Money Moral Dilemma: Should neighbour pay as her son smashed the window

Fridaydalek

summernights wrote: »

Are you for real?

Absolutely.

summernights wrote: »

My rear car window was smashed by children in my neighbourhood. They were skidding their bikes on the gravel road and flicking up the stones. It is a private road but none of their parents would think to tell them not to ride and play there. My car was on my own drive. As I did not know the children in question I couldn't go to their parents, they rode off too quickly and I had to pay for the repair myself. Heavy playing should be restricted to areas where it is not a nuisance to everyone else, preferably outside their own houses!

Sorry to hear about your car. I'm lucky in that my house overlooks the communal parking area, so if I see anyone doing anything dangerous out there I can go out and have a word myself, whether I know them or not. I have done this a number of times, actually - kids skidding on the gravel just as happened to you!

I'm guessing that in your situation you weren't aware that the kids were there until the damage was done - youd've gone out and said something if you'd have known they were there, I'm sure.

Again I'm lucky - I'm not easily antagonised by children, and have got a reasonable relationship with most of the ones who play round here (of course, you need to be prepared for a bit of cheek, but I give as good as I get! ).

I do see both sides - our road is a bit of a rat run for non-residents, as there's no parking at a nearby school, even though it's a no through road. So when you say:

summernights wrote: »

Heavy playing should be restricted to areas where it is not a nuisance to everyone else, preferably outside their own houses!

I sort of wish drivers would take heed too and not drive at speed in other people's residential areas, just because it's more convenient to them. Does this help you see where I'm coming from?

For what it's worth, (and a bit more on topic!) if my kids had broken the window and the neighbour asked for £50 I'd certainly have paid up; and there'd be a certain amount of chores expected from the kids by way of compensation.

redpandabear

something similar happened to my daughters car. a neighbors son broke her car window. they did not own up but another neighbor saw it. she went to them and asked for the excess, to cover her cost off replacing the window,this was £50 and at the door the son admitted to breaking it, they said they would pay, at £10 a week. after the first payment coincidentally the side indicator lights were stolen from her car . but after the first payment there were excuses after excuse on why they could not pay. and yes they were excuses, as they still went out with there car racing, and the kids had lots of new Christmas presents. i'm not saying that they shouldn't have had some, but they should have payed what they owed first.Also scratches appeared on the car, so you have to either go to the police or let it go. i should also say for those who say there is nowhere for the kids to play there are two playing fields within 30 seconds of our house one opposite not where the car was parked.

westie666

I personally think the neighbour should pay.
But one of my work colleagues had something similar happen to him recently.

He was out cutting the grass one Sunday monring, and heard an almighty crash from the house over the road. Front window shattered.
Long story short, he contacted his insurance company to arrange the repair. As he had taken REASONABLE precautions to clear stones from his garden, he was not negligible and therefore the insurance company would not pay out. But if his son had done the same damage by playing tennis with stones, then his insurance company would have paid out!!!
In the end, my colleague forked out the £250 to repair the neighbours window.

One way or another, I think the neighbour should pay all, if thats not affordable, then at least 50%!

terrestrial

HANWAN24. I think you are wrong about "no ball games"notice.There is far too much traffic on the roads for children to play on them. I also think the neighbour should pay.No question about it.

womble_lancs

marklv wrote: »

The council should have put up a 'no ball games' sign and then a breach of that could have meant a fine.

Sorry to disappoint you, but 'No Ball Games' signs are only advisory and are not legally enforceable.

However, The Highways Act 1980 s161(3) states that "if a person plays at football or any other game on a highway to the annoyance of a user of the highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding [level 1 on the standard scale].

Tomker

I've been in a similar situation recently, my son rode his bike into the back of a neighbours car and badly scratched it. I couldn't afford to pay the repair bill so I offered to pay half, which they were happy to accept. I think the neighbour should at least offer to pay half.

GAZZA7745

If she was a nice person, she would have already come to some sort of arrangement to pay the money back. All kids get some sort of pocket money and the neighbour should have arranged for his pocket money (however small it is) to come to you on a weekly basis.

Some people may say "accidentally smash one of her windows and see how she likes it", but as she does not seem like a nice person, the chances are that will cause some sort of modern warfare.

Bite your lip on this one. If the child in question is playing with a ball etc outside your house again. Keep on insisting he moves along. Instead of telling him "he may smash your window again". Tell him "he may smash his mothers window" instead.

He will probably get in some sort of trouble if he does that (accident or not).

Surfer

A nice polite letter to the neighbour asking for the £50 which can be paid by instalments and if no response, a preliminary letter asking for the money and if still no response "Letter of demand" warning of court costs. If still no response then small claims court. Hopefully this will bring a result but also just maybe the child will learn that they need to be considerate to neighbours.

PacoPuddy

Those who say neighbour should pay, even in installments are right - and I agree with HanWah that children should have the freedom to play - this means that they also have the freedom to accept the consequences of their own actions. Mother should pay it back, if necessary docking child's pocket money/getting him a paper round until the debt is paid off.

As for not being able to afford it - if the poster had accidentally run over the child's bike (say) left casually in the road (as many are) - I bet the mother would have raised Cain.

If necessary, go to police/small claims court - try to avoid this if possible, becuase it only causes bad feeling, but let her know that this is an option you will pursue if necessary. Like most other people, I would not have had to be asked for the money - I would have offered.

natterer_2

If it was me who had been told that my child had damaged something of a neighbour's, I'd pay up, then claim at least part of it back from my child's pocket money. You can't expect your children to learn any sort of responsibility if you don't model it to them & give them opportunities to demonstrate it themselves.