Paying to replace a damaged bollard

bricks4200

A couple of weeks ago I reversed at very low speed into a privately owned folding parking bollard. There is no damage to the bollard itself, the front 2 bolts have been pulled out of the ground. I knocked on the door to of the woman that owns the bollard, thinking that I'd tell her what's happened and I'd maybe come back later with new bolts to refit the bollard. She has been very unreasonable from the start and is demanding I pay £280 for a brand new bollard and installation otherwise she'll take me to small claims court.

The bollard is only £70, the other £210 is the installation (god knows why anyone would pay that for 3 bolts in the ground). In order to resolve the issue, I offered to pay for a new bollard and fit it myself, which was an instant no. I know a specialist home improvements contractor who does pretty much everything, loft conversions, full extensions, kitchens etc. He has fitted many bollards before but does not advertise it on their website, understandably because that's not where the money is for him. He quoted me roughly £60 for the installation but was unable to get a proper look at it due to the bollard owner not allowing it because "they are not a specialist bollard installation company". Obviously I'd understand if this was an automatic rising bollard or something, but this is just a folding bollard with 3 ground bolt securing it to the ground.

The woman has since said that she is going to pay for a new bollard and installation and make me reimburse her for it. I have offered to pay £140 towards this, given the quotes I got for the new bollard and installation from another company. She has refused this, and is still wanting to take me to court.

Any advice would be great, thanks in advance.

molerat

That's what you pay car insurance for.  You will have to declare it anyway so give her your insurance details and let them deal with it.  If someone damaged your car would you let them repair it themselves or get a random mate to do it ? Didn't think so !

AdrianC

Her bollard, her choice as to how to deal with it. I presume she has your car insurance details...?

I am particularly amused by how there's no damage, apart from two-thirds of the fixings having been ripped out of the ground. Clue: A couple of rawlplugs ain't enough.

bricks4200

molerat said:

That's what you pay car insurance for.  You will have to declare it anyway so give her your insurance details and let them deal with it.  If someone damaged your car would you let them repair it themselves or get a random mate to do it ? Didn't think so !

Different to a car though, its a simple folding bollard. There is no damage to the bollard, just needs new fixings. Although he is a mate, he owns a successful home improvements company, and has fitted many private/commercial bollards in the past (there is evidence of the quality of work). All the work would go through the company, it wouldn't be him doing it off his own back.

Scrapit

She can take you to court. She cannot define the result though.

mr_stripey

if she is being awkward it's probably best to let your insurance deal with it. Even if she accepts your offer for your mate to do it, she could end up causing you and him more aggravation further down the line if it "comes loose" again or something. It's unfortunate because most people would be fine with your proposal to make good.

Grumpy_chap

Easiest to just pay her the £280 and done with it.

Neil49

Ask to see the quote for the repair. She could be ripping you off..

onlyfoolsandparking

With the attitude she's got I wouldn't be paying anything.

The_Rainmaker

onlyfoolsandparking said:

With the attitude she's got I wouldn't be paying anything.

What attitude?  Some plank knocks the bollard over and then says 3 bolts and we're done.  I don't think so.

If i was her I would have asked for car insurance details by now.

Pay the money.  

Mercdriver

If you can demonstrate to the court that the claimant hasn't found best value, you can argue to pay less.  You could end up with higher costs as a result though.
I doubt that I would accept you coming back with a few screws...