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

BNT

dan_m2k wrote: »

I'm sorry but this "child" broke a car window with a foot ball. Now, that's no small feat as car windows are designed to withstand a lot of impact. So, it's certainly wreck less at best and vandalism at worst. Without being there we can't be sure but it's worth bearing in mind.

Without being there we also don't know that it was a football. It might have been a cricket ball; it might not have been a ball. We are just told that he broke the window while playing in the street. I don't see how you can go from there to state with such certainty that this is reckless or possibly vandalism.

chog24

Your car is your responsibility. Excesses are a pain in the bum, but if you can't afford them then it's your job either to find an insurance deal which doesn't carry an excess for broken windows or to make sure that you have enough set aside to cover excesses.

It would, of course, be totally different if your neighbour's son was a teenager and the damage was malicious, but if the lad's just a child and it was a genuine accident, then it's not the mother's responsibility to pay your car insurance excess.

Welsh_2

legal actions?



If the mother can’t pay, then put the suggestion to the mother that the child responsible does some “odd jobs” to help out (with their parental supervision) the person with the damage car. It just seems to be getting to the stage where the police or legal professional are called over every little thing.

I know making the child do jobs isn’t the ideal solution, but in my opinion it’s a gesture and a lot better than starting a feud with a neighbour, you have to live in the same street as this person.

And people who suggest that children shouldn’t be allowed to play in the street, where are they suppose to play with so few parks within walking distance these days?

fatal1955

It all comes down to what is more important - getting your due or getting on with your neighbour. As I know from bitter experience, having a serious falling-out with a neighbour can cost you a lot more than £50, so whatever you decide, please take a long-term view.

Gareth_Lazelle

chog24 wrote: »

Your car is your responsibility. Excesses are a pain in the bum, but if you can't afford them then it's your job either to find an insurance deal which doesn't carry an excess for broken windows or to make sure that you have enough set aside to cover excesses.

Wow,

So does that apply across the board, or just when it's a child that causes the damage? I mean, should I expect to have to pay when another adult damages my car in a (completely accidental) RTA? After all, the car is my responsibility...

You seem to infer that your insurance company should be your first port of call - but you could equally provide them with the details of the accident, and name and address of the responsible parties (so they can be pursued using legal means)?

After all, that would be the responsible and honest thing to do, even if somewhat impolite, or would a more reasonable approach be more appropriate?

-

As a follow-up question, you say that the car is your responsibility - very true, and any damage caused by the car is quite justifiably your responsibility. So logically the child is its parents responsibility, and the parents are responsible for any damage it causes,

auntiepam

If you do decided that you do not want to press your neighbour to pay, or that if you feel she cannot pay, I always feel better if I make it clear it is my decision. I then feel I have taken control and not been taken advantage of.

I wonder about you going around to her and telling her how much it cost - but that you understand, that it was an accident, that she might not be able to afford it and so you will not be informing your insurance company , or chasing her to pay. That you value her being a neighbour. It then becomes your kindness rather than her avoidance, and does not set a precedent!

helwarren

I have had a similar situation recently. My 5 yr old was riding along the pavement, a car was parked partly on its drive but overhanging the path -she had to go round it wobbled and fell against it and scratched the bumper with her handlebars. I stopped and gave my details.
Both in the wrong to some extent as illegal to cycle on path but also illegal to block the path with vehicle. I contacted legal help on home insurance who said he would have weak case and any claim would be against my child with no assets as it wasnt me who did damage. So in view of that told him to go through his insurers as thats what insurance is for, and we have personal liability on our house insurance so if they feel they have a case we are covered. Turns out he was reluctant to do so because its a 'performance car' and he has a £750 excess.

At the start I felt morally we should offer something and if we were financially better off maybe we would have. But then I thought well he is an adult who chose to block the pavement and chose his excess to presumably keep premiums down so why should I be responsible for that.

Jillyboos

This is about taking responsibility, if you don't want to sour the relationship with your neighbour how about a compromise? The child (if old enough) or parents undertake some work for you such as gardening, cleaning - I am sure you can think of things you would like done. What skills do they have, is there something they can offer you in return if they honestly are not in a position to pay £50? Having said that, I am a single parent and in the past have lived very frugally on a dire income but still taken responsibility for my childrens' actions.

Yes it was an accident but one that has left you out of pocket? How can that be right? That is before your renewal premium is increased because of claim.

mhr035

This won't stop unless you ensure that your neighbour knows you are serious and won't tolerate reckless behaviour from her kids.
We're learning the hard way. So far the damage to my car includes: wiper broken off, new front windscreen, new numberplate, ball kicked against my side windows which left dreadful scratching, eggs thrown against my car which left permanent damage. We've been patient - too patient and have never claimed or asked for her to pay but now I've had enough. My council neighbour should start looking for a new home.

BTW my car is parked on my driveway - not in the street

elizhar

My son did smash a shop top floor window kicking a ball as high as he could (he was about 7yrs then), came in went up stairs and didn't tell us anything. Shop owner had been told by a passing cyclist who had seen our son run into our house,woman came knocking, I of cause said how did she know it was he as he had been in for a good hour at this point, she was quite rude to me, so I asked her to leave and I rang the police, was told it is illegal for children to play football on an actual road. So I went to the shop and spoke to the owner as she that had been rude was his secretery, I took my son to apologise for his actions and agreed to pay for the damage, which I did when they got the bill - it is right to pay for the damage - it will hurt - but it's right