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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this man should sort my transport after damaging my car. But he's my boss. What do I say?

75 replies

Ohnonotmycar · 14/04/2018 20:01

This is so outing so I've obviously name-changed but still...

Someone senior in my organisation smashed into my car a couple of weeks ago and only 'fessed up cos they were caught on CCTV. It needs a new door., Which they said they would sort.

Today they rang to confirm arrangements but I missed the call. The message says it will take 2-3 days, which I think is odd just to replace a door as surely it's just on and off. They also said I would need to make arrangements for getting to and from work in the meantime.

Aibu to think wtf? I'M the only adult in my household, as they know, and my commute is20 mins down the motorway. Public transport not really doable, plus I need to be dropping dc off and picking them up here and there.

Aibu to think this man needs to sort this at no cost and minimum inconvenience to me, and if so how do I tell him? Wish I'd gone through insurance now as would have had courtesy car.

OP posts:
AlexanderHamilton · 14/04/2018 20:03

Is it your car or a company car?

The advantage of going through insurance is that you should be able to claim for a courtesy car whilst yours is being repaired.

youarenotkiddingme · 14/04/2018 20:03

Is email just that.

If I go through my insurance I get a courtesy car. Would you prefer to arrange the car for me at your cost or I go through my insurance.
The 3rd is paid time off work as you've removed my transport.

AlexanderHamilton · 14/04/2018 20:04

I’d tell him that unfortunately you can’t be without a car during that time so it will have to go through insurance.

Original poster
Ohnonotmycar · 14/04/2018 20:05

Not a company car. Can't email him so would have to ring him. Would love to be able to email.

OP posts:
Urubu · 14/04/2018 20:05

What youarenotkiddingme said

NewYearNewMe18 · 14/04/2018 20:08

Sorry but I would go through the insurance

twer · 14/04/2018 20:11

He sounds like a delight!

Only fessed up because of CCTV?!

I'd ring and say unfortunately I'll have to go through insurance and I'm unwilling to be out of pocket for a hire car.

Deep breath, it'll be an awkward convo but necessary!

snewname · 14/04/2018 20:13

Give him the choice of going through the issuance for the courtesy car, arranging transport or paid leave. Then the ball is in his court.

Seniorcitizen1 · 14/04/2018 20:43

Go through the insurance and get a courtesy car

Returnofthesmileybar · 14/04/2018 20:45

Text if you don't want to call.

"Hi x, I just got your voicemail. I appreciate you arranging the car to be fixed, I will be needing a courtesy car while I am without my own car. If this is easier to arrange through insurance just let me know as they will arrange, if you want to do it yourself just arrange it so the courtesy car is at the repair garage. Thanks"

I was very nice once when someone crashed into me, wanted no fuss, he wanted know insurance, I was super nice, did he appreciate it, like fuck he did, just be polite as he is your boss but don't bend over for the coward

TheClacksAreDown · 14/04/2018 20:49

You need to tell your insurers and get them to deal with it. Whether he works with you or not.

LemonSqueezy0 · 14/04/2018 20:54

Maybe I'm cynical but he's not been forthcoming and he's not making sure you're not out of pocket, or inconvenienced as little as possible. Do not trust this guy.

Your car will come back with, best case scenario a slightly miscoloured door, or worse case a door off another car sellotaped to your car frame Wink

Text him that you are going through the insurance.

persypear · 14/04/2018 21:16

What a bastard. Agree that he cannot be trusted.

Also be aware OP that you are/will be obliged to disclose any acidents/ incidents to your insurance company at our renewal anyway - or lie about it - so perhaps you might as well go through your insurance company and get the job done properly and with the benefit of a courtesy car.

moreismore · 14/04/2018 21:21

I would go through insurance. I needed a new door and it had to be replaced and then resprayed to match. And then resprayed again as they messed up the first time. Ended up with my courtesy car for over two weeks!

RiotAndAlarum · 14/04/2018 21:50

Agree with the others about going through the insurance. Also: have you got anything in writing about this? Might be useful evidence for HR in case he gets arsey with you....

Shizzlestix · 14/04/2018 21:57

Go through insurance. By law, you can choose any garage you like eg dealership, big money, to carry out the repairs. Your insurers probably have a named garage, however. My door took over a week to sort, the hinges were screwed.

If you want to do it privately (your insurance will go up if you go through the insurance, although you are supposed-by law-to inform your insurers of any accident, even one not your fault), then you choose the garage. If you have no car doing it privately, you can sk him to find taxis etc but he could be awkward and say no.

DontMakeMeShushYou · 14/04/2018 22:01

Just say

"I'm sorry, these arrangements aren't going to work for me so I have decided to go through my insurance company".

And then do it.

KTheGrey · 14/04/2018 22:49

Insurance. You gave him the option but he hasn't sorted it. Your NCB isn't affected if it's not your fault. Ring and say that you read your policy and realised you had to report it by law and ask for his insurance details. Your insurers will track his down anyway from his name and number plate and his insurers will pay your insurers for but you won't have to deal with NONSENSE because your insurers work for you 😀

Eminado · 14/04/2018 22:52

Insurance!!!!

He is not trustworthy. What a d*ck!!

Original poster
ohnonotmycar · 15/04/2018 10:47

Really didn't want to go through insurance as it would make my premium go up despite it not being my fault. I did inform them of the incident but recorded it as info only.

I have a new problem now as I double checked my policy before ringing him and it turns out the courtesy car is only if I'm involved in an accident. So I can't say that to him in case he agreed to go through insurance and I have no other way of getting to work! FFS what do I do? I've had a shit holiday and now this. He's highly unlikely to want to go down paid leave route as I'm a teacher, so me being off affects a lot of people and there's no one to cover. Fuucckk!

OP posts:
KTheGrey · 15/04/2018 11:15

Ok your insurance is only for a courtesy car if you personally were in an accident, or you were injured in an accident, both of those, right?

The other way to go is check your legal expenses cover - have you got DAS or anything like that? They cover your "uninsured loss" so anything you lose by the accident - they recover from the other side's insurers. They pay your hire car and then reclaim and it's hassle free.

If you don't have this you can still get a rental car covered by his insurers, as they are responsible for your uninsured loss if he is liable, but you may have to do it yourself.

Talk to your insurers about your uninsured loss and get their clarification.

If the worst comes to the worst you can hire on a credit card and reclaim the hire from his insurers because He Is Liable.

Pm me / come back here if u get stuck. But be super nice to your insurers and super nice to him and DON'T GIVE AN INCH. 😎

WineIsTheAnswer · 15/04/2018 11:32

I'm sure this is classed as you being involved in an accident. Also as it's not your fault his insurance will be keen for you to do directly through them and will likely offer a courtesy car. Mine insisted on a like for like car (turned out to be identical to my not that common car) so I couldn't claim compensation for any loss.

"Thanks for your voicemail, I will need you to provide a hire/courtesy car for the duration of repair. If this isn't possible could you please send your insurance details for them to arrange"

AlexanderHamilton · 15/04/2018 11:37

I Got a courtesy car when another car ran into my parked car in a car park.

cansu · 15/04/2018 11:37

Someone crashing onto your car is an accident. Dont let yourself be intimidated. He needs to pay up or go through insurance. Tell him politely but firmly. He is taking the piss.

MyLawnMowerMan · 15/04/2018 11:40

If you feel you want a bit of justice, put a police report in for failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident. They probably won't do anything, but you can then pass the crime number to his or your insurance company and he will feel the pinch when his policy premium is hiked up. Might make him think twice before he behaves so badly in future.

He should be reporting it to his insurance company anyway, failure to do so is against the terms of a motor insurance policy. Did you know that even if you only nudge gently into another car it should be reported? Seems harsh, but there are a few reasons, one of which is to already have all incident details so they are ready to defend any claim on your behalf, exaggerated claims, personal injury and other contrived claims could be almost halved if people reported as, per terms of policy. (How boring am I? Sorry. Spent too many years in motor insurance claims but I can't stand people like this man making life hard for you)

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