Neighbour broke car, won't pay

Steaming33

I lent my car to my neighbour while we were away for Christmas, when I came back I found that he had broken the key off in the ignition (he didn't tell me until I came home), tried to fix it himself, and towed the car with steering lock in the snow. I got a mechanic onto it, and he said the cost to replace the ignition basically wrote the car off (old n reg almera) so we've sold it for scrap. My neighbour says he's going to get us money, but he never comes round when agreed, he pretends he's not in if we knock on his door, if we do see him he says he's sorting something out, leave it with him, but he's totally untrustworthy - he lied about smoking in the car - found a cig butt on my son's car seat :mad::mad::mad:, lied about when the accident happened, lied about towing the car, I know he's lying about his financial situation as he told me before Christmas that he was buying a car. What should I do? What would you do? I was going to say just pay half the cost of the ignition, but now I'm so cross and I've got to buy a new car, I don't see why I should be paying for this idiot.

wba31

Steaming33 wrote: »

I lent my car to my neighbour while we were away for Christmas, when I came back I found that he had broken the key off in the ignition (he didn't tell me until I came home), tried to fix it himself, and towed the car with steering lock in the snow. I got a mechanic onto it, and he said the cost to replace the ignition basically wrote the car off (old n reg almera) so we've sold it for scrap. My neighbour says he's going to get us money, but he never comes round when agreed, he pretends he's not in if we knock on his door, if we do see him he says he's sorting something out, leave it with him, but he's totally untrustworthy - he lied about smoking in the car - found a cig butt on my son's car seat :mad::mad::mad:, lied about when the accident happened, lied about towing the car, I know he's lying about his financial situation as he told me before Christmas that he was buying a car. What should I do? What would you do? I was going to say just pay half the cost of the ignition, but now I'm so cross and I've got to buy a new car, I don't see why I should be paying for this idiot.

what can you do? i'd learn from your mistake and never lend a car out again.

Surely you only needed to replace the ignition chamber? could have got one off a scrapyard?

Steaming33

You need the keys to match the ignition chamber or it doesn't work, I had a ring round the local scrapyards but couldn't find one with key. I had to make a decision as to what to do with the car as the MOT and tax were due.

maninthestreet

Never, ever lend your car to a friend/neighbour like this - did you check they were insured to drive your car?

Steaming33

Future car will definitely only be lent to blood relatives. Lesson definitely learnt - I just didn't think someone I liked and trusted would take such massive liberties.

Steaming33

I did check he was insured to drive it.

bloss0m

dont lend you car permanently regardless of who they are, blood relatives can be just as bad

Steaming33

Do you think I'd have any joy with small claims court? Not that joy is a word I'm really applying to this situation...

wealdroam

Steaming33 wrote: »

Do you think I'd have any joy with small claims court?

Have you a written agreement?

Otherwise... re-read post #2...

wba31 wrote: »

what can you do? i'd learn from your mistake and never lend a car out again.

Tilt

Steaming33 wrote: »

Do you think I'd have any joy with small claims court? Not that joy is a word I'm really applying to this situation...

Seems like could be your only option. First of all you need to write to him giving him the option to rectify matters within a time scale. Send him letter by recorded delivery (most important, even if he lives next door) stating that you hold him responsible for damages to the ignition on you car and as such you require him to pay for any necessary repairs. Give him the opportunity to sort this himself or you will take it to a main dealer and have it done yourself and hold him liable for the bill. Indicate that if necessary, you may take legal action if the matter is not resolved within 14 days.

However, there is always a risk in taking someone through the small claims court. You have to pay when making a claim and further fees should a hearing be necessary and there are no guarentees of sucsess of getting your money back even if you win.

wba31

Tilt wrote: »

Seems like could be your only option. First of all you need to write to him giving him the option to rectify matters within a time scale. Send him letter by recorded delivery (most important, even if he lives next door) stating that you hold him responsible for damages to the ignition on you car and as such you require him to pay for any necessary repairs. Give him the opportunity to sort this himself or you will take it to a main dealer and have it done yourself and hold him liable for the bill. Indicate that if necessary, you may take legal action if the matter is not resolved within 14 days.

But you need to prove liability? how do you know the key would not have broken regardless?
When i had well old Nissan Micra's as my cars they would constantly need filling with oil. I leant one to a female friend, left a few litres of oil in the boot, and told her to check every 200 miles. sure enough she didnt, oil light came and she carried on, ending up blowing a hole in the engine. I was replacing the car anyway, but i didnt chase her for money because the engine was on it's way out anyway...

we only know what you've told us, but can your neighbour argue (in a small claims court) that the broken key was wear and tear? and if it hadnt happened to him, it would have happened to you in the first few weeks of january?