Friend hit my car and not paying, what to do?

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Right basically I picked up a mate and took him to collect his car. I parked parallel to his car about 6 feet infront. We got out and were having a quick fag before going our respective ways. He opened his door and went to start his car to let it tick over. His car was in gear and drove forwards before he could stop it as he wasn't sitting in the seat, and scraped down the side of mine, causing some damage:

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As can clearly be seen the damage is not major, but even so I want it fixing. I'm not bothered about the wheel as they needed a refurb anyway, but the paint I am.

This happened 3 weeks ago, and he has made no move to pay for the repair, which I have had quoted at £250 to spray the door, wing and bumper.

He earns £95 a day as a builder and gets paid fortnightly, so approx £950 less the dreaded about £700 per fortnight.

I was pretty relaxed about it, as I know he has spent a lot recently on his other car, so at the time apart from calling him a banker I did nothing and said sort it on the following friday when you get paid. He hasn't. I texted him today (3 weeks later!!) and said I want the cash this friday when you get paid but he replied he could only give me half, and half the following fortnight, so 5 weeks later! :eek: I'm not happy with this really.

If I had damaged someone's car, I would pay for it to be fixed ASAP, whether a friend or not. It was an accident, but even so checking a car is out of gear is pretty basic before starting it.

I think he can get by on £450 for the next fortnight and pay to fix my car. He is adamant he can't. I haven't yet pushed the issue as I wanted another opinion. I know he has been out drinking and to the horse racing since doing the damage, so I feel he is taking the michael by not paying for it.

Going through insurance is a non starter for 3 reasons:
a) Any claim has to be reported on renewal whether fault or not, and that would make insuring my sierra virtually impossible next time.
b) Claiming against him would make it virtually impossible for him to insure his scoob that he has spent the last year building (not really my problem, but he is/was a good mate).
c) As 3 weeks have elapsed I don't think I would get far trying to claim through his insurance.

Would anyone go and demand payment, or just wait another fortnight when it may or may not be forthcoming? I don't want to lose a friend, but he's not really treating me as a friend now anyway. As an aside he is moving in with his mrs in March and the mortgage is mental. If I don't get my cash before then, I'll never get it.
 
tbh he isnt a very good friend he sounds a bit like a little **** to me.
Give him an ultimatum. Say pay up in X many days or its going thru insurance.

If he has any sense he will realise he doesnt want this due to his scoob.
I dont know the model of your car but it looks new and/or well maintained and I would want it fixed asap.

The he cant afford it yet BS is not your problem.
 
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I think your a mug for waiting this long. Give him one more chance to sort it soon or go through insurance. Waiting this long to go to them though wont help you any I wouldn't have thought.
 
Similar scenario with two lads I knew, they fell out after it. He went through the insurers though after 7 days.

At least you know now to stay away from him perhaps?
 
tbh he isnt a very good friend he sounds a bit like a little **** to me.
Give him an ultimatum. Say pay up in X many days or its going thru insurance.

If he has any sense he will realise he doesnt want this due to his scoob.
I dont know the model of your car but it looks new and/or well maintained and I would want it fixed asap.

The he cant afford it yet BS is not your problem.


Its my mondeo. I try to keep it nice, so although its not worth a packet (2003 car) I do like it and look after it.

I know he don't sound like a great mate but he is/was. He has taken on a mortgage he can't afford to move in with his mrs, is trying to build a silly power scooby and pay off credit cards from 2 trips to vegas to see ricky hatton fight. Basically champagne lifestyle on lemonade pockets. cash prob is tight, but if he can go drinking and gambling I think he can pay for my car. Just wanted to be backed up basically that I'm not being unreasonable wanting my car fixed now!!

Doonhamer said:
I think your a mug for waiting this long. Give him one more chance to sort it soon or go through insurance. Waiting this long to go to them though wont help you any I wouldn't have thought.

I would love to go insurance, but can't for reasons above. I don't want my insurance to go up on the sierra (or mondeo for that matter), and even non fault claims load your policy as statistically you are more likely to be involved in another incident following one. :rolleyes: BS I know, but that's how it is.

And believe it or not, I'm looking forward to seeing his scoob on the road as all I've heard for months is that it'll make x bhp, and I'm looking forward to slaying it! If I claaim on his insurance this won't happen.
 
tell him that either he pays or his insurance does and set a deadline.

If he doesn't pay up, go to the insurance, he's obviously not a very good friend.
 
If you don't want to go to insuranance, or feel that he is a really good friend and etc, just fix it yourself and forget.

Or do like the Yaris ads, just wait till his scoob is done then accidently bump into it or something. (not.)
 
is there a time limit on claiming? tbh i'd go with what he said and then if he doesnt pay up, consider it a small price to pay for finding out his true character.
 
I was told an accident had to be reported to the insurance company within two weeks. However I thought it was a month. Both might be total crap. Maybe someone in the insurance industry could enlighten us.
 
I think the fact you posted here for advice on what to do means you'll do nothing about it and fix it yourself. Personally, I'd demand instant payment or the insurers would know about it. If insurance isn't an option for whatever reason then teeth would break.
 
Sounds to me like he is not a friend.

Any half decent sort would have already paid.

I'd get a solicitor involved, to prove your serious (and keep the insurance out of it for the reasons you gave) and see what he says.

Ultimately, he's in the wrong and knows it, his finances / insurance are NOT your concern, getting your car fixed is.

Hey, at least he didn't crunch the Cosworth!

As for the keyboard warriors, sure, hit him. :rolleyes:
 
Would anyone go and demand payment, or just wait another fortnight when it may or may not be forthcoming? I don't want to lose a friend, but he's not really treating me as a friend now anyway. As an aside he is moving in with his mrs in March and the mortgage is mental. If I don't get my cash before then, I'll never get it.
That says it all. You've already lost.
 
I can't see why everyone thinks this is so terrible, its not like he's said he won't pay, he just needs some time to get it together.

Who knows what his financial situation is, maybe he really can't afford it right now, but is trying.

What's two weeks between friends? People saying he's not a friend, but recommending solicitors and forcing him, I know who I'd rather have as a friend..
 
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