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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to ask CF neighbours to fix our wall

24 replies

Roomarmoset · 03/02/2020 08:40

I have included a diagram as I know mumsnetters love them!
We live in a fairly new build house with 3 other houses so we weren't sure who was responsible for the wall (all of us or the Council) but we have been told by the Council that it's our responsibility.

So, last July a neighbour up the road left the handbrake off her car. The car rolled down and across the road and hit the wall outside our house, knocking half of it down.

I was in the front room and heard the crash and went out to check if she was okay. She was very shaken as she had chased the car and tried to get in to put the handbrake on. I asked if she wanted to come in and sit down as she was quite upset but she insisted on going home.

I left it a few days as I didn't want to go rushing over asking when they were going to fix the wall. About a week later her husband came over and was very apologetic, said he is a builder by trade and would make sure he sorted the wall out for us. Great!

Fast forward to October and nothing had been done. I saw him outside when I pulled up so I went over and said I know he must be busy but I wanted to make sure he hadn't forgotten about the wall. Again he was very apologetic and said he hadn't forgotten, he'd been very busy with work and would get it done in the next two weeks.

We're now in January and as you can probably guess it hasn't been fixed. AIBU? Would you expect it to have been done by now? I noticed last week that he's in the middle of building an extension on the side of his house and it's annoyed me!

Would you go over again? Put a note through the door? Am I being petty and should I pay someone to do it?

AIBU to ask CF neighbours to fix our wall

OP posts:

VettiyaIruken · 03/02/2020 08:42

You could say that he can choose between fixing it himself or you getting someone else to do it and he pays them directly.

CalmdownJanet · 03/02/2020 08:43

Wow that is cheeky!! I'd send a recorded letter saying they have till x date to fix it or you will get quotes and send them the bill (but don't actually get work done). You have been more than patient, they are total piss takers

LouLou2020 · 03/02/2020 08:46

Ask for their car insurance details so you can make a claim against that to get the wall fixed.

LangSpartacusCleg · 03/02/2020 08:51

In the interests of maintaining neighbourly relations:

Hi CF. I know you have been incredibly busy lately so I haven’t followed up before now however I am concerned about leaving the wall as it is for much longer. Do you want to organise a time for it in the next two months or would you prefer me to get quotes and send the bill to you? Thanks, Your FarTooNice Neighbour

LangSpartacusCleg · 03/02/2020 08:52

*send the bill to your insurance company

Original poster

Roomarmoset · 03/02/2020 08:53

@LangSpartacusCleg that's along the lines of what I've written out so far, your note is a little nicer than mine so I might change it!

OP posts:

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 03/02/2020 08:55

All of the above-ask him to fix it by a certain date or you will get quotes and the can go through their car insurer/pay up themselves. YOU do not pay for it to be fixed!!!

LangSpartacusCleg · 03/02/2020 08:56

Roomarmoset sometimes I can be too nice too so don’t feel like you have to change it! :-)

Veterinari · 03/02/2020 08:57

Agree a ask for insurance details

Oysterbabe · 03/02/2020 08:58

I'd get a quote and send it to them and ask for insurance details.

MaggieFS · 03/02/2020 09:20

I wouldn't get that involved. It's up to their car insurance.

If they had an accident and didn't give you their insurers details, I wonder if this is something which can be reported to the police rather than just a civil matter?

Kisskiss · 03/02/2020 09:48

You should definitely send a note, with a date and keep a record. Just in case you need to later file some claim against them. At least you’ll have proof that you tried to settle the matter but they’ve dragged their feet

CakeandCustard28 · 03/02/2020 09:53

February not January.
I’d ask for their insurance details, get a quote and make a claim. If they was going to do it, they’d of done it already.

Frenchw1fe · 03/02/2020 09:55

When someone drove into our wall it was all sorted via their car insurance.

I suspect your neighbour doesn't want to claim.
Give his wife a month in writing and say you'll be seeking legal advice if not done.
She did the damage and she'll push him to fix it if she thinks you will take legal action.

Jizzle · 03/02/2020 09:58

Honestly, if I was in your neighbours position, I wouldn't have offered to pay anything, or offer to fix the wall. You have car insurance for a reason, it wouldn't even cross my mind to get it fixed.

CSIblonde · 03/02/2020 10:05

What @LangSpartacusCleg said. He's fobbing you off hoping you'll sort the wall yourself. Also, very impressed with the 'profeshnial' diagram!

FiveFarthings · 03/02/2020 10:08

Is it a public road? There is actually an offence of failing to properly secure your handbrake. You are also obliged to report any collisions to the Police where damage is caused to vehicle or property. The Police won’t care a jot about it now but you could mention that I’m sure the CF neighbours were very grateful that you didn’t involve the Police at the time due to the wife’s negligence! That might chivvy them along to sort it out!

FiveFarthings · 03/02/2020 10:09

Also legally they are required to provide their car insurance details so don’t let them fob you off on that front

NachoNachoMan · 03/02/2020 10:10

Presumably if it was enough of a hit to knock your wall down, it would have caused damage to her car? Did you get pics of the car / wall at the time?

I think you should send a letter like @LangSpartacusCleg has suggested, but if that doesnt work, the car insurance is the best course of action, but I'm not sure how you would be able to know which company they use to be able to claim. Is it on your boundary? If so I think you might be best contacting your house insurance who will chase it up.

NachoNachoMan · 03/02/2020 10:12

Oh by way, excellent diagram, A* for you!

Original poster

Roomarmoset · 03/02/2020 10:23

Haha thanks for the diagram appreciation!
We took photos of the car damage and the wall at the time so have the evidence for it. I would really like to think that the husband is busy, he was very stressed when I spoke to him last, but then I'm probably being very naive and yes @FiveFarthings it is a public road.

OP posts:

Beautiful3 · 03/02/2020 10:33

Take down the car registration and ring up your insurance now. Tell them what happened. Get someone else to build your wall and claim against their insurance.

MaggieFS · 03/02/2020 12:32

I would NOT involve your insurance. Even if you are not at fault, once they've been involved they seem to have a nasty habit of putting your premiums up even if nothing was your fault.

HopeYouStepOnALego · 03/02/2020 12:44

If this was last July it may be too late to submit a car insurance claim as most companies have time limits in place. Worth a try though and just the threat of doing it may be enough to get their arses in gear (pardon the pun!)

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