To be furious with my mum's car-damaging neighbour?

[fourminutestosavetheworld]

About six months ago, as my mum sat in her stationary car outside her house, the opposite neighbour reversed out of his driveway and hit her car.

He was initially livid that she was parked in front of her own house but his wife was calmer, apologised and took responsibility. They persuaded by mum not to put it through the insurance and said that they would pay if she got the work done privately - I know, I strongly advised against this at the time.

She's in her 80s and on her own. Over the past six months she's been in hospital after a brain haemorrhage but we still found time to find someone who would repair her car as cheaply as possible. We got lots of quotes and she was determined to make it as cheap as possible for his benefit (they've got a young family).

Went round yesterday to tell him it was £600 and he laughed and told us to fuck off. We asked if he'd pay half - no. He shouted 'you're lucky I'm not making you pay for mine.' I'd have stood my ground but my mum was crying and begging me to leave it.

There's nothing we can do is there?

Go through insurance!

Go through the insurance. Did the accident get reported to the police ?

She needs to go through insurance.

Insurance and maybe speak to police as it seems he now denies all knowledge and is abusive

Legal cover on insurance or anything else?

Insurance and police

I would speak to the car insurance but to be honest I think you might have a hard time proving it was him that caused the damage after so long - unless you have a neighbour with cctv?

Insurance.

The insurance itself may not be interested now especially as repairs have happened.

Go through insurance now and explain what happened. I’m sure they’ll understand and help as long as you are with the same insurance company.

Your mum though might be worried that he is going to make trouble for her, not sure what you can do there

What an aggressive unpleasant dick your mum has for a neighbour!

Thanks everyone. I didn't think that the insurance would be interested now - she's waited too long, and already had the repair done. A lesson learnt I guess.

And yes, you're right, my mum wants to leave it because he might make life miserable for her if she doesn't. I don't know him really but what a horrible man!

Don't suppose you or she took any photos at the time?

I would still call up the insurance co for a chat - the claims teams can be really helpful (well, once you get the right person!).

You might as well call the insurance company and see what they say. But I do think it with the repair already done and after so long, it would not go anywhere.

I think it’s too late. He’s very aggressive and it’s not worth the money. However I would speak to the police about it and they can have it on record.

I would be careful talking to insurance.

There is nothing now that they can or will do but it will be still logged as having had an accident.

He sounds seriously horrible, but someone as unreasonable as that was never going to play fair over getting your Mum’s car fixed.

@ShutUpaYourFace

Finding it hard to believe a slow reversing collision would cause £600 worth of damage. Seems strange the neighbours persuaded her not to make a claim, yet they are now so unwilling to pay, even half. There must have been damage to his car. Did she get photos??? Something just seems odd about this post

My car was damaged by a faulty electronic gate, didn’t look like much but meant the front and rear door plus wheel arch needed repairing. I had 3 quotes for repair - the cheapest was £450. If the damage was on a bumper, it’s often more expensive because the whole bumper has to be replaced.

What proof does she have, any text messages etc?
At 80 there is the valid question does she want the hassle but it'd stick in my craw because that's exactly what the bloke will be relying on.
Can she afford the £600?

Small claims court ?

Contact CAB about using small claims court. Alternatively, send a solicitors letter as a warning shot.

@ShutUpaYourFace

Finding it hard to believe a slow reversing collision would cause £600 worth of damage. Seems strange the neighbours persuaded her not to make a claim, yet they are now so unwilling to pay, even half. There must have been damage to his car. Did she get photos??? Something just seems odd about this post

I didn't get photos at the time as live too far away but did take photos on my next visit.

I don't think he was particularly slow moving tbh. Mum said he flew out, hadn't seen her at all. Hit the side of her car, damaging two doors.

I can only go on what she's told me. She said he was awful when it happened but his wife was nicer, that they asked her not to go through insurance but seemed ok about paying privately. She thinks the six month wait had made them relax and think she wasn't going to claim, so they had a shock when she went round.

I'd speak to insurance and police. Other than your time for a couple of calls, you're lost nothing. Your Mum has a perfectly good reason for not putting it through insurance originally.