settling outside insurance

[12lee]

Mrs 12lee may have nudged the door of a visitor to a neighbour. Paint would suggest this but she really doesn't recall it. Unfortunately a reversing Shogun vs a small crappy orientalbox has resulted in the door of the orientalbox being pushed in around the door handle. Amicable chat with car owner who doesn't want to go through insurance. It could actually be another neighbour's 4x4 that did it however I can see the possibility. He has a quote for it to be pressed out (rather than a new door) for max £300 and is prepared to go halves. His son is plod and has advised him with no witnesses, etc, it's all down to goodwill. For a quiet life, going halves seems fine. Would it be wise to pay and shake hands, or wiser to hand over the cash only if he signs something to the effect that he acknowledges this is a goodwill payment, will not make a claim and should he make a claim acknowledges that there are no witnesses and Mrs12lee carries no liability?

[Gavia]

12lee said:

Mrs 12lee may have nudged the door of a visitor to a neighbour. Paint would suggest this but she really doesn't recall it. Unfortunately a reversing Shogun vs a small crappy orientalbox has resulted in the door of the orientalbox being pushed in around the door handle. Amicable chat with car owner who doesn't want to go through insurance. It could actually be another neighbour's 4x4 that did it however I can see the possibility. He has a quote for it to be pressed out (rather than a new door) for max £300 and is prepared to go halves. His son is plod and has advised him with no witnesses, etc, it's all down to goodwill. For a quiet life, going halves seems fine. Would it be wise to pay and shake hands, or wiser to hand over the cash only if he signs something to the effect that he acknowledges this is a goodwill payment, will not make a claim and should he make a claim acknowledges that there are no witnesses and Mrs12lee carries no liability?

Who’s going halves? If it was my car that had been hit, I wouldn’t be paying half of the bill.

Why do people feel it necessary to denigrate the other drivers car? You’ve hit his car, he doesn’t deserve your sneering comments.

[12lee]

Gavia said:

Who’s going halves?

Both parties are going halves. Two parties, splitting the cost equally. Cost ÷ 2 = half.

Gavia said:

If it was my car that had been hit, I wouldn’t be paying half of the bill.

Indeed. In the absence of any witnesses, not having noticed the damage until you found an anonymous note on your car you'd either be paying nothing and leaving it or paying 100%.

Gavia said:

Why do people feel it necessary to denigrate the other drivers car? You’ve hit his car, he doesn’t deserve your sneering comments.

We absolutely do not know that Mrs 12 hit his car. Mrs 12 100% does not recall. I have examined paint and there's a possibility, but neither vehicle driver recalls and there are now witnesses. His vehicle is some tiny Japanese thing that weighs perhaps 30% of what may have bumped it which by the way is a 17 year old oriental lump. So sorry that the description offends your delicate sensibilities. If you are a 17 year old oriental lump then I apologise again for inadvertently offending you. This forum generally has some banter and vague humour. It may have escaped you.

Looking forward to some more constructive advice with less passive aggression and self righteousness.

Edited by 12lee on Saturday 13th January 15:38

[Gavia]

12lee said:

We absolutely do not know that Mrs 12 hit his car. Mrs 12 100% does not recall. I have examined paint and there's a possibility, but neither vehicle driver recalls and there are now witnesses. His vehicle is some tiny Japanese thing that weighs perhaps 30% of what may have bumped it which by the way is a 17 year old oriental lump. So sorry that the description offends your delicate sensibilities. If you are a 17 year old oriental lump then I apologise again for inadvertently offending you. This forum generally has some banter and vague humour. It may have escaped you.

Looking forward to some more constructive advice with less passive aggression and self righteousness.

Edited by 12lee on Saturday 13th January 15:38

Oh, you big cry baby. Your Missus hit his car, you’re claiming some sort of superiority because your car is bigger than his. Is your dad bigger than his too?

If he’s sure your wife hit him, then he could quite easily refer it to his insurers and see what happens. My prediction would be that they’d pay out. If my car was parked up and someone hit it, I certainly wouldn’t be paying for half the repairs. It’s that simple. You can ask him to sign anything you want, but it won’t alter anything if he’s later claims for something else. In fact all it will do is confirm you see yourselves as liable.

[TooMany2cvs]

12lee said:

Unfortunately a reversing big crappy orientalbox vs a small crappy orientalbox...

There, we're all happy now. Right?

The question is, given that you admit it's entirely possible, is £150 worth falling out with the neighbours over? Is a piece of paper with some vague "promises" worth falling out with them over?

[12lee]

TooMany2cvs said:

The question is, given that you admit it's entirely possible, is £150 worth falling out with the neighbours over? Is a piece of paper with some vague "promises" worth falling out with them over?

You're absolutely right. £150 is not worth falling out over. It's more about avoiding being screwed over.

I'm going to rephrase the question. Small crapbox owner absolutely does not know who hit his car. He found an anonymous note.

Mrs big crapbox owner does not think she did it but can accept the possibility.

Mr big crapbox owner thinks it's a possibility and believes in karma.

Small crapbox owner does not want to go through insurance, probably to avoid NCB issues and knowing that with no witnesses, it will go 50:50.

Small crapbox owner has proposed going halves outside insurance. I'm fine with that. I want to avoid the possibility of him screwing me over by doing what I see as the right thing. Is there any means to do this?

@Gavia: I claim no sense of superiority with regard to the size of a heavy 17-year old japanese crapbox vs a light 5-year old japanese crapbox. I can fully understand how someone reversing a heavy 17-year old japanese crapbox and having its tailgate mounted spare wheel nudging the light 5-year old japanese crapbox could have no sensation of an impact. I do claim a sense of superiority in not jumping to conclusions though. Others on this thread may be interested in your opinions but I'm not. bye bye.

Edited by 12lee on Saturday 13th January 17:01

Edited by 12lee on Saturday 13th January 17:01

[kingswood]

£150 for a quiet life is peanuts

if you think it was prob the wife then i'd pay up and put it to bed. then get her a smaller car she can drive! lol

you dont know the value of good neighbours till theyre gone

[MorganP104]

kingswood said:

£150 for a quiet life is peanuts

if you think it was prob the wife then i'd pay up and put it to bed. then get her a smaller car she can drive! lol

you dont know the value of good neighbours till theyre gone

This.

In terms of a note, draft something out on your computer, and print two copies. You both sign it. He gets one copy, you get the other.

Don't go mental with the legalese. Keep the language akin to a private car sale receipt (you know, received £xxx from NAME, vehicle sold as seen, etc.)

If you keep the wording of the note friendly enough, your neighbour will be impressed with your thorough approach to handing over cash.

[Pica-Pica]

Gavia said:

Who’s going halves? If it was my car that had been hit, I wouldn’t be paying half of the bill.

Why do people feel it necessary to denigrate the other drivers car? You’ve hit his car, he doesn’t deserve your sneering comments.

Agree, take responsibility.