not sure how this works but could you tell the elderly man and offer to write to his insurance company with the facts that you have?

It's very difficult though if you didn't actually see anything and becomes "he said, she said"

Themostannoyingperson · 17/08/2017 13:40

We had a similar thing and the neighbours wanted a whole new bumper. I also had a low impact bump at a roundabout and I'm pretty sure the people I bumped claimed for an exsisting dent ( judging by the surprise in the voice from my insurer that my car had needed no work whatso ever).
I would definitely remind them it's fraud and pushes the insurance price up for everyone. Could be you next Op.

HotelEuphoria · 17/08/2017 13:43

WWYD?

I would have said to the neighbour "Well that's a shitty trick to pull on an elderly vulnerable person".

Then taken it from there.

Original poster
persephonejonesthesecond · 17/08/2017 13:43

Totally agree themost

My DH is appalled too. I'm furious that they'd take advantage of a pensioner (I know it's wrong to do it to anyone but a pensioner just seems to rile me more)

OP posts:
Original poster
persephonejonesthesecond · 17/08/2017 13:44

hotel

I know and I think I'm going to need to bring it up to them again as I feel really strongly about it.

OP posts:
Lolabridges · 17/08/2017 13:45

I would be very sympathetic to the elderly gentleman, but to be honest I wouldn't get involved. It never works out.

You have to let them sort it between them, especially as you say you didn't witness it.

Aquamarine1029 · 17/08/2017 13:52

I would stay the hell out of it. No good will come by getting involved. You didn't see the accident, it's not your car, and it's not your concern.

aayla · 17/08/2017 13:52

He could let his insurance sort it out.

BackforGood · 17/08/2017 13:53

If his insurance company are paying for the repairs, then it isn't going to impact on him if it includes the repair to the wing mirror or not.
Different if he is paying cash.

Original poster
persephonejonesthesecond · 17/08/2017 14:13

He is paying cash. I get the impression that he doesn't really know what to do. Fuck I feel rubbish

OP posts:
dewberries · 17/08/2017 14:19

I too would stay out of it and hope that once the repairs have been completed Karma comes along and breaks their mirror again.

BackforGood · 17/08/2017 14:20

I too, would stay out of it.
If he is too vulnerable and doddery to insist they get a couple of quotes and a breakdown of what they are charging for, then maybe he is not really up to still being a driver?
Or maybe he is happy to just pay the lot so he doesn't have to inform the insurance?
He's not showing himself up in a good light either, tbf.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 17/08/2017 14:25

He should go through insurance, pretty sure hrs legally required to inform them anyway. They will be able to tell if the mirror damage happened some other time as it wont match up with where the other damage is.

Original poster
persephonejonesthesecond · 17/08/2017 14:37

back he pranged a car. It happens to the best of us. The people showing themselves up in a bad light are the couple defrauding him

OP posts:
ClopySow · 17/08/2017 14:44

I'd tell him. Or tell them either they do the right thing or you'll tell him the truth.

BackforGood · 17/08/2017 14:49

I'm only going on what you posted:
He's driven into (what sounds like a parked?) car.
He's left without saying anything
He's choosing to pay cash rather than going through the insurance.

Now, I'm not saying any of this makes him a bad person, nor that loads of people don't do the same, but I don't think it makes him holier than thou either, and the people whose car has been hit have had the hassle of getting it all sorted.

I just don't think it's as clear cut as "lovely old man" "wicked horrible neighbours", that's all.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 17/08/2017 14:54

Yes he should'nt have left the scene of an accident.
Insurance will have an excess to consider before they pay the balance.

Do you know who assessed the damage? Because I'm betting that there will be recent damage (impact from older driver) and older damage - rust, damaged corroded wires - that will show a previous damage.
Might be worth going down that route but , I reckon your older NDN will just pay to avoid future problems.

Original poster
persephonejonesthesecond · 17/08/2017 15:31

back

They're charging him for damage he didn't cause. By their own admission to me it was a scuff that could've been buffed/waxed off the car. They're now charging him hundreds of pounds for something he didn't do. From what I gather they've said to him it's better to just arrange it privately so he's accepting what they're telling him.

OP posts:
Alittlepotofrosie · 17/08/2017 15:55

He shouldn't have twatted someone elses car then. There's a limited amount of repair that can be done to a wing mirror til it needs to be replaced.