Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay for my excess dust?

taxing

It's not what you say but......the way that you say it. Or, not what you do but the way that you do it...

Just think how much less confrontational this all could have been if the new neighbour had simply called by to ask his (new) neighbour for an idea of how much longer the works were likely to take as he would need to be moving his car out of harms way because of the potential damage from all this dust - which, incidentally, is already covering my car somewhat.

That would most likely have been met with a very sympathetic and apologetic response and probably an offer to restore the car to it's dust free condition (whether thought obligatory or not) just on a friendly basis.

A few well chosen words (or to put it another way, a complaint made in a much more tactful way) would have made all the difference.

Consideration of others, always.....:beer:

raym9112

I am a really easy going 6 foot 2 19 stone guy who has a lot of give and take - You draw smileys on my car and you will never smile again :-)

mrs_tooti-frooti

You should tell him to grow up and get a life!!!

Doghead that he is, tell him no chance!

He should think himself lucky that you're sharing your dust with him!!

RuthnJasper

As a basic 'goodwill gesture', I'd offer the guy £5 or whatever is the price for the best car-wash option at the local garage. I don't believe you'd HAVE to do this but, after all, you do have to continue living next door to the pernicious fool. Then make sure you get his signature on something that says he's accepted the cash to cover the cost of cleaning his car - or take a photo of you or your partner handing over the cash!

Methinks someone would like a nice shiny new respray of his car and he's just worked out a way of getting it for free... Don't give in to that; as other posters have mentioned, it's only a bit of dust - not as if you're digging "Grand Canyon II (The Revenge)".

And take care if trimming hedges or doing anything else outdoors in the future, as I suspect that matey will be watching with his camera and notepad at the ready!

I occasionally have to deal with neighbourly disputes as part of my job. It's amazing what lengths some people go to in order to try and stitch up their neighbours - sometimes unintentionally funny for someone who isn't affected directly; but always and without exception very, very sad. Life's too short for petty squabbles.

Good luck. x

Pipling

If the neighbour is taking pictures to take action for alledged damage, he should be approaching the contractor in the 1st instance and not you. Its your property and you have instructed the workmen however the contractor is doing the work that is causing the dust and they should have their own public liability insurance. If he is alledging that this dust has caused damage, it should be referred to their insurers. If you start offering to clean his car, and the car is then damaged, you would be liable for any damage caused.

Littlemissteapot

You could ask him what he thinks that you should do to rectify this matter as you stated that you don't know what else to do other than say you were sorry. Most people when they have a grievance want action and an apology. Upon hearing what he has to say you can then see what room there is for negotiation. You may settle on:
1. You can tell him when the workers are coming so that HE can throw some dustsheets over his car (you may want to provide the dustsheets)
2. Offer to pay for the carwash after the work has finish.
3. Giving him fair warning of the disruption so that he can make plans to leave his car elsewhere (eg garage)

Tell the workers that you have a neighbour complain and see what practical advise they could give - they must have had this before.

NB-You don't know the real reason for him taking the photos so don't ONLY assume its for a pending court case. You could ask him why if you really want to know the answer and if it is for a court case against you then make sure you get copies prior to court date in particular the state of the car before the work was done, if you can.

DEQ8345

I would pea on his car overnight, he'd be pleased it's clean....you'd be more pleased knowing how you did it. All Happy :eek:

DEQ8345

Is it your car Beans?? you have a lot to say to anyone that doesn't see it your way, even on the obvious jokes....At least the guy has posted something on here (shows he has a concern for the neighbour) Lighten up a bit ehh!! Oh and in fairness the guy took pictures but did he say what he expected him to do about it??

DEQ8345

I wouldn't even hose the car off but offer to reimburse the cost of HIM getting it cleaned, (Agree an amount before he gets it done a fiver I think would be reasonable) but before doing so I would go and talk to him and offer to examine the car with him, maybe take the builder with you to show you've taken his worries seriously. And, maybe take some pictures of his car yourself before and after its cleaned, just in case.

speedypete07

His car is going to get dust anyway !
so a lot of his dust does not belong to you anyway !

Simply ask him to point out exactly your dust and then offer to clean only that dust !

Perhaps then he will realise what an IDIOT he really is!

In addittion print out all the comments in this forum and stick them in his letter box !:j