Real-life MMD:Dogs destroyed neighbour's signed ball. Should we replace it?

dprice

If needs be let them claim on their house insurance. If its that valuable it will be named as an item on their insurance. After all this is what insurance is for.

Talent

Tell them to take a running jump at the 6ft fence.

Zildjian_2

The nature and value of the object is irrelevant. This is a question of liability. I'm not a lawyer but it seems to me that, in the given circumstances, unless the claimant can prove negiligence on the dog-owner's part, there is no case for claiming damages (loss). A deliberate act to cause damge by setting the dogs to rip the item apart could result in a criminal charge.
On the information given, neither seems to apply.

CynicalSpecial

NO - don't pay for it. If it was that valuable, why were the kids playing with it in the garden? Doesn't suggest it was being treated as a valuable item worthy of auction in Bond Street does it?

p00

Why would a ball signed by Rooney be so valuable :rotfl::rotfl:

gaum

If I were you I'd take my dogs to the vet to check that they haven't swallowed any 'foreign objects', which can be fatal in certain circumstances, then post the vet's bill through their letterbox along with a printout of all the replies to this thread and a polite note telling them that failure to pay the bill will result in a money claim through the courts.

I did wonder if they were lying about the ball being signed, to try to extort compensation from you, but regardless of whether it was or wasn't, how dare they put the health of living creatures above an inanimate object. It is you who should have the grievance, not them. It's not nice to fall out with your neighbours, but they are clearly unreasonable people and I know from personal experience that some people will never act reasonably, no matter how many chances they are given.

You have done the right thing by offering to replace the (unsigned) ball, which was a gesture of goodwill and not necessary. If they can't see that, please don't waste any more time worrying about them. How much is a Rooney signature worth anyway? You can probably get one on eBay for 50p.

willamae

Ignore them. My son had a ball signed by the Manchester City team and he insisted on taking it outside to play with. I told him that that would ruin the special nature of that particular ball. He did it anyway. Ball useless as an asset. The only value in these objects is if they are, either in pristine condition, or they have sentimental value. Good luck. Will you be on neighbours from hell any time soon. You have my sympathies.

janiebquick

Since when has Wayne Rooney been able to write his name?

minicooper272

I'm speculating, but it sounds to me like the son got a hold of Dads precious signed football, and wasn't supposed to be playing with it. That or it was never signed, and your neighbours see a cash-cow.

Either way, I couldn't imagine it would be your responsibility to pay for it. Short of putting a net over your back garden, you did what could have been reasonably expected of you - you have high fences around your garden, and I'm sure your neighbours were aware you have dogs. I am sure there are many precedents of people kicking things into other people's property and having them confiscated?

alittlemadam

Why should you be expected to pay for something that was so valuable (in whose eyes the parents or was the child trying to make a point that he doesnt like Wayne Rooney:rotfl:) .

The ball should either have been taken off the child and put out of reach or the child should have had a talking to explaining how vauable the ball was and it was not to be touched let alone played with in the garden.

Im sorry but whilst the parents may be angry with the child it is through there carelessness that this problem arose. You have dont everything you can to prevent the dogs getting out of your garden, which is the priority here not to stop next door fom kicking the football over into your garden.

my daughter has a signed Englands Rugby Top from 2 seasons ago along with a signed Lions Rugby Top is she allowed to wear them NO, they are on the Wall in her bedroom in a frame.

Incidentially when I was younger we lived next door to a guy who whenever the footballs used to go over the fence he used to burst them with a knife or screwdriver because as he put it they were damaging his plants. My dad used to tell us it was our own fault for kicking the ball over in the first place.