Info re damage to 3rd party car

TheminxIRL

Hi Folks, just wondering if anyone's been in this position and whats the best way to proceed.

My sister did scuff damage to the bumper of a 161 mini. She looked for the owner and while searching nearby the owner came out and accused another person. My sister told her she was responsible, apologised and said she would pay to have it repaired.

The agreement was she would ring my sister once she got a quote and arrange for it to be repaired and money paid.

A week later the first correspondence my sister got was a nasty text saying why hadn't she been in touch and if she hadn't paid by Friday she was going to the Guards, her insurance etc. She then told her the quote was 435. So my sister said go ahead get it fixed and she'd pay. She sent her a copy of the quote.

Today she contacts my sister again and says she now wants an additional 100 euro to hire a car for the couple of days, because she's too far from the local shop, wants the bumper done Friday cause the garage said the scratch is so deep the bumper will rust. Aren't bumpers a type of flexible plastic no?

Anyway, my sister admitted she'd done it, offered to pay the costs etc now she's receiving the nastiest of texts threatening all sorts, just spiteful texts and the last one said she will pay for the hire car etc.

Luckily having never had to deal with any of this before, can she demand all of this after supplying a quote?

Absolutely agree she has every right to get her car fixed but no need to be an ah about it

The reason it's not going through insurance is because its not a huge amount.

Thanks in advance

MarkR

I'd say your sister is getting off lightly, if that's the end of it. They'll be asking for taxi fare next

User1998

Of course she can demand your sister pays for the hire car. The other party deserves to have their car fixed and also deserves to have a car to drive while it’s being fixed.

There was probably a communication error and she expected your sister to contact her first. Okay she’s being rude about it but your sister will have to just get over that.

I think your sister is lucky that she was given a reasonable quote. If she’s not happy about paying for the hire car then tell her to go through the insurance.

mickdw

She needs to call her and firstly tell her that she was waiting for her quote so no need for the abusive texts.

The car owner is absolutely entitled to go whereever the owner wants etc and she is entitled to a hire car but seeing as she is chosing the repair garage and you don't know how efficient they, it would be a good idea to get a full and final figure to include hire car fee. You dont want her coming back saying hire car is needed for 2 weeks due to some delay with the garage.

TheminxIRL

Thanks for the replies, neither of us have any experience, which is good I guess.

I just don't want anyone taking advantage of her when she was honest from the start and wanting to put it right

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121923385#Comment_121923385

If the woman tries to get any more money out of her just politely decline and tell her to go through insurance instead.

Kaisr Sose

Your sister should not have to put up with aggressive or abusive texts nor should they feel pressured into paying without proof of the cost.

It may still be worth having their insurance deal with it if the person is being unreasonable in what they want, or difficult to deal with. This is what its for.

Don't worry about threats of Garda. They are not interested in civil matters.

Your sister can count themselves lucky this person was not in the car as they may be the type to claim whiplash, sore back, anxiety, massive loss of earnings etc.

Galwayguy35

Always best to run it through the insurance, saves having to deal with headwrecks like that one.

TheminxIRL

God yeah, never thought of that! I can only imagine what she'd be looking to claim

cml387

Also your sister needs to get up a form for the injured party to sign that the money paid is full and final settlement.

Trigger Happy

Once things start getting messy I would be going through the insurance.

TheminxIRL

Yeah she has contacted them to let them deal with it.

I've seem some of her messages and there are alarm bells so best to avoid