Should we pay for this damage?

[kinki]

A few months ago my 8yo ds fell off his bike and fell onto our neighbour's car, causing a tiny dink and a scratch to the paintwork. He was ok, just a bit shocked.

We did the stupid responsible thing and rung on their door to say sorry and report the damage. The owner was angry though not directly to ds. She was angry because apparently this is the 6th time someone has caused damage to her car. At the time I said we'd pay for the damage to be repaired. They said they'd think about it.

Today, several months later, they've given us an estimate for £286 for the repair at a main dealer workshop and asked for the money by the end of the weekend.

So what do we do? We have a few ideas but wanted to know how others would proceed. In the past there has been no bad feeling between us at all.

TIA

Why would prices go up next week?

Even if they did the delay is down to them, not you so not sure why you should be paying for it, they could have got this sorted out months before.

We had a great big scratch left along the side of a hire car one year. The excess on the insurance was horrific, and the linked repairer sorted it for us before we handed car back. They never noticed!

we had a 5yr warranty on ours.

However you idea sounds like a good one, finding other quotes and offering them £100 towards whichever they choose to us

Why would prices go up next week and they garage would either honor the quote for 7 days or not but i still wouldn't pay till i saw the final job complete invoice to be honest.

I think your suggested way forward is fair.

my concern with offering them the £100 is that there needs to be some sort of written statement signed by both of you that if they except this cash that has to be the settlement of the entire affair.

otherwise you're leaving yourself open to their coming back and asking for more money.

Insurance companies don't let you pick and choose where to go to get a repair done. They tell you where to take it. Certainly wouldn't allow you to get it done at a main dealer as they know it is more expensive.

hmm ming, good point. Especially as they didn't want it to go through their insurance co as it might affect their no claims bonus. Good point too expat. Cheers, I'm taking all these points on board.