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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed at having to pay for this car to be re-sprayed?

231 replies

emmabrown123 · 18/03/2018 16:39

Before I start I'll just say - I know I have to pay for this!! I'm just wondering where I stand about knowing whether I'm being a bit diddled or not!!

My 3 year old son was riding his bike along the pavement and as he came round the corner there was a car (brand new Audi) parked taking up the majority of the pavement. His Dad was behind him and shouted at him to stop, he didn't and subsequently scratched the car, over 2 panels.

We wrote a note explaining the damage, took some pictures and left it at that. The scratch was long but didn't look too deep.

That was about 10 days ago, today we've had a message from the owner saying it's going to a garage tomorrow and may need a full respray of both panels.

My husband thinks that's rubbish and that it could be sorted without respraying, I have no knowledge on the subject.

We will obviously cover the cost, although it bloody irks me because the car was (and always is) parked ridiculously and blocking the pavement for anyone pushing a buggy / in a wheelchair. My question is - is there anything I can do to check that they're not having a respray when they don't need one?! And is there anyway I can lower the cost (prices ranging from a couple of hundred to over a grand have been bandied about) as I'm not sure where we're going to find the money as yet!!!

Or do I just suck it up and find some way to pay it?!!

OP posts:
5plusMeAndHim · 19/03/2018 22:43

The car should not have been parked on the pavement, but your dc should not be cycling on it either.

RandomMess · 19/03/2018 22:54

@5plusMeAndHim how do you reckon a 3 year old shouldn't be cycling on the pavement Confused

Bluelady · 19/03/2018 23:01

Great outcome, OP. And they all lived happily ever after.

DaisyInTheChain · 20/03/2018 04:17

I might have to show this to my friend as I know a different version, but also involving 2 panels of a car, also involving the garage wanting to do crazy repairs.

My version involves CF driver nearly driving away, not an Audi though. No corner either.

OP could you draw us a diagram?

Just wondering if the laws of probability have 2 similar incidents, 2 exact repair jobs, one involving a child on a bike, one involving a guy who couldn't drive in the ice who went to drive away!

DaisyInTheChain · 20/03/2018 04:24

Where we live cycling & ball games aren't allowed on the massive corners.

I love how OP ties it up quick, I guess OP is like crap Titty knows what really happened, let's change this quick and they all lived happily every after.

5plusMeAndHim · 20/03/2018 07:08

Random.ess
That is what the highway code says! No one is legally allowed to cycle on the pavement, and op's offspring has illustrated why.He could have collided with a person

RandomMess · 20/03/2018 09:47

Yes technically but the police are advised to exercise discretion on this and children under 10 cannot be issued with a fixed penalty notice. He could have been on a scooter and easily had the same incident and that isn't unlawful!

JacquesHammer · 20/03/2018 10:19

@5plusMeAndHim - the Highway Code has no basis in legality.

It isn't illegal for a 3 year old child to cycle on the pavement. However if someone cycling on a pavement caused an accident, aspects of the HC might be used as evidence towards another offence.

The HC is a set of guidelines as to best practice.

anneoneill · 20/03/2018 20:15

@5plusMeAndHim Anybody who would seriously be injured by a 3 year old cycling on the pavement probably shouldn't be out of hospital the house in the first place.

Anti-cyclist venom is nothing new on here, but directing it at a 3 year old is particularly nasty.

PotteryLady · 20/03/2018 20:39

If it was on the pavement you don't have to pay - you can check with the police if you like. The road is for cars and if the park on a pavement it's at their own risk.

Toddlerteaplease · 20/03/2018 21:01

I drove through. Car park barrier and scratched the length of the car. The whole of one side needed a re spray.

TittyGolightly · 20/03/2018 21:44

If it was on the pavement you don't have to pay - you can check with the police if you like.

Not even slightly true. If you damage a stationary vehicle it doesn’t matter whether it was parked badly, illegally or if the owner is disqualified from driving. You are liable.

We’ve had days of this crap being posted now.

mum11970 · 20/03/2018 22:00

Glad you got a good outcome, sounds like it was more of a scuff than a scratch and the garage can polish them out. As the owner of a body shop I have to admit to laughing at the pp who was told her paint was no longer available.

purpleleotard · 20/03/2018 22:02

think a couple of hundred for the respray of two panels.
Had to do the door on my motor before sale and quick and easy at the spray shop. Couldn't see the difference.

Scuzzlet · 20/03/2018 22:13

Oh my god the people on this thread. “Put dog shit on his door handles” what the actual fuck is wrong with you?? How sick and VILE.

Yes the car was parked awkwardly but it doesn’t mean the owner deserves to have it fucking damaged or get his hands covered in dog shite. Get a grip.

AvoidingDM · 20/03/2018 22:18

Op seems to have resolved it. Fair Play to you.

However if it was me I'd have potentially phoned the police before I confessed.
At my old house somebody had taken to parking on the pavement forcing pedestrians, buggies and the man in the wheelchair on to the road. A few nights of it and a call to the local police. They came up had a look, disappeared and returned 10mins later and book him. That was the end of Mr Lazybonez parking on the pavement!

BakedBeans47 · 20/03/2018 23:00

the Highway Code has no basis in legality.

Yes it does.

Glad you got it sorted OP. That sounds a reasonable amount to cough up and maybe he’ll think twice about parking like a dick again.

DaisyInTheChain · 21/03/2018 05:47

I'll make sure to text the person I know who has had a really really really similar situation to this recently. Down to the fact it was 2 door panels & the fact that the insurance want to do Crazy stuffs for the damage.

In the law of averages I don't think you get such a similar situation. The main differences seem to be that it's been changed to my child was on a bike, not my male friend can't drive.

But it was hypothetically on a corner, although they were parked as everyone has parked since time began outside the persons house. So not really on the corner per se. Even the person I know is baffled at the repair job for something that is surely a 20 minute job. It wasn't an Audi but it was a nice car, which it appears people aren't allowed nowadays.

It could just be a coincidence, or maybe it wasn't a car crash that caused the damage, I know who OP is potentially and there's no reason to let a kid on stabilisers ahead of you.

A lot of where we live has 'no cycling' on pavements and corners on the footpath whether you're 3 or 83.

That's why if OP did a diagram it would rule out if she's doctored this situation to woe is me and my child. When the facts I got told was CF driver who near drove away after driving into a car.

It seems to have been resolved quickly when Titty came on the scene so wondering if I know Titty too.

As for the delightful suggestions, with drivers parking where they have always parked for the last half a century or more. I've never had issues getting by on the footpath. I don't think I've ever seen a buggy down the street. But you do get kids on bikes which is against the law too.

So for those who suggest smearing dog excrement under the handles, I'm thinking for the naughty kids breaking the law, one of those jet sprayer things. But filled with washing up liquid too. (Joke - please God I'm joking before anyone starts, unlike those who want adults and children to end up with dog excrement on their hands, nice)

Don't people believe in karma, bad stuffs you do unto others will sting you in your backside?

Can't we go la la la la laaaaa, if this situation occurred OP knows not to let there training cyclist child near top end cars. Or any car as whether it's an Audi or Mini or a complete banger, people do take pride in their cars appearance, so if said child had 'fell' somewhat spectacularly causing damage to 2 panels of a car, the owner of any car won't be impresssed.

In my best Pewdiepie voice, does OP want to add it was a snow day, the kids were off school, if the offending driver was on the footpath, it was to give room to motorists. So conditions weren't best for a child learning to cycle. Oopsie doopsie.

BeeMyBaby · 21/03/2018 07:16

I don't think the OP should pay. DH parks on the kerbside rather than a driveway (not on the pavement) and on his previous car it had scratches either side, I guess from bikes and people's jackets etc. He basically expects that as it's not in a driveway these things are going to happen, I would never have expected a note. (However when the massive lorry rammed into our car whilst it was driverless and stationary we were less understanding).

Alwayscheerful · 21/03/2018 07:18

I checked About pavement parking with our local police officer, parking on the pavement is fine, just as long as you leave room for a double buggy or wheelchair to pass.

TittyGolightly · 21/03/2018 07:18

Why? A lorry has less visibility for things that are close up than a cyclist that’s next to the car.

And your husband’s approach doesn’t alter the law. The car was not illegally parked and the OP’s child was not suitably supervised (ie the parent was more than 2 steps away). It’s legally the OP’s partner’s fault, and the OP says they are payin for the damage.

SoupDragon · 21/03/2018 07:29

I don't think the OP should pay

She’s paid. It was £40.

Aprilmightmemynewname · 21/03/2018 11:15

Assuming they get the work done. I was bullied into paying up for a scuff on a bumper - didn't want to go through insurance as was my fault - don't doubt a Magic Sponge would have fixed it though! I gave him a cheque for £90 as per the emailed quote. He cashed the cheque but then didn't fix the car. Was pretty pissed off.

BeeMyBaby · 21/03/2018 16:22

Thanks soupdragon, teaches me to only skim read threads!

BakedBeans47 · 21/03/2018 21:24

parking on the pavement is fine

No it isn’t. To park on a pavement you have to have driven on a pavement to do so, which is illegal.

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