We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Real life MMD:My neighbour's dog ate my wife's best shoes!
Options

Former_MSE_Penelope
Posts: 536 Forumite
Money Moral Dilemma: My neighbour's dog ate my wife's best shoes!
My wife went to a neighbour who'd asked for some advice on the garden. While she had wellies on their dog chewed my wife's most expensive shoes. Our neighbour was distraught and emailed shortly after the visit to say 'please let me pay', but hasn't followed this up. We don't know whether to charge the replacement price or what we paid (£89, half price from an outlet site, nice money saver!), or just put it down to bad luck.
Click reply to have your say
Previous MMDs: View All
[threadbanner] box [/threadbanner]
0
Comments
-
I'm guessing your missus has been wearing the shoes so they aren't worth what she paid for them. You surely have to deduct wear and tear. Depending on how old they are you deduct that from the £89 and that is a fair price to expect.0
-
She was wearing the most expensive shoes to see a neighbour about the garden? Unfortunate accident, perhaps a donation towards them, otherwise wear old shoes for garden things.0
-
I'm not sure about this wear and tear nonsense. It's a person's choice to wear whatever shoes they want, you can't go around expecting bad things to happen to your belongings everywhere you go and if you haven't had a dog eat your shoes there before then you're not going to be expecting it. If you can fine the receipt to prove their price (that you actually paid) I'd give this to your neighbour. I doubt I could bring myself to charge them the full price (ie not half price) but if it would genuinely cost this to replace them then so be it. It's a test of your own morals.0
-
I'm curious to know how you responded to your neighbours email? Did you respond immediately, with an amount you thought was fair?
Perhaps a nicer way to deal with it would be to suggest that perhaps she helps you in your garden, doing some weeding or digging? Or buys you some plants/a tree or something? Then she may feel she has "repaid" her debt and there won't be any bad feeling.0 -
I wouldn't have the cheek to ask them to pay anything more than I'd paid for them, and even then, £89 is pretty steep...0
-
She was wearing the most expensive shoes to see a neighbour about the garden? Unfortunate accident, perhaps a donation towards them, otherwise wear old shoes for garden things.
OP did say wife was wearing wellies - obviously knew they were going out into the garden, and brought both sets. Dog took advantage of the pair not being worn.
£89 for shoes - good bargain if you got them 1/2 price. But if friend has been decent enough to offer to pay up to Dog's mishap, then maybe that's the most you should mention.Always on the hunt for a bargain. :rolleyes:
Always grateful for any hints, tips or guidance as to where the best deals are:smileyhea0 -
Hi,
mmm, wonder what to have for lunch?0 -
Morally, the most you should ask for is the amount you paid (after all this is about 'moral dilemmas'); then go back to the outlet place and buy another pair and don't mention it to the neighbour again.
Perhaps a nicer way to deal with it would be to suggest that perhaps she helps you in your garden, doing some weeding or digging? Or buys you some plants/a tree or something? Then she may feel she has "repaid" her debt and there won't be any bad feeling.
The plant or tree is a nice idea but avoid asking her to do gardening as a form of payment because it's difficult to know when the debt has been 'paid off'. I lent a friend some money which he then couldn't pay back (for genuine reasons) but he offered to look after my garden for free, whcih he'd been doing for payment up until then, but now I don't know when to start paying him again because he does it on an irregular basis and it's difficult to know how much each job is worth.0 -
Would you have felt the same if they had been your tatty trainers ? No? However I expect the neighbour would have been just as upset over the bad behaviour of the dog.
I suggest you wear the new shoes and when she offers to pay suggest you both take the dog for a walk and end up at the pub and she can pay!0 -
pop the half-price receipt through their letter box, (when you know they wont be in if you prefer not to face them), along with a nice /funny note (or copy of their email), saying you hoped the dog enjoyed his lunch, and there's no rush for payment. If they pay its a bonus, if they dont - put it down to experience - and dont wear expensive shoes for gardening visits again.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.7K Spending & Discounts
- 244.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177K Life & Family
- 257.6K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards