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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Daughter accidentally scratch car on street!

130 replies

SmellyNelliey · 03/09/2023 22:15

Hi all today my DD 7 accidentally scratch a car on the street while riding her bike.
Shes only been aloud to play out this week and now that privilege has been take.)

I've spoken to the Dad of the car owner. i've apologised for what my dd has done and they can get a quote for the damage as will I I'm willing to pay the cost.
He's now demanding 500 pound says his mate will get a new bumper and we will call it a day.
I'd also like to get my own quote but he doesn't want this.
The thing is this scratch is a very small light scratch on the bumper.
Am I being unreasonable to say we will go through insurance and pay what ever the quote rather then his friend? There is no way this car needs a new bumper.
I've spoken to online police chat who said they won't be getting involved and with being an accident and a child of 7 that we should come to some sort of agreement.( they have threatened to ring the police)

(DP is saying he's not paying nothing from a "friends" quote and we should go through correct channels if they want the scratch sorted but this is a whole other thread!)

Daughter accidentally scratch car on street!
OP posts:
AnneValentine · 03/09/2023 22:16

No way is that £500. Ask for 3 independent quotes.

gherkeen · 03/09/2023 22:18

He's taking the Mickey. We got reversed into in the same bumper spot and it cost £130 to fix

foxyfoxx · 03/09/2023 22:19

Wow yeah he's trying his luck there. Does he know where you live? I would be inclined to just ignore him moving forward. You've been honest and willing to pay but he's taking the piss

GrazingSheep · 03/09/2023 22:20

No way is that £500. Ask for 3 independent quotes.

From who?

Readingineading · 03/09/2023 22:20

You have done the decent thing and he is using it as an opportunity to get a new bumper.

Candlelight34 · 03/09/2023 22:20

No way what a rip off.
I got a massive scratch, deep one too as someone scrappped their keys along the whole side of my car and it was £230.
This was a mobile repair He came out and did a fantastic job.

Ps In London too.

GrazingSheep · 03/09/2023 22:20

Hi all today my DD 7 accidentally scratch a car on the street while riding her bike.
Shes only been aloud to play out this week and now that privilege has been take.)

Were you supervising her?

Elfandwellbeing · 03/09/2023 22:22

He’s a chancer. Offer to get the quotes yourself. Or scrapyard and buy him a new bumper. Take the car registration when you see his car parked, give the reg to the scrap dealer, they can look up what bumper it needs. Wrap it up and place a giant bow on it…. For him to shove up his arse.

Candlelight34 · 03/09/2023 22:22

GrazingSheep · 03/09/2023 22:20

Hi all today my DD 7 accidentally scratch a car on the street while riding her bike.
Shes only been aloud to play out this week and now that privilege has been take.)

Were you supervising her?

Is OP asking advice on this. NO.

Besides Kids can do anything in a blink of an eye.

Ella31 · 03/09/2023 22:23

GrazingSheep · 03/09/2023 22:20

Hi all today my DD 7 accidentally scratch a car on the street while riding her bike.
Shes only been aloud to play out this week and now that privilege has been take.)

Were you supervising her?

Not relevant is it? The op has taken full responsibility and is just enquiring about paying what it is worth.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 03/09/2023 22:23

Where was he parked? Was he on the pavement? To be honest unless he was parked on a private driveway which your daughter was trespassing on I wouldn’t be paying anything, it was an accident and that’s why people have car insurance. A 7yo isn’t liable, it was kind of you to offer but he’s trying to massively overcharge you and if it was me that would remove any initial goodwill. Let him go through his insurance.

Iam4eels · 03/09/2023 22:23

Does it matter if she was supervised? Accidents happen even with adults watching, that's just life.

He's being a cheeky fucker and trying it on for a new bumper, even if the DC was unsupervised it doesn't give him the right to extort the OP.

Tell him you want to get a quote from your own garage(s) to have the scratch repaired and will arrange to pay the cheapest one directly once he's booked the car in. Do not give him any money. If he keeps it up then tell him you'll go through insurance, that's what it's there for.

Letsgocamping67 · 03/09/2023 22:25

Chips away and another company called Auxillis. Guess about £200. You upload a photo and they do you a quote. Yes they are trying to pull a fast one there.

WouldYouLikeYourMuffinButtered · 03/09/2023 22:28

Do you have proof that she actually caused the damage? I'm trying to figure out how a kid's bike scrapes a car bumper when most kids I know of her age cycle on pavements.

SmellyNelliey · 03/09/2023 22:30

Yes DD was supervised the car is parked on a bend but on the road close to the foot path as dd has gone around the bend shes lost balance total accident.

OP posts:
Fairydustxox · 03/09/2023 22:31

Buy him a bottle of T Cut and tell him where to go he's a chancer

DixonD · 03/09/2023 22:32

Not what you’re asking OP but it’s a bit harsh to take the privilege away from her if it was an accident. We all have accidents and all you’re going to do is teach her not to own up to them.

goingtotown · 03/09/2023 22:34

That doesn't look like scratches, looks like the paint has peeled off. Are you sure your daughter has done that amount of damage.

StarDolphins · 03/09/2023 22:35

I had a huge scratch/scuff (size of a melon) done at a garage for £150. It’s so advanced now, you only need a new bumper of it’s dented & scratched badly.

Hankunamatata · 03/09/2023 22:39

Is it the big white marks where it looks like it gone right the way through the paint or were they already there?

WouldYouLikeYourMuffinButtered · 03/09/2023 22:43

SmellyNelliey · 03/09/2023 22:30

Yes DD was supervised the car is parked on a bend but on the road close to the foot path as dd has gone around the bend shes lost balance total accident.

Rule 243 Highway code....no parking on bends. He shouldn't have been there.

WomanHereHear · 03/09/2023 22:44

In my younger days the couple of times I bumped a car they wanted a ridiculous amount of money and when i said I would just go through insurance, miraculously they said it was fine and they just told me not to worry about it. Just go through insurance.

SmellyNelliey · 03/09/2023 22:45

The scratch in the circle is what DD has done he's got cctv but not willing to show us.
There is other damage to the car that DD hasn't done and he's admitted that was done at the car wash.(paint peeling off door)

Daughter accidentally scratch car on street!
OP posts:
Legale · 03/09/2023 22:47

Tell him to report to his insurance and let them handle it.
He only knows it was her because you told him, realistically even his insurance would have to prove she scratched his car. Unless he has it in writing, from you, that she is to blame, or has CCTV footage, he can't do anything.

Legale · 03/09/2023 22:49

SmellyNelliey · 03/09/2023 22:45

The scratch in the circle is what DD has done he's got cctv but not willing to show us.
There is other damage to the car that DD hasn't done and he's admitted that was done at the car wash.(paint peeling off door)

Tell him to report it to his insurance. Doesn't sound like he actually has CCTV footage. That's a scratch that could easily be fixed with T Cut.

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