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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:
RosieEffect · 12/03/2019 17:17

Is it standard for everyone to keep their bins unsecured and by their back door? If so then YABU as it could have been anyone's bin and anyone's car - just bad luck. If everyone else tidies there's away and secures it and she's just lazy then YANBU.

Original poster
Lauren1983 · 12/03/2019 17:20

Just to say I couldn't really have moved her bin as her garden is completely fenced. If I had moved it it may have crashed into her car anyway.

We know it was her bin as it was on it's side right next to her bin. It's unlikely another car could have hit it due to where we were parked.

I guess it sounds petty but in the past we've taken in parcels, mown her lawn, helped her with her car. I don't think anyone would carry on doing those things now.

OP posts:
BackInGreen · 12/03/2019 17:22

Since she left the bin out overnight past collection day when she was home all day today then I think she is liable and also lazy.

reallemonade · 12/03/2019 17:22

I think I'd have told her and then left her to offer to pay it. If she didn't offer then I'd not pursue but would stop helping her out.

It's not worth falling out over, but if she's a bad neighbour just don't help her again.

mumwon · 12/03/2019 17:24

(imagines solicitor rubbing hands over this - sorry to any on here but you know what I mean!) Good neighbours are worth more than £36 - you don't know if she or (if she has one) her child/dog/husband was unwell or had bad night etc - so your note might have been the last straw on camels back. but a fence could easily have fallen down & made much worse damage - & gosh you got the figure of how much it cost quickly - learn this op - talking to people in a friendly way you are more likely to get a better result & still land up being able to talk & get on with neighbour

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 12/03/2019 17:26

If I had moved it it may have crashed into her car anyway.

Wouldn't that have been better than your car? Her loose bin and her own car.

BringMeAGinandTonic · 12/03/2019 17:26

Apparently if we had knocked she may have paid.

That's a bid odd to dangle payment in front of you like that after the fact.

thedisorganisedmum · 12/03/2019 17:27

Yabbers
the bin men came yesterday.

If your bin is empty today, will you still leave it outside unsecure, in the current wind, over night and tomorrow?

Original poster
Lauren1983 · 12/03/2019 17:27

Everyone else keeps their bins next to their garage. They aren't secured but they are now all still where they are kept so presumably they aren't empty or being against a back wall has helped (hers is sideways in comparison and not so sheltered).

OP posts:
YepImafraidImgivingmyopinion · 12/03/2019 17:29

I think you need to let it go OP- unfortunate accident. Couldn't been anyone's bin or anyone's car.

Blame the wind.

ChanandlerBongsLeftShoe · 12/03/2019 17:31

Sorry OP but the thought of someone taking a £36.00 claim to a solicitors is hysterical.

It's annoying yes, but really not worth damaging neighbourly relations over.

Also... Are there really people who tie their bins down?!

Dippypippy1980 · 12/03/2019 17:31

It was an accident, and the cost was relatively low.

You seem quite confrontational - and I would suggest most people wouldn’t have handled the situation in this way.

Don’t snub your neighbour beciase of a windy day. Things happen, and he damage was relatively minor.

Original poster
Lauren1983 · 12/03/2019 17:32

Yes I would have rather it had hit her car! sadly we didn't know the bin was rolling about until we went out and saw the damage.

OP posts:
rumptifizzer · 12/03/2019 17:32

I'd let it go this time but ask her if she would mind keeping it in her garden.

Prequelle · 12/03/2019 17:36

Oh how will she cope without you collecting her parcels Hmm you're super petty

PolarBearDisguisedAsAPenguin · 12/03/2019 17:36

Legally YABU but morally I think she should at least be apologetic and offer to go halves.

ThatssomebadhatHarry · 12/03/2019 17:36

Hearing from solicitor? It’s £36 pounds. Why waste the time and simply set fire to some money and be done with it!

Plus the wheelie bin is the property of the council.

Flobalob · 12/03/2019 17:37

I wonder if you can sue the wind?

recrudescence · 12/03/2019 17:38

Well, there’s no way of forcing her to pay but she might choose to. Play it cool and she might stump up yet - the value of having a good neighbour applies as much to her as it does to you.

Flobalob · 12/03/2019 17:39

Or the council? As Harry says, the bin is the council's property so aren't they jointly liable?

It's a legal minefield!

Pinkyyy · 12/03/2019 17:40

YABVU to kick up such a fuss over £36. It wasn't her fault and it's also not her fault that it's 4 hours wages for your DP.

jobobpip08 · 12/03/2019 17:41

I'm obviously in the minority, but if something of mine damaged something of yours I'd pay.

Original poster
Lauren1983 · 12/03/2019 17:42

Prequelle - I'd rather be petty than a mug! tbh what has annoyed me more is her coming round to say she would have paid if we had knocked. I had accepted she wouldn't pay and I thought it unnecessary for her to try to blame it on our note. I knew it was a no and I think it would have been a no whatever we did.

OP posts:
VelvetPineapple · 12/03/2019 17:42

To win in small claims court you’d have to show that she was negligent and thereby caused the accident. Which she hasn’t imo. It was an accident - it’s windy and her bin blew over. Even if you win in court, you’ll have to declare your dispute with the neighbour when you sell your house. It’s worth £36 to avoid having to do that.

thedisorganisedmum · 12/03/2019 17:43

I bet none of the posters would be that understanding if the damage was on their car.

They must be more than happy about their bins damaging properties, but would change their tune if the roles were reversed.