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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think neighbour should pay for damage?

183 replies

Lauren1983 · 12/03/2019 16:05

Our next door neighbour's wheelie bin has crashed into our car and damaged the taillight. The bin is left by her garden backdoor in the private car park we all share. The bin was empty and unsecured and the high winds have caused it to roll 6 feet away and cause the damage.

Neighbour says she is not liable to pay as it was an accident however we will now be left £36 out of pocket. AIBU to think she should pay?

OP posts:
ShartGoblin · 12/03/2019 16:43

Are you having issues with puddles at the moment?

thedisorganisedmum · 12/03/2019 16:46

so the neighbours was too lazy to secure the bin since it has been emptied yesterday, it damages the car, but that's ok. Hmm

capaciousbladder · 12/03/2019 16:46

Being on good terms with your neighbours is worth much more than £36. The wind is very high and the bin was probably where the binmen left it....if she's not prompt enough moving her bin away, perhaps you could wheel it up to her gate/to safety in future? One of life's annoyances, certainly, but not worth falling out over.

onlyk · 12/03/2019 16:46

How do you know her bin caused the damage?

In a car park isn’t it more likely someone hit your car with their own car and didn’t leave a note?

By your post you’ve not got any evidence her bin hit your car so no I don’t think you can ask her to pay for the damage.

On another note even if something is an accident you are still liable to pay for the damage.

Smileymoon · 12/03/2019 16:47

I would pay if I were her but if I were you I wouldn't even have mentioned how much it cost to her other than to say 'don't worry, it was only £36.' It is really not worth damaging neighbour relations for 36 quid. It was an accident. Your car for slightly damaged in the bad weather and you only have to pay £36 to get it fixed. Problem solved.

Bluntness100 · 12/03/2019 16:49

We'll pay it and won't help her out or speak to her in future

God that's just so petty, you really are willing to go to war over thirty odd quid following an accident aren't you?

As witnessed by this thread, most people would not do this, and I'm one of them. I'd recognise it was an accident and pay without comment.

CallMeRachel · 12/03/2019 16:49

If she was stupid enough to leave her bin out beside other people's cars for 24 hours after it had been emptied, she should be liable for the damage imo.

Next week just take the bin in for her do it can't be left to damage your property again.

And no, she was never going to pay. What difference does telling her via a note make? It doesn't change facts of what happened, she's just avoiding taking any responsibility for being a lazy twat.

Puddington · 12/03/2019 16:50

Are you having issues with puddles at the moment?
Grin I actually clicked on the title half-expecting it to be about ruinous puddles on a patio...

Ariela · 12/03/2019 16:52

I'd say the council bin men could have left the bin in an exposed location and thus THEY are liable not her

ideasofmarch · 12/03/2019 16:53

The bin doesn't belong to her, it belongs to the council.

LittleMissCantbebothered · 12/03/2019 16:54

Your neighbour is not liable. She cannot control the wind. You need to pay for it yourself / claim on insurance.

youknowmedontyou · 12/03/2019 16:56

Yep, she should pay and tell her you will be hearing for your solicitor if she doesn’t!

For £36, really Hmm

Mummyoflittledragon · 12/03/2019 16:58

Loving the puddles comment. Grin

Your last comment sounds very petty. It’s £36. You would have been better to leave a note asking her not to do it again as your light was damaged and needed replacing.

badlydrawnperson · 12/03/2019 17:00

Officially she is liable as she should have tied it down

Er, no.

Yep, she should pay and tell her you will be hearing for your solicitor if she doesn’t!

Indeed, we'll all be able to hear the solicitor laughing.

bellabasset · 12/03/2019 17:01

My neighbours had one of those plastic keter bins in the front garden which blew off in the wind and did several hundreds of pounds damage to my new car. I didn't get my excess back as their household ins was the same co as my car. 10 yrs on we are still speaking.

However if the bin was emptied the previous day and the weather forecast gives out high winds then the neighbour was highly irresponsible in not putting her bin away. I think that's what I would put in a note.

Its not worth arguing over though.

DaveTheDesigner · 12/03/2019 17:01

Is your own bin secured? If it is then maybe 50/50. If not then put it down to bad luck. It could have been your bin damaging her car but for chance. However, if she was a good neighbour she might offer but I'd still turn it down. Also, it might be the other way round one day and you'll have the high ground.

Actually, either way, I would chalk it up to being an accident.

YepImafraidImgivingmyopinion · 12/03/2019 17:03

I'd love to know if a solicitor that would deal with this....

AliceLiddel · 12/03/2019 17:03

it would be nice of her to pay and this would be the right thing. however it was an accident and for the sake of £36 i would keep the peace. neighbour disputes can ruin lives (just read some of the stories on here!). I would pay it but have a word about her securing her bin in future.

anniehm · 12/03/2019 17:05

I would offer to pay if it were my bin, if my neighbours bin hit my car today (was bin day and bin was on its side when I got home!) I wouldn't take his money, accidents happen

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 12/03/2019 17:08

If you knew it was windy out and that your car was nearby, would you not have been better to move the bin closer to her garden? We often put our bins out for a Friday morning collection and then go away for the weekend. We know that one of our neighbours will always pull it up the path and away from parked cars, even if we haven't asked them in advance. Common sense.

ReanimatedSGB · 12/03/2019 17:10

YABU and you sound like the sort of neighbour who's forever looking for a scrap.

Yabbers · 12/03/2019 17:10

WIth the storms we have at the moment, my bins are secured, why on earth wouldn't they be!
Because they aren’t emptied before I leave for work.

grumiosmum · 12/03/2019 17:10

I think YABU.

I wouldn't want a neighbour like you.

londonrach · 12/03/2019 17:12

Act of god. For £36 not worth upsetting your neighbour. Let it go! If car had been written off you might get a different answer.

Itstimeslikethese · 12/03/2019 17:13

There's bins flying all over the place here today , I couldn't blame a neighbour if a bin hit anything of ours.. It would be annoying but one of them things.. I've had worst happen we had a trampoline come over our garden damaging our fencing & kids toys I didn't ask for money from neighbour I don't think I could but I was pissed off with it & let them know I was ! Lol so know your frustration