Is my neighbour a cf? what do I say?

[Pleaseleavemealone]

morning,
have slightly changed so as not to out..
yesterday I knocked into my neighbours car and slightly cosmetically damaged it. Was not on the body work but on a plastic part that can be taken off and easily put back on. Of course I immediately offered to replace this part, and neighbour says yes we'll look on the internet for a part. So ive looked on the internet and found a new part, about to order only to get a message from neighbour saying "this is the quote we've got, its X amount, hope that's ok we'll let you know when its finished".
They had already booked it in to be fixed in the garage at that point without saying anything to me, as I was under the impression that we were just going to get a part from the internet. Believe me when I say this is the easiest fix, a child could do it. Its literally screwing a bit of plastic on. Thing is, the garage they have gone to has charged extortionate prices (think 3.5x what I estimated), inflated money for the part and obviously charged for labour, which I'm not happy about as it's literally a ten minute easy job that can absolutely be done by yourself.
I don't even have this kind of money, it would have even been a stretch for me to pay the price I thought it would be.
I know it's ultimately their decision on how they get their car fixed, but I really feel my neighbour didn't have to take it to a top of the range garage and is being ridiculous expecting me to hand over that money without discussion.

@Dnaltocs

Some are excessively precious about their overly expense cars. Sadly for you it’s pay time. Bet you don’t admit next time you clip a car! I do feel they’re being ott but it’s the unforgiving world at present.

So you are advocating the OP hit and run next time?

she'll be in so much more trouble if she is caught failing to stop and report and just remember there are cameras EVERYWHERE now.

You are being a CF not your neighbours

You say to them that you think you can source the part for them and fix it for them for x, would they be ok with you taking that approach first and if they're not happy with it then they can go with the quote?

If the car is on lease it will have to be returned in exactly the same way they got including any repairs done by a dealership

You have crashed into someone else's car. You by yourself have determined that the damage is minor. You claim the part can be screwed on and bought cheaply on the internet.

The damaged party want to take the car for a proper repair in a garage.

This is the correct thing to do.

So stop moaning and whining, and either pay up or use your insurance.

And in future drive more carefully and don't crash into their car.

Perhaps take some basic refresher lessons, as it is possible you may need them.

Some people are weird about their cars and don't worry about how they treat their neighbours. I wouldn't get a scratch on plastic fixed and I would pay for it myself if I did. Someone hit my Dh's car when it was parked and scratched it but it wasn't dented so we left it and told them not to worry about it. Too many people yelling at other people and making big deals out of nothing.

@Dizzybrunette445

What is a CF? Sorry :/

Cheeky fucker

I was absolutely mortified when I, at extremely slow speed, bumped the head teacher's car whilst I was reverse parking (so I obviously wasn't doing and kind of speed) into a bay. Done the manoeuvre next to that car countless times, dont know how I caught it.
Let her know as soon as I got to work, no question about not going through insurance as I had no idea if it was just cosmetic, turned out quite an expensive repair as it wasn't a cheap car

I'm going against the grain here but I think that if you damaged their car then they are entitled to get it fixed properly at a garage. I think you should go through your insurance

I’m going to guess something like a wing mirror cover, which isn’t expensive to buy and easily clicks into place, for minor things like that you can fix at home.
Garages must love all these righteous MNers running in with jobs they could do themselves but happily hand over ££ for overinflated costs.

Sorry just read the whole thread and realised I'm NOT going against the grain. Lol

Also, it was the NDN who suggested buying the part online NOT OP, yet as per, ppl read and change the OP to suit themself.

UABU

Personally? I would do what you are doing, however, I’ve actually not made a claim via insurance. Would you have to pay the excess? You can source the part then go to a garage and pay the Labour to have it replaced professionally.

Really don’t see the problem as long as it’s been replaced by a professional. End of the day that’s exactly what the mechanic would do anyway! You just ain’t being overcharged for the part

If I were paying for it I would want more than one quote. But I think you should just go through your insurance

You are the CF

Op you still there? Better going through insurance if you have it. It was your fault not neighbours

Sorry, I agree with the neighbour, I would want it done by a professional, not a careless person with a screwdriver. Why should they spend time getting quotes? You caused the issue, not them.

@Whyhello

If it’s an easy fix I’d offer to buy the part and fit it for them.

I had a prang and the bloke who pranged me said, "No need to go through insurance - I've got a mate who can do that for twenty quid."

No chance, mate. It's going to be done properly and, just importantly, on the record, by a named repair shop who I can hold responsible for the work and that the insurance company are happy with.

So, I can see why you'd offer to do it yourself, but surely you can see why the prangee might not go for that.

Hi @Pleaseleavemealone
Have you got protected No Claims Bonus on your insurance?? Use this and let them go ahead. They will have to tell their insurance and theyay not like that as theirs could be affected

As most other people have said I think YABU. But I still feel for you, it’s never good having an unexpected expense. They sound like they have been perfectly reasonable about it though.