Completion complete, white goods removed

[KTF]

Oh dear, we totally took them in error and are really sorry. Thanks for bringing it to our attention but you still aren't getting them back so how about some derisory amount that won't even cover the cost of replacing them instead...

I don't think I would be knocking on their door with a bottle of wine to say 'thanks'.

[Vaud]

KTF said:

Oh dear, we totally took them in error and are really sorry. Thanks for bringing it to our attention but you still aren't getting them back so how about some derisory amount that won't even cover the cost of replacing them instead...

I don't think I would be knocking on their door with a bottle of wine to say 'thanks'.

I take a very long view if you are living next to people for 3, 5, 10, 20 years.

If you are accepting their offer then it's best to close it out and move on - he is saying that he is satisfied with the offer. It's a very British thing to accept the money, cash the cheque and hold a multi year grudge.

[paulrockliffe]

KTF said:

Oh dear, we totally took them in error and are really sorry. Thanks for bringing it to our attention but you still aren't getting them back so how about some derisory amount that won't even cover the cost of replacing them instead...

I don't think I would be knocking on their door with a bottle of wine to say 'thanks'.

Quite. Why doesn't the neighbour get on Gumtree and buy replacements for £400? They could have done that before they moved. It's because they're aholes.

You've also established that they don't have the balls to follow-through, so they're not going to be a problem long-term.

Equally you don't need people like that in your life, so nothing to gain from sending them bottles of wine for ripping you off a bit less.

[anonymous-user]

Vaud said:

KTF said:

Oh dear, we totally took them in error and are really sorry. Thanks for bringing it to our attention but you still aren't getting them back so how about some derisory amount that won't even cover the cost of replacing them instead...

I don't think I would be knocking on their door with a bottle of wine to say 'thanks'.

I take a very long view if you are living next to people for 3, 5, 10, 20 years.

If you are accepting their offer then it's best to close it out and move on - he is saying that he is satisfied with the offer. It's a very British thing to accept the money, cash the cheque and hold a multi year grudge.

The OP has already taken the long view by not arguing over another £500. The cheque and card draw a line under things and the next phase is just having a normal neighbourly relationship.

I certainly would not buy them a bottle of wine.

[dickymint]

garyhun said:

I certainly would not buy them a bottle of wine.

I would ....... an empty one with a note in saying “oops I seem to have drunk it by mistake”

[Chris Type R]

Personally I'd be happier with the £1k contribution toward new appliances than having the old appliances.

It's still very cheeky on their part, but that's life.

EDIT : And thanks OP for being a good web citizen and updating the topic (I'm sure the former owners would not have bothered ).

[B17NNS]

dickymint said:

I would ....... an empty one with a note in saying “oops I seem to have drunk it by mistake”

and tell them they can buy bottles of lukewarm piss on gumtree for half the price

[Rich135]

Well done OP, I think I would have taken your line too, though it would have really baulked that I had so much trouble because of their mistake in the first place.

[anonymous-user]

Chris Type R said:

Personally I'd be happier with the £1k contribution toward new appliances than having the old appliances.

It's still very cheeky on their part, but that's life.

EDIT : And thanks OP for being a good web citizen and updating the topic (I'm sure the former owners would not have bothered ).

Agree - the old stuff could go bang at any time.

[dickymint]

B17NNS said:

dickymint said:

I would ....... an empty one with a note in saying “oops I seem to have drunk it by mistake”

and tell them they can buy bottles of lukewarm piss on gumtree for half the price

But joking aside I think Hairy did the right thing but it’s a shame he “panick bought” appliances he didn’t really want.

[JuniorD]

OP did you get sorted with a freezer?

If so, you might wish to start filling it with sausages

[Robertj21a]

Vaud said:

fat80b said:

We have yet to see / speak to the neighbours so don't have any view yet as to the effect on neighbourly relations.

You have been very pragmatic... not sure I would have been so kind!

Taking the long view, if you are now accepting the offer, I'd drop a bottle of wine round and wish them a happy new year to draw a line under it.

Agreed, take the long view. In any event it's really not that much money involved, just an unnecessary hassle.

[Vaud]

Robertj21a said:

Agreed, take the long view. In any event it's really not that much money involved, just an unnecessary hassle.

Exactly. PH is full of powerfully built directors who like to hold 30 year grudges.

The best thing to do in a point of conflict is to defuse, regardless of who is "right". It's like disputes over 1 ft of land and fences.

[Zoon]

Vaud said:

Exactly. PH is full of powerfully built directors who like to hold 30 year grudges.

Only 30 years?

[Robertj21a]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Don't all wives hold on to grudges for 30+ years/forever ?

[Sheepshanks]

fat80b said:

They were apparently apologetic and claimed it was an innocent mistake and initially offered £400 as a gesture for the 7 items as gumtree and anyvan could see equivalent replacements for this amount.....

My solicitor reckoned that 1/2 new cost of 7 items might be "reasonable", so I suggested nearer to £1500 would be about right.

They came back with an offer of £1K.

£400 is just ridiculous but I suppose you could argue they didn't have a reference point, but I think them offering £1K is particularly cheeky - they messed up and your solicitor justified an amount of £1500 which they should have handed over with suitably red faces for the inconvenience caused.

Did your solicitor do this extra work FOC?

[wibble cb]

Robertj21a said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Don't all wives hold on to grudges for 30+ years/forever ?

yes, its called marriage...


In Canada appliances are usually included in any house purchase (by convention), but I think its out of laziness, as the washing machine/tumble dryer we were left with were 25+ years old and knackered, so we still had to go and replace them and get rid of the old ones!

[rsbmw]

Looking at it another way, if someone offered you £1k for your crappy old kitchen appliances so you could go out and buy new ones, you’d probably bite their hand off as you would never achieve that selling them on gumtree/ebay

[superlightr]

garyhun said:

Chris Type R said:

Personally I'd be happier with the £1k contribution toward new appliances than having the old appliances.

It's still very cheeky on their part, but that's life.

EDIT : And thanks OP for being a good web citizen and updating the topic (I'm sure the former owners would not have bothered ).

Agree - the old stuff could go bang at any time.

also agree. I would have gone with the 1k as well.

Old stuff could have gone bang and then leaked !

[hutchst]

garyhun said:

If you are away why not get their phone number and call them?

Radical I know!

For goodness sake, mate. That's just so last century.

I am currently sitting in my office looking out of the window, and about 200 yards away I can see the office of one of the consultants that advises the company. A few days ago I sent him a document that I wanted his advice on. Very simple question.

So far this week I've had four emails from his PA asking me to reply by return email to inform her what time would be suitable for him to call me on the phone, so that she can check whether he will be able to phone me at that time.

The world has gone mad.