Decided to go the insurance route on the car bump I had last weekend. Her boyf came back to me saying his (possibly dodgy) garage could do the job half price after I left them with the quote. **** that, I want a part that's going to definitely be genuine, new and fitted properly. They're just trying to wrangle out of paying and it'll be too much hassle dealing with them I think.
About a decade ago- my across the street (side of house- across the street... lived on a corner back then) neighbour of all people- ran into the back of my car at a traffic light. Very minor damage. She isn't someone I had ever talked to before- just waved at occasionally when working in the garden from my house. Very trashy lady- different man staying over at her house every night... her flower beds were filled with bright red painted gravel around the flowers.
Anyhow- figured not much damage- just a bent rear bumper- she claimed to be in hurry couldn't wait on police (turns out she didn't have insurance) agreed she was at fault and she would pay and gave me her number- I figured I'd let her go- and I drove down (less than a mile) to the police station just to file the report.
Police gave me some forms (which my insurance company told me were incorrect ones- and that can't do anything after the fact- have to call police to the site).
Still figured... no worry- she's my across the street neighbour- not like I don't know where she lives.
Got quote- $300 - told my across the street neighbour (Rita) and she said her cousin had a shop and would fix it for less. (Cousin hadn't seen the car so how could he know?) I said, no, I wanted it done by a real garage- not some individual.
Next day, I saw her standing in my driveway looking at the car with her latest beau (assume that's who he was). Went out to talk to her.
"We've decided you must have rolled back into us"
"That's ridiculous, you agreed you were at fault and agreed to pay!"
"You think I'm a stupid n***er don't you!" (she was black- although- really made no difference to situation and no idea why she said that or brought that up. I do suspect if I were black she probably would have been more cooperative though. A lot of black people around here hate white people with a passion- much more black on white racism than vice versa- but it's not politically correct to talk about that here- and whites are the minority anyway).
Then they both turned round and stormed off...
I did call the police (figured I had to after that comment from her)- they visited her, told me that she has no insurance (it is illegal here to drive around without insurance) - but can't do anything about it because she isn't currently in her car. I did get the car fixed for free... my dad took the bumper into his office and got one of the lads in the factory there to bend it back into shape- and we put it back on together... so it didn't end up costing me... but lesson to me and everyone...
ALWAYS CALL THE POLICE- always get the insurance taken care of immediately. Even your across the street neighbour can be an arse.
