Told neighbor I pay for trampoline damage if I'm responsible, but am I responsible?

sevenhills

motorguy wrote: »

Of course you can replace a roof panel / skin.

But replacing a roof panel is much more difficult and harder to get a perfect result, than repairing the old one.
I assume its not bolted on? The OP should at least require three quotes.

Frozen_up_north

It is not unreasonable to ask for three quotes from reputable repair workshops for something that appears quite expensive. I would invite the neighbour round for a cup of tea and explain that if they obtain three written quotes you will pay the lower of the three on presentation of the paperwork.

With regard to trampolines being blown about in high winds, in much less wind than was forecast I’ve seen one end up in a neighbours garden. It’s certainly your responsibility and nobody elses.

I personally wouldn’t ignore the threat of court action, it sounds like the car owner is rightly upset at his car being damaged and is looking to have the car repaired by his first choice of workshop and send you a letter to cover the cost, followed by the small claims court. Those court cases are often of very brief duration and when presented with a clear cut case of negligence will find in favour of the complaint in the blink of an eye.

paddyandstumpy

If the OP's neighbour went through his car insurance he wouldn't have the right to demand what he is demanding what is done privately. He is entitled to the the most cost effective option of repair and nothing else.

As above ask for multiple quotes, where the body shop advise what repair is required; as opposed to the neighbour asking for a quote for a new roof.

Autumnella

Get a couple of other quotes from other reputable garages. Offer to pay the cheapest and if he wants to go to his own garage he can pay the difference. If he's not happy with that my response would be "see you in court then."

girlneedshelp

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

It is not unreasonable to ask for three quotes from reputable repair workshops for something that appears quite expensive.

Thanks for the advice. I think the issue is going to be whether these three quotes are to completely replace the respective parts, or to repair them. Three quotes to replace the parts in question, along with the relevant labour may all be very similiar in the £2000+ range, whereas three quotes to repair and repaint the dents may all be in the £600+ range. I'm not sure the £2400 quote is reasonable.

Herzlos

If your saying the car is a year old and cost £7000 new, it's presumably only worth about £5000 now?

If so, it might be cheaper to offer to buy his car for the pre-damage value and then keep it yourself or sell it on after just getting it repaired.

AdrianC

sevenhills wrote: »

But replacing a roof panel is much more difficult and harder to get a perfect result, than repairing the old one.
I assume its not bolted on?

The parts list on the estimate the OP quoted includes a roof bonding kit. The skin on many modern vehicles is bonded - glued - on, just the same as a windscreen. That allows either a solid roof skin to be fitted or a part- or wholly-glass panoramic roof to be fitted with no structural changes.

It also means that changing the roof skin is relatively non-invasive, which is why the bill is not larger.

TBH, for a roof skin, bonnet, and paint - £2,500 seems quite reasonable to me. Just look at the breakdown - only £750ish of that is labour - or about 1.5 solid man-days at a hardly-excessive £62.50/hr - half that if it was at the kind of main dealer hourly rates often seen... The rest is parts, materials and VAT.

girlneedshelp

paddyandstumpy wrote: »

As above ask for multiple quotes, where the body shop advise what repair is required; as opposed to the neighbour asking for a quote for a new roof.

Autumnella wrote: »

Get a couple of other quotes from other reputable garages. Offer to pay the cheapest and if he wants to go to his own garage he can pay the difference. If he's not happy with that my response would be "see you in court then."

I think that sounds about right. I suppose if I'm found liable and my quotes say that it can be fixed and painted, as opposed to his quotes which say to replace the parts and be painted, a court can decide what is reasonable.

bertiewhite

So the general consensus in this thread is that the owner of a trampoline in this thread is responsible for it hitting a neighbour's car.

Yet in this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5719393

some posters say it's the car owners fault for being parked where a bin might hit it.

MataNui

paddyandstumpy wrote: »

If the OP's neighbour went through his car insurance he wouldn't have the right to demand what he is demanding what is done privately. He is entitled to the the most cost effective option of repair and nothing else.

As above ask for multiple quotes, where the body shop advise what repair is required; as opposed to the neighbour asking for a quote for a new roof.

Not entirely true. The car is 18 months old so they would be entitled to a repair which would preserve his manufacturers warranty. The insurance company my suggest otherwise but thats just crap. You do not have to use the insurers repairer.

As far as liability and negligence goes i am pretty sure a judge would rule on whats reasonable. I would suggest that ensuring a flat relatively light weight wind catcher when there have been well reported severe weather warnings would be reasonable. Not checking if whats basically a massive sail is secure in one of the worst storms in 50 years is without doubt negligent.

OP, you say it weights 45kg so shouldnt of moved. I saw a static caravan blown over Tuesday morning. I think that weighs a bit more than 45 kg. You can refuse to pay but you will end up in court. As far as i can see your liability isnt in question. You are liable. The only question is if his claim is reasonable. His current argument isnt great so you may get some traction with that.