Tripped over neighbour's EV cable and damaged it...any insurance cover either way?

dunstonh

Neighbour just popped round to tell me it's £400 to repair/replace and the clear assumption is that he expects us to foot the entire bill.

I have a charger and just bought a longer cable and it was about £120.    
The cables are well protected and not easy to damage.  They have to be in case someone trips over them or people stand on them.   So, how exactly is it damaged?

When a charger is bought, the individual has a choice to buy one with fixed cabling or independent cabling.   the former being cheaper in the short term but at risk of being more expensive in the long term.      So, is it just the cable that is damaged or is it the charging unit that is damaged? If charging unit, then is it fixed cabling or independent cabling?

I am just wondering if its a fixed cable where a tug from someone tripping over it has pulled on the charger unit and its the unit that has damaged.

There is a duty of care for anyone laying potential obstacles across areas where anyone can walk.   Failure to secure cabling is a fault of the neighbour.   It is unlikely that liability would exist with the person tripping over the obstacle if the obstacle is not secured and safe.  Cable protectors exist for this very scenario.  Were there any cable protectors?

In reality, offering something towards the cost may keep you friendly but if they are trying for all of it, then they are not thinking about future relations.

Keep_pedalling

They left a trip hazard on a public path so really it is down to them, although you might like to offer to contribute in order to maintain good relationships. 

What sort of cable is this, tethered or removable? In either case £400 sounds the price a car dealer would charge. They really need to use a cable protector where it crosses the path or even better get one of these installed in the path. https://lowenergysupermarket.com/product/ev-electric-car-charging-cable-tidy-channel-trip-prevention/?utm_term=44975&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9NS29_Xg_wIVP4toCR1phAm9EAQYEiABEgJnJfD_BwE

Nearlyold

They should have used something like this. If the cable was unprotected it would obviously be a trip hazard, thick cables particularly those that are coiled up regularly when not in use often decline to stay flat. https://www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk/ev-charger-cable-cover?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7uSkBhDGARIsAMCZNJsii8ArhA0f7hJZiuqhTd7j1E7h86vEGJB2otNNkMUUuIIqX1M_hzkaAqAhEALw_wcB#product-details-tab-reviews

FlyingSquirrel2

Just looking more closely at the text from the neighbour and it's a £220 call out charge plus £114 for the cable... it's the cable that's attached to their charging point if you see what I mean so I assume that's why it needs an installer to come out.
Gahhhh I can't see any way in which this isn't going to get unpleasant with the neighbours    :'( 

FlyingSquirrel2

Partner now tells me he "tripped" with the bike...which might explain the amount of force it took to damage the cable - not sure if this changes the liability situation. I just called our insurer and the claims handler on the phone said "well surely that's their fault?" but then suggested I submit a claim form so that the legal cover team can look at it.

Keep_pedalling

FlyingSquirrel2 said:

Just looking more closely at the text from the neighbour and it's a £220 call out charge plus £114 for the cable... it's the cable that's attached to their charging point if you see what I mean so I assume that's why it needs an installer to come out.
Gahhhh I can't see any way in which this isn't going to get unpleasant with the neighbours    :'( 

So a tethered cable then. In your shoes I would offer to go halves but point out they would have been entirely responsible if someone tripped over that cable and injured themselves and that they could be facing a claim for thousands rather than a few hundred for a damaged cable so could the please in future put some form of protection across the path.

If they are insistent. In you paying it all aI would move the offer. They could take you to the small claims court but there is no way they would win unless you failed to defend it,

dunstonh

Just looking more closely at the text from the neighbour and it's a £220 call out charge plus £114 for the cable... it's the cable that's attached to their charging point if you see what I mean so I assume that's why it needs an installer to come out.

So, effectively, your neighbour went for the cheaper, riskier option of fixed/tethered cabling and a potential risk event of that cabling occurred.

Don't assume anything. Its possible that the neighbour doesn't have a clue how it works and has automatically rang the unit company when its necessary.   If its not tethered then a new cable would be all that is required.  However, I suspect it is tethered as its hard to see how a trip could damage these cables as they are so strong (even with a bike)

So, it probably is tethered but you should make sure as the call out fee is almost two-thirds of the cost.
if it is tethered, then a remark in conversation may be in order as you are effectively going to be paying towards a bill that was less likely to have happened if they hand't have gone for the cheap option.

Keep_pedalling

dunstonh said:

Just looking more closely at the text from the neighbour and it's a £220 call out charge plus £114 for the cable... it's the cable that's attached to their charging point if you see what I mean so I assume that's why it needs an installer to come out.

So, effectively, your neighbour went for the cheaper, riskier option of fixed/tethered cabling and a potential risk event of that cabling occurred.

Don't assume anything. Its possible that the neighbour doesn't have a clue how it works and has automatically rang the unit company when its necessary.   If its not tethered then a new cable would be all that is required.  However, I suspect it is tethered as its hard to see how a trip could damage these cables as they are so strong (even with a bike)

So, it probably is tethered but you should make sure as the call out fee is almost two-thirds of the cost.
if it is tethered, then a remark in conversation may be in order as you are effectively going to be paying towards a bill that was less likely to have happened if they hand't have gone for the cheap option.

A tethered cable cable is not a cheaper option, it actually the more expensive one as EVs normal come with a removable cable I suspect the damage was to the connector at the car end rather than the charge port which would be difficult to damage without damaging the charge point itself.

DE_612183

who told the neighbour that the cable was damaged?

Just wondering that if you approached them to say it had happened did you ( your partner ) infer it was our fault by apologising which is why they may be thinking you're going to pay for it all....

FlyingSquirrel2

Keep_pedalling said:

dunstonh said:

Just looking more closely at the text from the neighbour and it's a £220 call out charge plus £114 for the cable... it's the cable that's attached to their charging point if you see what I mean so I assume that's why it needs an installer to come out.

So, effectively, your neighbour went for the cheaper, riskier option of fixed/tethered cabling and a potential risk event of that cabling occurred.

Don't assume anything. Its possible that the neighbour doesn't have a clue how it works and has automatically rang the unit company when its necessary.   If its not tethered then a new cable would be all that is required.  However, I suspect it is tethered as its hard to see how a trip could damage these cables as they are so strong (even with a bike)

So, it probably is tethered but you should make sure as the call out fee is almost two-thirds of the cost.
if it is tethered, then a remark in conversation may be in order as you are effectively going to be paying towards a bill that was less likely to have happened if they hand't have gone for the cheap option.

A tethered cable cable is not a cheaper option, it actually the more expensive one as EVs normal come with a removable cable I suspect the damage was to the connector at the car end rather than the charge port which would be difficult to damage without damaging the charge point itself.

Ahh OK that makes sense; and yes it was damaged at the car end. He thought he had damaged the car at first...

DE_612183 said:

who told the neighbour that the cable was damaged?

Just wondering that if you approached them to say it had happened did you ( your partner ) infer it was our fault by apologising which is why they may be thinking you're going to pay for it all....

My partner went to tell them; I wasn't there so don't actually know how he approached it, but he came away from the conversation saying it was OK - they didn't flip out, so yes maybe he went in as apologetic, though I don't suppose that will really matter with regards to liability (though may do for our ongoing neighbourliness!!)