Real Life MMD: Should I keep schtum over damaging neighbour's car?

farmhouse

I can't believe you are even asking. I would be so upset if you damaged my little car and then didn't bother to tell me. Takes courage to fess up but I think you, your sister and little one should call round to apologise and offer a repair. People work hard to pay for their stuff these days and your sister's neighbours may have spent their last penny on their "new" car.

tnr

All you need to ask yourself is how would you feel if someone did the same thing to your car!! Honesty is always the best policy

sideways-sid

Fishcakes wrote: »

Sounds like it is a very small mark to me. I suppose the decent thing to do is get your sister to talk to your neighbour. It was her child who did this and you cant be accountable for their actions.
I have to say though, people who are overly proud of their cars cut no ice with me, and people who have private number plates are egotistical morons. If it also happens to be a flash sports car then frankly they deserve to get the thing scratched :whistle:

How dare you suggest that if someone has a nice car they "deserve to get the thing scratched"?

markvh

iscamaid wrote: »

Humm, all depends on the type of dent. If it went down to metal I would say something, If it was a tiny mark I would probably keep quiet. Personally I have never understood why anyone would want to drive a prisitine car as you are going to be upset at some point. I have never had a new car, always driven bangers and if anyone dinked it in supermarket, well it would never worry me. Life is too short to worry about a painted metal brick - then again thats only my opinion..............

Terrible !!!

How about if the kid had been "playing" near your house and broken a window.......

Of course you should pay in full if your child damages someones car !

Carriannelouise

Im a student with a child so when i grafted for 6 months to earn enough to buy a new (2nd hand) car i was so happy to finally have it and parked well away from others to stop it getting scratched, the day i got it someone keyed a 12 inch scratch in the door in asda car park(through to metal) and i got about 1 door dint/chip a month at least. i decided one day to sit in my car over my lunch hour and the "nice" woman that parked next to me every day pulled up and slam. she'd slammed her car door into my car and left an inch long scratch! so i got out and politely said excuse me you just scratched my door she very rudely told me oh well, thats what insurance is for... i asked her to pay the premium and she told me to "f-off im on benefits and cant afford it" i couldn't believe it i was really upset. if shed have just said oh sorry id have brushed it off and parked elsewhere.

i think you should own up to it, i have been on the receiving end and it doesn't feel nice. the neighbor will most likely suspect the child anyway (im not saying their horrible but its hard not to suspect people when your a bit miffed)

Own up, have a clean conscience and you might even get a new friend!

elvis86

Carriannelouise wrote: »

Im a student with a child so when i grafted for 6 months to earn enough to buy a new (2nd hand) car i was so happy to finally have it and parked well away from others to stop it getting scratched, the day i got it someone keyed a 12 inch scratch in the door in asda car park(through to metal) and i got about 1 door dint/chip a month at least. i decided one day to sit in my car over my lunch hour and the "nice" woman that parked next to me every day pulled up and slam. she'd slammed her car door into my car and left an inch long scratch! so i got out and politely said excuse me you just scratched my door she very rudely told me oh well, thats what insurance is for... i asked her to pay the premium and she told me to "f-off im on benefits and cant afford it" i couldn't believe it i was really upset. if shed have just said oh sorry id have brushed it off and parked elsewhere.

Providing I had the option of parking elsewhere, I think the same woman might have found her tyres miraculously flat the next day.:cool:

scouserbear

Own up and next time open the door for the 3 year old, he shouldn't be able to open the door by himself, child locks should be on anyway.

Fishcakes_2

elvis86 wrote: »

To all you bitter (I imagine, poor) people who seem to have this weird idea that anyone who can afford anything nice deserves to have it wrecked by others, I ask;

If, once you've managed to get a better job/pay off your DMP/get off benefits/sort out whatever is making you poor (and bitter), you manage to save up and decide to treat yourself to something nice, are you honestly saying that you would fully expect and approve of someone else coming along and wrecking it??

I really can't comprehend your (bitter, jealous) logic, that people with nice things should expect them to be trashed?

You may describe a flashy sports car as "nice". I however, would describe them as ostentatious, egotistical symbols of avarice, conspicuous consumption, and brainwashed aspirational vulgarity. They exemplify to me much that is wrong with the modern world and people in general. So no, I am not jealous of flashy sports car owners, I just don't like them very much.

Back on topic
Question to all the posters here who think the childs mother is not responsible for paying costs.
If your child was at a friends house to play and upon picking them up you were told that your child had picked up a stone and threw it at a window and broke it. Would you not immediately and instinctively offer to pay for it? Would it not be incredibly rude to simply walk away saying tough luck, you should have prevented it happening?
It's as if some people think that handing your kids over to someone else absolves you of any responsibilty or accountability for their behaviour.

TBagpuss

I agree with the majority, of course you shouldtell the neighbour - his/her car was damaged by your nephew.
If you were in charge four nephew at the time then the responsibility is yours, I don't se why your sister should be expected to contribute. If she was supervising her son at the time then it is reasonable to expect her to contribute, but on the face of it it sounds as though you were the person in immedaite charge of him at the time.

davidt1980

tomar wrote: »

Can this guy really be serious???

What part do you not agree with? I can break it down for you if you would prefer?

If she is not 100 percent sure it was there beforehand how can she be 100 percent sure it was the nephew?

The Child is NOT hers it is her nephew.
She asked the child to get out of the car.
Surely, It would be her sisters responsilbility to pay for the damage.

So before making any derogatory remarks at least let me know what you disagree with in YOUR SOLUTION to this dilemma...Its a forum of opinions which as of yet, flicking through i haven't seen yours.

This also extends to derogatory remarks to Scouting in future as I volunteer my time to help others and have done for over 10 years.