Page 4 | Daughter accidentally scratch car on street!

SmellyNelliey · 2023-09-03T21:15:35+00:00

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!)

Hating11 · 04/09/2023 01:02

Deathbyfluffy · 04/09/2023 00:55

You obviously have no idea how liability works - if any party crashes into or damages a car parked up they’re automatically responsible.
Its a parked object, to hit it you must be negligent.

You’re liable as a parent of the 7yo, and titre teaching them to weasel out of things in life if you think they’re not.

Luckily for the car owner they can just sue you for the cost of the repair (they’ll have your address as they’ll see where the child goes home to, and can pay £3 for homeowner details from the land registry).

I’ve gone down a similar route in the past for damage by a minor, and the family soon paid up when a summons landed on their doormat 😅

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Surely it matters where the car is parked?

Original poster

SmellyNelliey · 04/09/2023 11:19

Hi all he don't want t-cut.
It's his daughters car who only turned 18 a few months ago.Spoke with DP last night and we have decided that we won't be dealing with the man as its actually nothing to do with him. Awaiting a quote to come,I've had a few quotes today at around 100 pounds.
I won't be handing any money over to the owner of the car but willing to pay once it's booked in with a company. I'll pay the company for the work.
I also won't be taking notice of "his friends" quote.

OP posts:

Hummingbird89 · 04/09/2023 11:24

Good for you op! Cheeky fucker.

bruffin · 04/09/2023 11:26

My DD did this and my Home insurance paid out under our legal liability in buildings section

HoneyPotts · 04/09/2023 11:55

Tell him that you are going to get your own quotes and go with the cheapest or you will withdraw the offer and he can sort it out himself.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 04/09/2023 12:02

Hating11 · 04/09/2023 01:02

Surely it matters where the car is parked?

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Yes - if eg you were parked on the pavement, I would simply say see you in court.

You don't get a "summons" for a civil claim anyway. PP is talking nonsense.

bruffin · 04/09/2023 12:04

bruffin · 04/09/2023 11:26

My DD did this and my Home insurance paid out under our legal liability in buildings section

Sorry meant to say it took all the stress out of the situation so worth it.

Silvers11 · 04/09/2023 12:11

Good for you @SmellyNelliey - Stick to your guns. As you say, it isn't even his car and absolutely do not go with the 'friend' or his estimate

I had the Father of a 17 year old, 2 weeks after she passed her test, who had just stoved in the boot of our car, while it was stationery and properly parked in a supermarket car park on the phone. Nice as ninepence when he wanted his 'friend' to fix it - very angry when I told him it needed to go through Insurance as we needed the courtesy car which came with ours and I had already informed our Insurance. The car needed a completely new bumper!

Just stick to your guns. It'll be fine ( and a lot cheaper)

Purpleraiin · 04/09/2023 12:24

A good car detailer would be able to mop that out. I had a few huge scratches from hitting a metal railing and all were cleared from a mop.

trmacc · 04/09/2023 12:50

If he is so bothered about his 18yr old's car then why hasn't he fixed the other 2 bits of damage done by the car wash?

Nightsku · 04/09/2023 13:33

SmellyNelliey · 04/09/2023 11:19

Hi all he don't want t-cut.
It's his daughters car who only turned 18 a few months ago.Spoke with DP last night and we have decided that we won't be dealing with the man as its actually nothing to do with him. Awaiting a quote to come,I've had a few quotes today at around 100 pounds.
I won't be handing any money over to the owner of the car but willing to pay once it's booked in with a company. I'll pay the company for the work.
I also won't be taking notice of "his friends" quote.

I wouldn’t want to t-cut a scratch out either to be honest. Why should I spend my time doing something that I didn’t cause.

Obv he’s taking the piss with a £500 quote though.

I think refusing to deal with him is pathetic. His daughter is still a kid and only just turned 18 and he’s looking out for her. Lots of parents still help their kids when they turn 18. The car is still everything to do with him.

lto2019 · 04/09/2023 13:34

You can ask him to get the three quotes himself - from garages on headed paper. I have had a few scratches with my terrible reversing. Exchanged numbers -One said they had a friend - but I knew this was a bargain price and took it. One suggested what when I asked around was a ridiculous amount. I said I wanted to get a few quotes and he was arcey as anything. Eventually - I said I wasn't accepting one price from his 'mate' - he then told me to forget it. I looked up his reg num and he had no tax. If he won't get 3 quotes or let you - then tell him you will go through insurance.

Nightsku · 04/09/2023 13:35

ny20005 · 03/09/2023 22:52

Check your house insurance, you might well be covered for this.

We were when it happened to my ds. Cheeky neighbour only wanted car to go to a dealership & took 1/2 car rental for the scratch to be repaired. Claim ended up over £800 in total

How is it cheeky to want your car to go to the dealership? Specially if they have a nice car.

My car is a year old and I’d send it back to the dealership to deal with too and I’d want a hire car to use while mine is out of action.

Nightsku · 04/09/2023 13:36

lto2019 · 04/09/2023 13:34

You can ask him to get the three quotes himself - from garages on headed paper. I have had a few scratches with my terrible reversing. Exchanged numbers -One said they had a friend - but I knew this was a bargain price and took it. One suggested what when I asked around was a ridiculous amount. I said I wanted to get a few quotes and he was arcey as anything. Eventually - I said I wasn't accepting one price from his 'mate' - he then told me to forget it. I looked up his reg num and he had no tax. If he won't get 3 quotes or let you - then tell him you will go through insurance.

I’m sure people have all the time in the world to fix your mistakes.

Margarita45 · 04/09/2023 13:39

Honestly that scratch would be fine with either T Cut or would be polished out professionally, My DH’s garage has a professional hand buffer thing they use to take out worse than that. I don’t even think they’d have to paint that.

£500 🙈😂

Irridescantshimmmer · 04/09/2023 13:43

Go through an insurance company, the nieghbour is taking advantage.

ny20005 · 04/09/2023 13:49

@Nightsku
They didn't have a nice car, they had a 5 year old fiesta I could have got it buffed out at a garage in an hour but they insisted on it being booked into a ford dealership at 3 times the price & who needs a courtesy car for an hour

OnAir · 04/09/2023 13:50

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.

Why should he claim on his insurance which will put it up and cost him more in the future for something that wasn't his fault. Child shouldn't be riding near parked cars anyway as it's a hazard in itself. Take your kids to the park or somewhere safe for them to ride at that age.

Original poster

SmellyNelliey · 04/09/2023 13:53

The car also shouldn't be parked right next to a lowered foot path on a bend but it was and still is.

OP posts:

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 04/09/2023 13:53

That tiny scratch looks like it will polish out. I can’t believe they even care enough to do something about it.

lto2019 · 04/09/2023 14:44

Nightsku · 04/09/2023 13:36

I’m sure people have all the time in the world to fix your mistakes.

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So I should accept any amount they claim their 'mate' says it will cost and just take their word for it?

ThereIbledit · 04/09/2023 14:52

and I'll explain I'll get the 3 quotes from reliable companies and pay the company directly to sort the scratch out.

You should have left it with him to get 3 quotes and present them to you. But I'm glad you're not settling for the £500 quote.

Nightsku · 04/09/2023 15:12

lto2019 · 04/09/2023 14:44

So I should accept any amount they claim their 'mate' says it will cost and just take their word for it?

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No but you can do the leg work yourself.

Nightsku · 04/09/2023 15:15

ny20005 · 04/09/2023 13:49

@Nightsku
They didn't have a nice car, they had a 5 year old fiesta I could have got it buffed out at a garage in an hour but they insisted on it being booked into a ford dealership at 3 times the price & who needs a courtesy car for an hour

Just because it’s 5 year old doesn’t mean they don’t get all the work done at a dealership bit different if it was a 10 year old banger.
You just wanted to go a cheap route which they didn’t have to accept.
Most dealership don’t just keep the car for an hour either… Thry don’t have to sit at home for 1/2 day because you messed their car up and have to get it fixed.

bruffin · 04/09/2023 15:21

OnAir · 04/09/2023 13:50

Why should he claim on his insurance which will put it up and cost him more in the future for something that wasn't his fault. Child shouldn't be riding near parked cars anyway as it's a hazard in itself. Take your kids to the park or somewhere safe for them to ride at that age.

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Op can claim on their own buildings insurance kegal liability ( if they own their property) there is no excess on this part of the insurance. Mine paid out £600 in similar circumstances.
They will psy out if OP is liable, if they dont pay out then OP is not legally liable and they can try and sue OP but will lose.