Aibu to think this may have ruined a friendship?

[Barobee]

TL;DR friend’s boyfriend won’t get his car out of my garage and it’s pissing me off.

Longer version: two years ago a good friend asked if her boyfriend could store his car in my garage. It was supposed to be for three months max as he had just exchanged on a house so would be able to store it in his new house’s garage once it had completed.

I said yes as she’s a good friend and I don’t mind being helpful.

Two years on and the fucking car’s still there. I texted at the beginning of June to ask if it could be moved by mid June because I wanted to paint the garage and turn it into a room where DC could hang out a bit. Friend said she would tell him he needed to move his car. Two weeks later, at friend’s suggestion as he had shown no interest in collecting the car, I texted again to ask when he was coming. No joy.

I’ve just texted again today and said if it’s easier can she just give me his number so I can deal with him directly. Now the reply is that she’ll give me his number later because she’s got another child visiting.

At first I was annoyed at him, partly because I sometimes think he treats friend quite badly, but now I’m beginning to think that they are both taking the piss (him more than her) and this is going to impact badly on our friendship. AIBU and what can I do?

Give him a (shorter than necessary) deadline, but don't bother giving him a reason.

I wonder whether he even wants the car at this point so threats like "we'll tow it" might not hold any water as it will absolve him of any responsibility. So if you do tow it, tow it to his house or his parents house or your friends house. Whatever will piss him off the most

Tell them you will be charging rent from today.

No, don’t. You don’t want the car in the garage!

Hello John
You need to move your car out of our garage. I am converting the space for the children as a playroom. I have been trying to contact you through Jane for six weeks. The work is starting on Thursday so you will need to move it by Tuesday evening. Will call you later to arrange details.

Good luck! Hope he sorts it without giving you hassle. Xx

Omg people like you are so annoying op. Phone him and tell him he needs to pick the car up tomorrow or it’s getting scrapped or sold

What are the chances of the OP being able to get this CF to pay for tow costs though? Anyone know

Oooh, I would say zero. Or thereabouts.

Stop faffing around, and just tell him to move the car by Monday night. No talk about money or any other distractions - focus on the end result, that the car is gone by Monday. Don't give any other options, and repeat as necessary - the car needs to be out of the garage by Monday night.

OP you did a kind thing and someone else took advantage of you. It's people like that, who really annoy me. Not people like you.

I've just had a look at this site, and unfortunately it seems to be US-based. So any advice or answers it offers would only apply to the law in the US, not the UK.

Involuntary Bailee

www.motorclaimguru.co.uk/blog/liens-involuntary-bailmentwhat-to-do-when-someone-abandons-their-goods-on-your-property-or-refuses-to-pay

If you're not good at this stuff I would go with a text rather than a call, which would give you chance to phrase it how you want without getting flustered. I would go softly first, stating you need it gone by x date, which leaves you with a follow up up of he's been taking the mickey by leaving it on there for 2 years.

You can do this!

Who on earth parks a car in someone else’s garage for 2 years? That’s crazy! They taking the piss. Get it towed away in a week in it’s not moved. CF.

Firmness is key here. But whatever you say, be fully prepared to go through with it. If you bend your resolve on this you'll never get rid.

2 years?!? Bloody heck OP. You've been a total doormat.

Can you get into the car? If so, take the handbrake off and get a couple of mates to help you push it onto the road. Then report it to the DVLA as abandoned. Having done this myself, the DVLA do actually move pretty quick.

There is no point in texting about £40 rental costs per month. He doesn’t give a shit. And you have no illegal basis for retrospectively claiming any rental costs of his anyway. Don’t engage in anything except, “get it gone by ”. What are you going to do it he replies all arsey about “you never asked for rent, it doesn’t cost that much, you’re supposed to be a friend...”? Just don’t invite it, and don’t mess about: “I need the car moved by ”

Why lie and say you need the garage for something else? Her boyfriend is being unreasonable so tell her that. You don’t want to ruin your friendship but she’s happy to

Do NOT text before calling. If he knows your number he will avoid your calls. Phone first. Use WhatsApp for the follow-up text to guarantee a delivery and read receipt.

If you don't have the keys to the garage, how is the workman going to get in and do the work? Hasn't someone been round to give you an estimate?

@ChicCroissant

If you don't have the keys to the garage, how is the workman going to get in and do the work? Hasn't someone been round to give you an estimate?

She doesn't have keys to the car not the garage.

@ChicCroissant

If you don't have the keys to the garage, how is the workman going to get in and do the work? Hasn't someone been round to give you an estimate?

It’s the car she doesn’t have the keys for, not the garage.

@ChicCroissant - why wouldn't the OP have keys to her own garage?! She hasn't got keys for the car that's parked in the garage

Has the car been involved in some sort of crime or something? I don't understand why you're storing it when it seems you barely know him?!

OP people will suggest very aggressive tactics on here because it’s not their life, and they’re more interested in getting updates of how things are progressing, like a choose-your-own-adventure soap.

Your friend has hardly committed the worst crime in the world (and by the sounds of it you might have avoided communicating clearly that you’d like it gone), so I think it’s a bit bonkers for people to suggest your friendship is already dead because of this, or that you should dispose of the car and say it was burgled.

The only thing I would have done differently in your text would have been to firmly state the date it needs moving by and stick to it – not “will I need to rearrange the plasterer?”. This just gives them another excuse not to take action, and renders the message unclear – it seems as if moving the car is optional, or that you don’t mind moving the date back.

I think @EmperorCovidula ‘s suggestion (page 1) was perfect.

On another note, do you think your friend is reluctant to push her boyfriend on this because of the issues you mention in their relationship?

If it's just the car doors that are locked, putting the window in and pushing it out is the answer then! Job done. If it has been SORNed as the OP says, any comeback will be on the owner for the unregistered car being on the road.

'Come and collect your car before you get a fine for it being on the road'. That should speed things along

Good luck. Be firm. And don’t worry about rocking the friendship- because she hasn’t over the year and 9 months that they’ve not moved the car. It’s her, not you, that had put the stress on the friendship.

I know you don't like confrontation OP but why can't you just be honest?

Text now - I need this car gone ASAP. I've had it for two years when I thought I was going to have it for 2 months. Please can you get X to move it by end of the weekend because I've had enough. I don't want to fall out over this I just need it gone and I think I've been more than accommodating.

You don't need to tell them anything else. if she's willing to fall out with you over this when you have been nothing but helpful than she's not much of a friend tbh. Her relationship issues are not your problem. You know nothing about the car's history either whilst it's been in your garage. I just hope he's not dodgy.