Chasing a neighbour for money when they are moving out.

[ehasler]

I live in an apartment block, and the neighbour who has the car park space next to mine accidentally damaged my car at the end of last year. He eventually admitted this to me after the building manager pointed out to him that it had been caught on CCTV, and he agreed to pay for the damage to be repaired.

So far though he has not come up with the money despite several polite reminders, so I sent him a letter a couple of weeks ago saying that if he didn't pay up within a week I would take him to the small claims court. He then popped round, apologised and said he couldn't afford it just then but would pay at the end of the month when he got paid. He seemed genuine, so I accepted that and agreed to wait another few weeks.

However I've just noticed that his flat is being advertised for rent, so it looks like he's going to be moving out very soon. Obviously I'm concerned now that he is intending to move away without paying, and I will have no way to trace him once he has left.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what action I can take next? If I raise a claim on Money Claim Online now, he may have moved out by the time they send the claim to him so I'm not sure how useful that would be.

[ehasler]

I did consider that, but it's a company car and he no longer has it - I'm not even sure if he still works at the same place.

Also I didn't think I could simply put a retrospective claim in for a repair that I've already had done and paid for.

In hindsight I should have just gone down the insurance route from the start, but it was only a bumper respray and he was keen to sort it out privately (I assumed as it was less than his excess).