Angered and embarrassed

[Lorix2]

Back in mid-October, my DS6 was riding his bike, looked behind him for his friend and hit a parked car here on a side street. My son suffered a fat lip and a few bruises, but was ok. Thankfully as always, he was wearing his helmet.

He put a small ding in the rear bumper of the car and one toward the trunk with his helmet. The owner, a 17 yr old male, asked me to pay for the damages. I told him to get me some estimates and we'd talk, but I needed to tend to my son at that time, he knew where I lived, etc...

I haven't heard from him since, but see his car at my neighbors alot as he is dating their daughter.

It's now December and he called me this afternoon to tell me that he got estimates and they are all between $500-580.00!! WHAT???? It's a plastic bumper for *****sake!

I said "after almost 2 months, you come around to getting the estimates? Those are quite high don't you think? I assumed you were going to let it go, seeing it's an older car with very mininmal damage and since I hadn't heard from you". He said "no, I want it fixed". I told him there's no way I'm paying that and my DH and I would be in touch.

Tonight, I just got home from work and noticed the car outside, so I walked over to it to see it and look at the bumper and surprise! There he and his girlfriend were inside, quite busy if you know what I mean.

They noticed me just as I noticed them and I just walked away embarrassed and angered all over again.

Isn't it convenient for him to ask for this money so close to christmas?? I mean, I promised to make good on it, but I think he's got some nerve after so much time has passed. The estimates are outrageous.

This just topped the already stressful miserable day I had before going to work tonight.

I think I'll have my own estimates done, what would you do?

 

[chell]

Yeah, I think I would get my own estimates too.

OR you might just tell him that you'll tell her parents what they were doing in the car and he might drop it.

 

[Kallison]

Originally posted by chellnjr
Yeah, I think I would get my own estimates too.

OR you might just tell him that you'll tell her parents what they were doing in the car and he might drop it.

Good thinking Chell -- actually maybe he will decide to drop it.

 

[Lorix2]

LOL! I should have shined the flashlight right where it counts and have said "how much did you say that was??"

Maybe I won't hear from him again. I'm certainly going to take my time getting back to him anyhow. He took his sweet time, didn't he?....

 

[browneyes]

I'd get my own estimates too. What kind of car is it? Some bumps can be pulled out without any problems.

 

[Lorix2]

It's a 1988-1991 Honda Accord, possibly older actually. I thought the same thing about them being pulled out.

 

[WDWHound]

I would get my own estimates, but don't be suprised if they are near what he quoted you. Even a small amount of bumper damage will run into hundreds of dollars. The cost to replace a plastic buber cover alone is near what he quoted you. I know because we just had the bumper cover replaced on our car (it was scuffed by someone who scaped up against it in a parking lot). The cost for just the bumper cover alone was $350.

As for the amount of time that has passed, I agree he should have been more timely, but that doesn't remove your obligation to pay for the damage your son caused. I would ask him if he could wait for a few months after Christmas for you to pay for the damages.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Get it in writing. Have him give you estimates in writing from three trusted, well-known establishments.

BTW - yes those could be accurate figures. I have a 1998 Dodge Neon that likes to get involved with other vehicles. Incident #1 happened just 3 months after we drove the car off the dealer's lot. It was clipped while parked, hit & run. Not much noticable damage, but it was enough to require a new front bumper (the plastic cover only) and new/replacement side marker and a rubber ring that surrounds the headlamp. The estimate from my insurance co. was $748. The bumper cover alone cost $426. The actual repair bill was $849 incl. paint & labor. This repair needed to be made as my headlamp was not properly aligned.

Incident #2 happened 4 months later when I was rear-ended when a light changed more quickly than either of us anticipated. I stopped with 1/2 a car-length in front of me, but the guy behind me couldn't stop without my help. Total estimate from my insurance co. this time was $422 for parts & labor. We had our body shop check out the damage and it wasn't critical to have it repaired. I was fortunate to have only gained some scuffs around my license plate and lost a small amount of styrofoam around the steel bumper, nothing to lose the integrity of the bumper.

Good luck with the bill and since he waited two months to notify you with the estimate, wait two months to arrange for payment. If you have a regular body shop, maybe you could arrange for him to meet you there for an estimate from someone you trust.

 

[DizzieDizney]

or you can ask him where he's getting his vehicle repaired and make payment to the repair shop instead of to him..that way you know your money is actually going to the repair shop and not to his personal use..and also to assure that you have a copy of the receipt so that you have proof that you paid for the damages.....


isn't there some kind of law where you have a certain time frame to claim something....i mean, he knew he wanted to have the vehicle repaired what the heck took him so long to get the estimates...

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by chellnjr
Yeah, I think I would get my own estimates too.

OR you might just tell him that you'll tell her parents what they were doing in the car and he might drop it.

SURE Blackmail is ALWAYS a good idea...........NOT

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

I would also find out the value of the car. A 88 is probably not worth 800.00 total.

If he wants more than the value have him sue in small claims, or offer him the 800.00 but you get the car.
The kelly blue book on the highest end Accord in good condition with low mileage is 1500.00 so add in any detriments like high mileage - body damage - mechanical defects and value plummets.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I would call a couple salvage yards and see if you can locate a used bumper. Then I would pay the shop that installs it direct.

TC

 

[phamton]

I'm not sure that legally you can insist on making the payment directly to the bodyshop or get a bumper from a salvage yard. It is, afterall, his car and his decision whether he fixes it with the money or not. Some people don't pay to fix it but realize that when they sell the car, the unfixed bumper may somewhat lower the value of their car.

When an accident happens where the other person is deemed to be at fault, the person who caused the accident is usually responsible for damages. Most states recommend 2 or 3 estimates and you can usually pick the lowest estimate to pay. That doesn't mean the person will actually need to take it to the shop they got the estimate at though. He can choose to take the $ and then buy his own bumper and have his buddies put it on if he wants and then pocket the extra money.

I would check with your own car and homeowners insurance and see if your son's accident might be covered.

 

[believe]

My sister damaged my car in 2 spots...very small. We had both spots estimated. I only had her pay to fix one and let the other one go. I think it was $400 for the fix. I wanted a small scratch fixed on my van, cost was over $700. The scratch was maybe an inch long. It is amazing what car repairs can cost.

 

[snoopy]

Body work is expensive.

I'd ask to see 3 written estimates, which he is obligated to get for you, then pay him for the lowest, which you are obligated to pay and did agree to pay.

Good luck!

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by DizzieDizney
or you can ask him where he's getting his vehicle repaired and make payment to the repair shop instead of to him..that way you know your money is actually going to the repair shop and not to his personal use..and also to assure that you have a copy of the receipt so that you have proof that you paid for the damages.....

This is what I was going to suggest also. That way, no $$ will change hands between the two of you. If he's not planning on getting the car fixed then he will object to this idea. And, if that happened, I would go to his parents and see what the parents can work out.

DH had his car involved in an accident in a parking lot. The person who hit him didn't want the claim on his insurance so the man took care of all of the financial park of it with the body shop directly. Made it for a simplier "transaction" for both of them.

 

[Hagred]

Originally posted by phamton
I would check with your own car and homeowners insurance and see if your son's accident might be covered.

I agree with this one. Even if you have a $500 deductable, it's better than paying what he thinks might be 'extra Christmas money' of $800.00.

Add bonuses:

1). His parents might not know about this and that could be the reason for his delayed response in getting an estimate. Imagine how upset they might be to find out their son could be scamming a neighbor over an accident her child had with their son's used car.

Remember, if they bring you a pie or other homemade goodie out of guilt, try to be innocent, magnanimous and gracious. After all, it's out of your hands now and guess who's little darling started THAT?

2). It's harder to scam an insurance agency than it is your neighbor's mother.

3). Everything will be documented by an impartial third party. This might help should the teen decide that he might do better in small claims court. He will have no control over what YOUR insurance company does as opposed to trying to finangle more 'guilt' money out of you because of your child's accident.

If the insurance company asks why it took so long to file, let them know that, firstly, you didn't know if it was covered or not under homeowners and, secondly, the teen is just now giving you one estimate instead of three and you want to know what your rights are.

Good luck!

BTW, should you decide to pay an estimate, I believe it's perfectly legal to make the check out to "Neighbor Smith" AND "Jones Body Shop". That way both parties have to sign it in order for it to be cashed. (I would stress the AND portion when writing the check)

 

[DebbieB]

You may want to contact your homeowners insurance. This would be a liability claim so there would not be a deductible. That way one of their adjustors could look at it.

 

[snoopy]

That way, no $$ will change hands between the two of you. If he's not planning on getting the car fixed then he will object to this idea. And, if that happened, I would go to his parents and see what the parents can work out.

But he is not obligated by law to get his car fixed is he? Her son damaged his car and now they are obligated to pay for the damages. Whether or not he actually uses the money to have it fixed is inconsequential.

Perhaps not on the up and up on his part, but that is the way it goes, at least in this area. I do think its a good idea to contact your homeowner's insurance, I would think it would be covered, and as someone else mentioned, even if means you'd have to pay a deductible at least the insurance company could handle the claim from here on out.

 

[Minnesota!]

I just wanted to say that even if the check is made out to Him AND the Repair shop, it does not prevent him from cashing the check himself.

Our roomate had her car keyed in May, but a police officer just happened to witness it, stopped the woman that was doing it, and took her information to pass on to my roommate. The woman was responsible for paying the damages (about $900).

My roommate had to get 3 estimates, and give the woman the middle one.

The woman sent the check to "Melissa Gunderston & Joe's Auto Repair". Well, Melissa was mad, because she was NOT going to get her car fixed. It was a beater to begin with, so she took the check to the bank to see if she had to go through Joe's, too. The bank said NO, as long as one of the parties signs. She got the same response from a few other banks, too.

So, be careful about that...

And, yes, 2 dents CAN run that amount of $$$.