Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

My best friends sister kidnapped my car

75 replies

SerenDippyEggs · 21/10/2018 17:22

I am FUUUUMING. Sorry to use the cliché Mumsnet term but I am.

Last night my best friend of 10 years asked me to go out for a few drinks, so I drove to her house as it's quite far to walk. I then parked my car at the end of her drive as instructed (she lives at home with her parents and sister still) and put my keys on the table in her hallway. I asked if they wanted me to park elsewhere to avoid moving about or if they wanted to block me in. Her parents said no, so I said to her Mum oh feel free to move my car if you need to get out as I know she has the insurance where you can drive any car. I didn't see my friends sister.

We then shared a taxi to the pubs and enjoyed our evening, bumped into a few people are good friends with and ended up staying at their house as it was closer to where we were. This afternoon, we enjoyed a nice walk back to my friend's house to find my car was gone, but all the other cars were still on the drive. We obviously shit ourselves and ran inside to find nobody was home and my keys were gone. I tried ringing my friend's sister and parents with no answers, and so called the police. As I was on the phone, her sister waltzed in with a cheery "helloooo!" and slammed my car keys on the table.

Long story short, I asked her what the fuck she'd been doing and her response was "it was blocking me in so I thought I might as well just drive it round, I only popped to Costa"

My friend is furious. I am furious. Her mum was apologetic and said she only told her to move it before she went out for the evening - however I'm not close at all with her sister as she's a compulsive liar and has caused problems in the past. I'm so annoyed!!! I didn't take it any further with the police and apologised to the lady who took my call as I love this family like my own and didn't want to cause any bad blood, but I'm so annoyed. She has also curbed my wheel at the Costa drive through 😩 I did lose my cool and shouted at her but she then started shouting at me and turned it round to be my fault for parking there, even though I was told to. I can't be arsed with this, I just wanted a relaxing Sunday!

OP posts:

Dollymixture22 · 21/10/2018 18:02

If there is visible damage to the car, take it tomorrow to get a quote for the necessary repairs. Present her with the bill.

Tinkerbell89 · 21/10/2018 18:04

She needs to pay for the damage or call the police. She may do this again. She's taken the car without consent, no insurance she caused damage. She's 24 and should take the consequences. Her shouting at you clearly shows she doesn't care and wasn't sorry. I doubt she'd actually pay for the damage.

You might be close to this family but if you're that close they should understand it needs to be dealt with. Have they offered to cover the cost of damage on her behalf? Also mother let her move the car so is to blame. She should be reported and prosecuted if she damaged another vehicle, has been speeding and caught on camera or anything else it will come back on you as the owner of the vehicle. Therefore if you don't report it as having been taken and something comes back from that night the police will be looking at you not her

Nanny0gg · 21/10/2018 18:07

Was she insured?

DaffydownClock · 21/10/2018 18:08

So she's taken it without permission, uninsured and damaged it?
I wouldn't have stopped the police investigating, she needs a hefty fright and to pay for the damage at the very least.

DoinItForTheKids · 21/10/2018 18:09

I'd refer it as TWOC to the police otherwise as Tinkerbell says she could have run someone over for all you know and then curbed her wheel - you say she's a compulsive liar, you can't rely on anything she says being a true reflection of how the damage occurred.

I'm sorry but |I wouldn't let her off with this. Getting a wheel re-done can be about £70 and then you might have to have the wheels re-aligned on top of that. If she's damaged the tyre then a new tyre on top or a tyre repair...

She needs to learn a lesson the idiot.

Elephant14 · 21/10/2018 18:10

I think you will find if you don't report it then none of the insurance is valid, but are you just planning to go after her for the repair OP in which case you don't need the insurance.

You all sound about 5 though, even the girl's mum, no wonder she thinks she can do whatever she wants.

ShalomJackie · 21/10/2018 18:11

She has committed a criminal offence.

I don't understand why you haven't reported her.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 21/10/2018 18:14

Taken without owners consent. It is an offence and so is driving without insurance

This ^^ And with the pressure to secure convictions the police would probably go with it as it's a nice easy one for them

You don't even have to actually report it - just say you're going to unless she pays for the damage and cleaning

And why the mud and leaves? The routes around most Costas I know don't begin to involve this kind of thing

bertielab · 21/10/2018 18:14

She drove it without insurance. It needs to be reported to the police. Theft is taking a car without permission. She stole it and did damage.

Original poster

SerenDippyEggs · 21/10/2018 18:19

I know, I have said I shouldn't have used the word kidnap, IWBU for that, so sorry folks!

Oh god that's a good point about the speeding fines or no parking zones - I will also be talking to friend's Mum later. Not sure if sister is going to be in or not but will be looking into it and possibly reporting tonight.

Off for dinner with my friend now but will update when there is something to update you on - thank you for the posts so far who've given advice and opinions, it's much appreciated!

OP posts:

biffyboom · 21/10/2018 18:22

What if she has been caught in camera speeding? Or in a bus lane? Are you happy to take the fine and points in your licence?
You should follow through with reporting her to protect yourself just in case. You did say she is a compulsive liar.

LtJudyHopps · 21/10/2018 18:23

I wouldn’t wait to report I’d do it now.

Handsfull13 · 21/10/2018 18:25

On my insurance the third party all inclusive cover didn't include me driving another car until I turned 25 years old. Not sure why but I think it's common practice that insurers only cover the car your insured on while your under 25.

I would point that out to her parents so they can check if she was even insured to borrow your car should you have even been asked. Then ask for the money to sort out your wheel. At minimum she needs to pay for that.

Jux · 21/10/2018 18:34

What happens if, a few months down the line, you find that she's done something worse than just TWOCing? You'll be in the shit, unless you can prove she took it. Do lots of emailing and texting to make sure that the full story has a papertrail in some form over the next few days.

Ohheyyy · 21/10/2018 18:45

She's an adult, she needs to deal with the consequences of her actions.

I know you say you love this family like it's your own so you prob don't want to take it too far but I do think you should get a quote to repair damage and present it to her. She probably won't pay it but it may make her think about taking someone else's car again without permission.

I would go on about the lack of insurance too but I bet she doesn't give a rats arse.

Jaxhog · 21/10/2018 18:53

Kidnapping wasn't quite right - she STOLE your car. She is very lucky you're a nice person and didn't carry on with the police. Your friend may have to live with her, but her mum is also responsible for giving her sis the car keys when you had not given her permission to do so. Not only that, but she drove without being insured. If she had injured anyone, you could be liable.

I think your friend and her mum need to make sure that she pays and not shirk their responsibility. Her mum in particular.

Maelstrop · 21/10/2018 18:54

Not theft as vehicle returned, but criminal damage. Definitely get her to pay for repairs. Your choice where you have this done, if she’s paying and not her parents, I’d go for the most expensive quote you can find.

needsahouseboy · 21/10/2018 18:56

Just report her. She could have done anything in your car and how do you know she wasn't driving it about at night, speeding about places.

I would not risk it. She sounds awful and needs to be helped accountable.

DoinItForTheKids · 21/10/2018 19:04

No its not theft but it's still TWOC, in fact, it looks like it's actually Aggravated TWOC.

www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/item/vehicle-taking-aggravated-damage-caused-to-property-other-than-the-vehicle-in-accident-or-damage-caused-to-vehicle/

She needs to know how serious what she did is.

thenightsky · 21/10/2018 19:13

If she's insured on her parents' car as a named driver it's unlikely that she has any cover to drive other vehicles, that would usually only apply to the actual policy-holder

This.

Tinkie25 · 21/10/2018 19:23

I’d also report her.

SausageOnAFork · 21/10/2018 19:27

She’s 24, she is an adult. Many of us were living on our own wth children by that age. She needs to grow up. Report her.

anniegranny · 21/10/2018 19:35

It sounds as though she had a nice little joy ride in your car, I'd definitely report this!

bigbluebus · 21/10/2018 19:35

I'd put money on saying that she wasn't actually insured. If she's only a named driver on her parent's insurance then I don't think that gives HER 3rd party cover to drive someone else's vehicle (other than the one named on the policy). Even if it does give her cover then the wording usually says "with the owner's permission" which you clearly didn't give her. So not only did she p*ss you off but she broke the law.

Tell her to pay for the damage to your car or you'll report her to the police for taking without consent and driving without insurance. Pretty sure they'd be able to get CCTV footage as evidence.

Original poster

SerenDippyEggs · 21/10/2018 19:43

Hi all,

I met my friend for dinner and her mother (who we are both close to) came. Her mother apologised to me, knows there is no excuse and has seen this thread. She has politely asked me not to drag this out any more on the internet which I will be doing - however just wanted to say that I am on my way home, and as soon as I get in I will be reporting this to the police. She was not insured and I think she drove more than she said. You are all right, she needs to learn a lesson and grow up. I need to grow a spine and not let her off easy! My friend is standing by my decision to report. I will also be getting payment for repairs and a valet. Thanks for all the advice and helpful links etc and sorry there was no fist fight - not yet anyway! 😂

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.