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Original poster

Bumped neighbours wall

37 replies

Chellabella · 28/08/2022 19:50

I accidentally reversed my car into the neighbours wall, it’s about a 25 ft long, low wall and about 4 bricks are missing from the top where I bumped
it but about 3.5 ft of the wall is structurally weak and needs replacing.

We are looking to sort this without going through the insurance. My partner put me
onto his trade insurance 3 weeks ago and is refusing to claim through it this early, if I had my own policy I’d claim on it. However this is my problem:

1). The neighbour is saying he wants the entire wall rebuilt and has quoted 2K!! because whatever repair we do will ‘not match’ as the new bricks will not be weathered like the rest of the wall, and where the cement is around each brick
it will look different. I’ve asked builders myself about matching the cement colour and whilst they can, it’ll be difficult.

2). My partner says that it doesn’t matter and the neighbour gets to decide how the wall is mended as it’s his wall.

3). If only A row of 5 bricks were damaged,
would we be legally obliged to replace the entire wall? How far can you go with the ‘not matching argument’. If my house burnt down in part and the bricks wouldn’t match due to discontinuation of the brick or due to weathering, the insurers wouldn’t knocks down the entire house would they?

4). I have no problem repairing the damage I have done, but feel completely taken advantage of with this and am so disappointed
in my partner who is outside telling our neighbour ‘oh we know it looks a mess im
so Sorry we will fix it to your liking’. 2 grand??? Really?

  1. The wall is hideous and 20 years old. It looks an absolute state before I bumped it. We’re not talking about a piece of art here.

Am I legally entitled to repair the wall
so it matches?

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 28/08/2022 19:53

Considering your partner has already told him you'll pay the £2000 I don't think it matters but your insurance doesn't sound legit if you can't claim on it yourself and report your own accident. It's still an offence not to report it to your insurance.

RomeoMcFlourish · 28/08/2022 19:54

I think if you’re looking to do this without going through insurance, you play by the neighbours rules, it’s you that’s done the damage. Don’t like their demands? Then go through your insurance and let them hash out the details.

Original poster
Chellabella · 28/08/2022 19:56

I feel completely tied. My partner and I have had some serious arguments over it as I’ve pleaded with him to go through the insurance, and he is just refusing. He said as long as the neighbour is okay with us replacing the wall and settling it that way then it’s not an offence?

if it is an offence then even if we did replace the wall in part and managed to negotiate on that, I presume the neighbour could say he’s not happy with it and we would be back at square one?

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 28/08/2022 19:57

Not a clue - that’s what the insurance is for. Tell your twat of a partner you’re not paying anyone £2000 and let him sort it out if he wants to.

Inklingpot · 28/08/2022 19:57

For god’s sake. Of course the neighbour is taking advantage. Why do people pay for insurance and then do everything they can to avoid using it? Forget what your DP has told the neighbour (he is an idiot if he really agreed to replace a whole wall at your expense), just report it to your insurance company and let them deal with it.

BritishDesiGirl · 28/08/2022 20:00

Chellabella · 28/08/2022 19:56

I feel completely tied. My partner and I have had some serious arguments over it as I’ve pleaded with him to go through the insurance, and he is just refusing. He said as long as the neighbour is okay with us replacing the wall and settling it that way then it’s not an offence?

if it is an offence then even if we did replace the wall in part and managed to negotiate on that, I presume the neighbour could say he’s not happy with it and we would be back at square one?

Yes this could happen and l definitely wouldn't want to pay 2000 for a wall which they can claim all sorts for after you fix it.

Insurance is the safest way. Your boyfriend needs to stop being such an ass, a higher premium is better than a potentially bigger problem.

girlmom21 · 28/08/2022 20:00

He's wrong. You have to report all accidents.

The neighbour could claim on your insurance any time in the next 3 years if he wants to.

Original poster
Chellabella · 28/08/2022 20:01

I’ve told him I’m coming off the insurance as anything could happen and hes basically
restricting me from going through any insurance the best and easiest way! He’s refusing to go through it because his premiums will go up over the next 5 years apparently.

OP posts:
Solosunrise · 28/08/2022 20:02

You need to tell your car insurers and let them sort it out. That's what it's for. Are you a named driver on his policy?

CircleMessage · 28/08/2022 20:04

Why is he so reluctant to contact the insurance company? I'd be asking for proof that you're really insured....

girlmom21 · 28/08/2022 20:06

He shouldn't have put you on the insurance then, should he.
You need to phone them.

purplecorkheart · 28/08/2022 20:06

Have you proof your dp has actually added you to his policy? Of he has submit the claim yourself although I wonder had he? If it not check your house insurance policy if you have it. Otherwise it might be worth letting your neighbours bring you to small claims. Take many photos now before they can interfere with the remainder.

Belle999 · 28/08/2022 20:09

A woman crashed through my neighbours brick wall and I do mean right through and the insurance would still only replace the broken part. They basically said it was tough luck the colour would be different.

Your neighbor is being a chancer. Tell him you'll either arrange for the damaged part of the wall to be repaired or you will give him the same amount for him to replace the whole wall.

huuskymam · 28/08/2022 20:10

I would ask if the new bricks could be put in and the whole wall painted.

Original poster
Chellabella · 28/08/2022 20:12

Just talking to my partner as we speak. His response:

i am insured (don’t doubt him on that really)

I’ve just taken it out and the premiums
would go up potentially thousands for a £2k claim. Ive told hIm we don’t even know if it’s a £2k claim.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chellabella · 28/08/2022 20:13

Thats interesting! He’s also saying he can’t even ‘inquire’ about it because it’ll be lodged as a claim. I have no idea

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 28/08/2022 20:15

It's not logged as a claim. It's logged as an incident. Tell him to check his policy. He'll almost certainly be in breach of it by not reporting the accident

HeddaGarbled · 28/08/2022 20:28

The size of the claim makes no difference to how much the cost of insurance would increase. You could put in a claim for £5 or £50,000 and the effect on the cost of the insurance would be identical.

Daisydoodo · 28/08/2022 21:23

He is right in that reporting as an incident his premiums may increase . I would offer tonfix the damaged bricks for the neighbour and paint the wall then offer him £100 for his trouble

Inklingpot · 28/08/2022 21:25

Chellabella · 28/08/2022 20:12

Just talking to my partner as we speak. His response:

i am insured (don’t doubt him on that really)

I’ve just taken it out and the premiums
would go up potentially thousands for a £2k claim. Ive told hIm we don’t even know if it’s a £2k claim.

For the love of god.

Your premiums are likely to go up if you make a claim but not by ‘thousands’ unless there’s something else going on.

Would you rather:

a) Avoid insurance and let your neighbour dictate the repair costs. It’s £2000 now for five bricks, who knows how much it could be in two months once he thinks he can cash in?

b) Let your insurance who you pay to deal with this kind of thing deal with it and pay a few quid extra on your premium.

Inklingpot · 28/08/2022 21:27

Daisydoodo · 28/08/2022 21:23

He is right in that reporting as an incident his premiums may increase . I would offer tonfix the damaged bricks for the neighbour and paint the wall then offer him £100 for his trouble

No. You should not do this. Just use your bloody insurance.

Christ alive. What is wrong with everyone?

NerrSnerr · 28/08/2022 21:32

Have you seen evidence you're insured? You're an adult, you should be able to decide what you do after you've had an incident.

Barkingdog2022 · 28/08/2022 21:35

@HeddaGarbled is not correct wi tbh their advice. Premium collected vs claim amount paid does matter and make a difference. First of all log the incident and you can ask what the usual protocol is do they repair the damage or entire wall, it will be the former but at the very least you can advise the neighbour what the insurer said as back your if you’re feeling stressed about it.

Barkingdog2022 · 28/08/2022 21:36

*with their

Grumpybutfunny · 28/08/2022 21:39

Trade insurance is different to normal insurance and I believe it is up to the policy holder not the driver to submit the claim. It's depends how big the garage is some don't even require the drivers to be named just employed by the garage. They often have significantly higher excesses so it might be cheaper to pay the guy 2k than pay the excess (my personal policy has a 1k excess).