MMD: Should I make my son pay for his mistake?

Bellisima

What is the point of insurance if you do not claim when necessary? We all make mistakes. I would let son pay the excess. If premiums go up next year, then do a comparison and get a better deal. I do a comparison every year and it is always worth doing.

geoffhead

Insufficient information but I believe you could source a new bumper on the WWW getting it cheaper that way.
There are plenty of body people out there who would fit the bumper for you, certainly worth a try,

REJP

No information about repair cost.
If it is less than the excess charge, he pays that if he can afford it. If it is more, then claim on insurance and he pays the excess.
Consider you are lucky to have a son who contributes regularly towards the running costs.
I am assuming you are a sensible person who has a policy with a protected no claim bonus so why will you lose anything, except perhaps the relationship with your son which I would consider worth more than a damaged bumper.
Or am I just old fashioned? Who said "To err is human, to forgive Divine?"

Augustus_the_Strong

If his contribution to the running costs also includes the insurance, then he's entitled to claim on it - but always work out whether the increased premium next year will be more than the cost of the repair. Maybe you have a protected no-claims bonus?

dsmcgarry

You can’t ask him to pay for damage if he’s paying towards running costs which should include insurance.

ska_lover

To teach him responsibility?


Seriously, do you not realize how amazingly responsible he already IS for a 19 year old


Your husband sounds like he is really unappreciative of this fact..and it is a fact


Your lad should get his own car, as at the minute hes an adult living life under another adults rules

Bananaboats

This happened to me a few years ago when we got a heart stopping 1am phone call to say my son had been in an accident! Although not speeding, he did admit he was probably going a bit too fast for the icy conditions and he wrote my car off so we agreed he would pay for the young driver excess which seemed fair. insurance is for this purpose, I’ve had a couple of bumps myself and we were just so relieved that he was completely unhurt!

Lavendyr

If he was at fault then I would suggest he pay the excess.

SisterBean

With the joy of hindsight some ground rules could have been set at the time you agreed shared use with your son about what he would be responsible for in the event of an accident.

happyinflorida

You say your 19 year old son - does this mean he is your son and not your husbands and is this why your husband is being quite strict and IMO, quite harsh?

The fact that your son is borrowing the car but is also making cash payments for the running costs, shows he is already being responsible - whether that is because you or your husband insisted on that or he offered.

Has your husband always been like this with him, if so - why? Seems a bit unfair to me.

Or was your son put on the car insurance to reduce the cost?

It would be better if he built up his own no claims insurance, so I'd encourage him to get his own car and then this will stop all of this but if other things are going wrong in the household as well, maybe it's time to look into things a bit more - like a change of circumstances, might make your life happier