To expect her to pay?

[Lavender14]

So a woman on my street who I've previously got on really well with has hit my car and caused a bit of damage. She was annoyed at the time but she backed into my car and there were witnesses so she couldn't really deny blame. Initially she said she would pay for it and said she had a relative who could do the work, however the relative hasn't shown up after weeks of back and forth and now I'm starting to doubt the relative exists. I took the car to get a quote and told her the cost and now she's not replying. How long do I give her to come up with the money? The last thing I want is to make it awkward with someone I live a few doors down from and I know money is probably tight for her especially at the minute so want to be fair, but at the same time I would like the car fixed. Its not off the road with the damage or anything but just has a big dent at the front and green paint scrapes all over it. What would you do?

Go through insurance. And I would never have someone's 'relative' fix my car unless they operate a reputable car repair business and are prepared to enter into a formal contract with me - as otherwise you have no recourse if the work is badly done.

@Lavender14
You can check on the insurance data base if her car is insured.. you're only supposed to check your own vehicle but I know that people use it free (to check cars they're not responsible for)
Otherwise you can pay a small admin fee to legally check.
Google motor insurance data base England.

Thanks everyone, I've taken the advice on board and given her a deadline and let her know I'll be informing my insurance if she doesn't pay the quote I've already got. I checked my insurance they don't seem to have a set time to notify them by thank god so fingers crossed we'll get a resolution one way or another. Deffo done with the friendship now I feel like she's really messing me around.

She needs to pay up. Go via your insurer as others have said.

Are you sure she has insurance? Obviously its illegal not to but people do it. I'd just message her saying you think it's best to go through insurance as shes not paid you and you'll pass the details to your insurance company. Then see if she contacts you. If not go ahead and let your insurance sort it.

Phone your insurance asap. I had a dent on my car and I didn’t tell my insurer. I pranged it in a car park. When I phoned to claim for something else they told me I should have informed them of any damage to the car within 24 hours (even if I didn’t intend to claim).

Don’t let it drag out any longer. This happened to a friend of mine. I can’t remember the ins and outs, but it was too late to claim through the insurance and she ended up footing the bill herself.

It's gone on too long. Just ring up your insurance with her reg, name and address. Stop chasing her. Do it now, while you still have witnesses, in case she starts denying it.

I wouldn't expect a skint person to buy anything for obvious reasons.

She’s taking you for a fool. Stop messing with dates/ultimatums, just tell her you’ve reported it to your insurance as of yesterday.

I'm fascinated at the posters declaring that the scuzzy article paying half is reasonable.

This is making it half op's problem, as she can hardly buy half a duvet / mattress / set of bedding.
Why the fuck should op be left with any portion of the replacement bill?

. Think I might be on the wrong thread...

I would not have informed her you were going to your insurers as that gives her an opportunity to counter claim and concoct some nonsense about how it was your fault. Call them asap and explain exactly what happened how you were trying to be neighbourly but now realise that was the wrong thing to do. Have some names of witnesses and any other evidence to hand. You are supposed to inform them no matter what btw.