[Misc] Am I being conned here, or not?

[timbha]

I am not sure where the car was parked makes any difference on liability, OP has said his son caused the damage so in effect this makes the OP (as the father) liable. .

If it was parked on private land it could have a bearing, but from the little detail given I would assume it was on a regular road.

If the car was (partly) parked on the pavement leaving little room for a child to cycle through the gap surely the car owner would be (partially) liable.

 

[The Oldman]

My then 10 year old eldest was mucking about with others and threw a stone which unfortunately smashed a car windscreen. I offered to pay but claimed on my home insurance liability cover. I paid the replacement costs up front but 3 months later Home insurance coughed up with a cheque..Might be a way to go

 

[jessiejames]

Your son could be sued in the small claims court but some personal injury specialists have said that in the vast majority of contested cases judges tend to favour pedestrians and cyclists, largely because they are unprotected from injury in cases involving car accidents.?

TP, might have a claim if you have something like contents insurance under an all risk policy, but if the lad is a juvenile, TP not be allowed to sue him, if without insurance your Son might make (if it were to go to court and be found liable) an offer of say 50p a month until it is paid off and the courts would in all probability accept this offer.

Just offer to pay his excess up to £150, and tell him to claim through his insurance.

 

[METALMICKY]

Price sounds about right if it's being done at an insurer-approved coachwork/bodyshop. Would any of us actually do that on a car that age/condition ? Would we ****.
When you say 'bike' I assume you mean pushbike, and he's therefore uninsured - you don't HAVE to make any offer, the owner would technically have to sue your son to get him to pay up (he won't) so you should be able to come to a much better compromise
Tell him he's taking the **** and at best tell him you MIGHT cover reasonable costs (you'll have to judge what that is) and will need to agree beforehand (get some other quotes) and see all receipts

This is the best answer so far. Pretty much agreed by my wife who used to work in insurance for 25 years. When he realises your not a mug he should start acting sensibly particularly as you could just walk away and then it would get a whole lot more complicated.

Going off at tangent did the driver come across as at all shifty? Using his reg why not check if he has valid tax and MOT? If not tell him to do one!

 

[brighton_dave]

Scummy sod is completely taking the p and trying to make money out of your honesty.
I had something similiar happen and it cost around 200.
A bit of a guide - https://dentdevils-eastsussex.co.uk/price-guide-dent-examples

 

[schmunk]

Price sounds about right if it's being done at an insurer-approved coachwork/bodyshop. Would any of us actually do that on a car that age/condition ? Would we ****.
When you say 'bike' I assume you mean pushbike, and he's therefore uninsured - you don't HAVE to make any offer, the owner would technically have to sue your son to get him to pay up (he won't) so you should be able to come to a much better compromise
Tell him he's taking the **** and at best tell him you MIGHT cover reasonable costs (you'll have to judge what that is) and will need to agree beforehand (get some other quotes) and see all receipts

This.

 

[Dumseagull]

I’d estimate that at about £350 and I should know, it’s what I’ve done for 24 years! We also offer free courtesy cars [emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

My son-in-law runs this business http://denttechnics.com/ he speicalises in this sort of work and I'm sure he'll be a lot cheaper than what you've been quoted. I've just sent him your photo, I'll let you know what he would charge.

My daughter Kheira (she handles the quotes) says looking at the photo and assuming there isn't any other issue it shouldn't cost more than £200. I'll pm you her message and telephone number. Ive seen the work Will's done and he does a great job (even though he's a Chelsea fan!) You can see examples on their Facebook site

 

[LamieRobertson]

Yes.

 

[happypig]

It was in the UK, though I'm back in Dubai now. My son's 11. Does that make any difference?!

Your son could be sued but as he has no assets, the court couldn't award damages straight away. It could, however, reserve liability for up to six years in case he gets assets.

some info here :
https://www.inbrief.co.uk/child-law/child-accidents-compensation-liability/

 

[Doonhamer7]

Price sounds right - we had a cyclist fall into our car at traffic lights when he fell over due to being clipped into his pedals - damaged the door got up and cycled off before the Mrs could do anything. Cost £1200 on the insurance and that was 7-8years ago

 

[DJ NOBO]

A few days ago, my son bumped into a car with his bike. He made a few minor dent/scratches just below the wing mirror, as shown in this picture.

View attachment 132640

I'm an honest guy, so I left a message on the windscreen for the owner to contact me and I'd pay for any repair.

He did so, and it all seemed to be reasonable and grown-up.

He's now got back to me and said he's been quoted £735 plus VAT (so £882 in total). He also wants reimbursing for having to take three half days off work (and drive 180 miles in total) in order to go to an approved dealer for the quote, the drop off and the collection.

My questions to the great and good of NSC are:
1) I don't think that I should pay for his time off work and mileage. Do you agree?
2) Is £882 a reasonable price for this? It seems a hell of a lot for a few minor scratches, and his car is only an old Kia – it's not like it's a Ferrari or something.
3) Would it be unreasonable for me to ask if his insurance would help here – if I pay the excess, and so long as he has his no claims protected?

What a depressing story.
You do the decent thing and some t*** tries to take advantage.
Sad.

 

[clockend1983]

A few days ago, my son bumped into a car with his bike. He made a few minor dent/scratches just below the wing mirror, as shown in this picture.

View attachment 132640

I'm an honest guy, so I left a message on the windscreen for the owner to contact me and I'd pay for any repair.

He did so, and it all seemed to be reasonable and grown-up.

He's now got back to me and said he's been quoted £735 plus VAT (so £882 in total). He also wants reimbursing for having to take three half days off work (and drive 180 miles in total) in order to go to an approved dealer for the quote, the drop off and the collection.

My questions to the great and good of NSC are:
1) I don't think that I should pay for his time off work and mileage. Do you agree?
2) Is £882 a reasonable price for this? It seems a hell of a lot for a few minor scratches, and his car is only an old Kia – it's not like it's a Ferrari or something.
3) Would it be unreasonable for me to ask if his insurance would help here – if I pay the excess, and so long as he has his no claims protected?

1.Yes
2.No it’s not a reasonable price
3.Not unreasonable if it comes to it

I had damage to my vehicle that I did and took it to Brunswick Coachworks
in Portslade.Bill was £450,damage was considerably worse than in your photo
and I needed a new headlight which was £250 of that.
He doesn’t need to take it to anywhere approved imho
Good luck you done the right thing leaving a note,hope he sees that and works with you

 

[Pint of Ale and a Burger]

Yes he does seem to taking the piss, especially as you had the decency to leave a note.
Was the car parked legally or could it be deemed to be causing an obstruction?
Also run his licence plate on the DVLA website to make sure he is taxed and insured.
Its a longshot but worth a look.

 

[rigton70]

If this was recent I'd shop him to the old bill for making an unnecessary journey half way across the country. What an absolute tosser.

Not keen on Westdene Seagull then.

 

[The Fifth Column]

Presumably your son on his bike is a child? I'd tell him to jog on and contact his insurers. You aren't liable just for being his parent and I can't see any insurer chasing a child for something they have no means to pay and would be morally wrong to do.

 

[Swansman]

Tell him to **** off.

Dents on the car is proof that the world is alive. Its like finding beer cans in the nature or a couple of cigarette butts in the corner of your apartment. Its a sign that the world is alive and that humans are doing things. If I was that car owner I would just say "hell yeah my KIA just turned a bit punk". If he cant appreciate it, whose problem is it? Exactly - its his. Let him live with the perfect imperfections of the world. He needs to take the positives, learn and move on.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Let the insurers sort it out. It is what they are paid for.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

It’ll buff out.



Seriously, I had this type of thing a few years ago, I backed into a car door at the tip. I apologised to the woman who’s car it was , gave her my details and told her I would pay for the repairs. It was a scratch and small dent, and the car was a 10 year old clunker. She came back with a verbal quote of £1200 .
I told her that was ridiculous, and said if she got 2 more written quotes I would give her the money.


I never heard from her again.

Never knew a dent could be buffed out, what do you use

Snake oil?

 

[wellquickwoody]

A few days ago, my son bumped into a car with his bike. He made a few minor dent/scratches just below the wing mirror, as shown in this picture.

View attachment 132640

I'm an honest guy, so I left a message on the windscreen for the owner to contact me and I'd pay for any repair.

He did so, and it all seemed to be reasonable and grown-up.

He's now got back to me and said he's been quoted £735 plus VAT (so £882 in total). He also wants reimbursing for having to take three half days off work (and drive 180 miles in total) in order to go to an approved dealer for the quote, the drop off and the collection.

My questions to the great and good of NSC are:
1) I don't think that I should pay for his time off work and mileage. Do you agree?
2) Is £882 a reasonable price for this? It seems a hell of a lot for a few minor scratches, and his car is only an old Kia – it's not like it's a Ferrari or something.
3) Would it be unreasonable for me to ask if his insurance would help here – if I pay the excess, and so long as he has his no claims protected?

1. Negotiate

2. Perfectly reasonable

3. No