DH and stupid car mistake

[Bumpedcar]

I need advice. Just to start with the fact that my husband has made a really stupid mistake but I need to know how to deal with it now. I know he’s in the wrong!

a few months ago, someone reversed into the back of our car and left a bit of a dent. He left a note with his number on and said sorry. DH phoned and this guy said to do it off the insurance as he’d pay privately. Due to the summer holidays etc, we got a quote in late August for it to be fixed. Unfortunately a few weeks later , DH scraped the car very close to where to bump was and the garage would only quote for the whole job, said that wouldn’t quote for the bump damage separate to the scrape damage. Garage suggested just billing the guy for the whole amount but we didn’t feel right doing this so DH phoned the guy who did the initial damage and explained what was happened. We agreed to split the cost in half.

The car has been in the garage this week and DH phoned the guy on Tuesday who agreed to transfer the money. Still no money. Work has been done and paid for. Another text sent and nothing. I tried to phone earlier and it went straight to answerphone.

I am furious with DH for letting it drag on like this and not insisting this guy pays in advance. But here we are. How do we proceed?

Before anyone asks why I didn’t sort it, I do literally all the mental load stuff. This was his one thing to do and he’s fucked it up.

Small claims court? If not put it down to his stupidity.

Think you just have to let this go really. It's been bashed again and has dragged on for too long. You needed it wrapped up in a week to see any money.

He should have gone through the insurance company in the first place.

Your post reads like he how a quote then did more damage to the car. Is that correct? Late August was like three weeks ago, so I'm confused on the timeline.

If the you got the quote prior to the new damage, just ask for the amount. If not, get a quote for the whole thing and only ask for part of it from the guy? Did he take photos of the damage the guy did?

How long ago since the original damage? Lots of people don't get paid until Tuesday, so I would leave any chasing until then.

This.

Sorry OP you’re going through this, must be so very frustrating especially when you were both trying to do the morally correct thing.

In future though, I’d never accept dealing privately with prangs. I think people aren’t as hounarable in these things as perhaps before. I also feel it looks bad on you if they renegade and then you belatedly go to your insurance company.

Would you have fixed the second scrape if the first had never happed?
If so then you have not lost out anyway.

Let it go and chalk it up to experience.

Never deal privately - incidents like this are why we pay 100s every year for car insurance. So many scammers out there. And it would save you the faff. Plus you have a duty to report all accidents regardless of fault. In my experience some underwriters will void policies for people not notifying them and holding up their end of the T&Cs then people are taken to court to personally pay 1000s.

Id get it reported, grovel if needed to the insurance company and let them sort it.

He’s only liable for the damage he did:
Performance Cars Ltd v Abraham

And go through insurance

The other party hasn’t really done anything wrong really.

He left a note, he’s agrees to pay. He’s also agreed to,pay after the second scrape incident and after all of this has been dragging on for ‘several months’.

Your husband spoke to him on Tuesday and it’s only Friday. I don’t think there is a need for panic just yet. Especially as the whole thing has been going on for months. He probably doesn’t think you have a high priority for timekeeping.