Moral Dilemma

[Pyramix]

I've been having some car troubles lately and my car has been out of commission. A friend of mine was nice enough to help me out in my situation. We carpooled to work (we live in the same neighborhood and work at the same company and we've been friends for many years), and she let me borrow her car when she was out of town for a couple of weekends. In return, I paid for the gas (whenever the car was running low and I was with her). Hers is a 96 Honda Civic with 158K miles on it and in generally poor condition.

Last weekend, I took the car to get some groceries and opened the trunk to put the bags in there. Once I opened the trunk with the key, it wouldn't close again. I don't know what happened. All I did was insert the key and open the trunk. Now she claims that I broke it and expects me to foot the $130 or so bill for it. I tried telling her that if it was something I had broken I would have gladly paid for it. But I did nothing other than open the trunk (had not needed to open it before, and I know she was the last one who used the trunk) with the key.

Is my thinking wrong? I wouldn't be paying for this if the transmission fell out of the car while I was driving it. Or if it was the car door that I had opened the first time as I am about to get into the car and the door didn't close once I opened it. I will pay for this repair, but she took offence to my argument. I am just wondering if I am as clearly in the wrong as she thinks I am.

 

[Pyramix]

I should add that the problem with the trunk was some wire had gotten affected (perhaps when I put in the key) which prevented it from closing.

 

[AreaCode707]

How long has she been helping you out? If you can afford it, offer to pay half and do it with goodwill. If you can't afford it, offer to do something in trade or try to pay half in installments.

You probably didn't do a darn thing wrong but it's unlikely you'll convince your friend of that. If you value the friendship and want to smooth things over, you'll probably need to meet her halfway.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: Pyramix
I've been having some car troubles lately and my car has been out of commission. A friend of mine was nice enough to help me out in my situation. We carpooled to work (we live in the same neighborhood and work at the same company and we've been friends for many years), and she let me borrow her car when she was out of town for a couple of weekends. In return, I paid for the gas (whenever the car was running low and I was with her). Hers is a 96 Honda Civic with 158K miles on it and in generally poor condition.

Last weekend, I took the car to get some groceries and opened the trunk to put the bags in there. Once I opened the trunk with the key, it wouldn't close again. I don't know what happened. All I did was insert the key and open the trunk. Now she claims that I broke it and expects me to foot the $130 or so bill for it. I tried telling her that if it was something I had broken I would have gladly paid for it. But I did nothing other than open the trunk (had not needed to open it before, and I know she was the last one who used the trunk) with the key.

Is my thinking wrong? I wouldn't be paying for this if the transmission fell out of the car while I was driving it. Or if it was the car door that I had opened the first time as I am about to get into the car and the door didn't close once I opened it. I will pay for this repair, but she took offence to my argument. I am just wondering if I am as clearly in the wrong as she thinks I am.

I would probably offer to pay half. It's not that much money we're talking about and she has been helping you out. Perhaps you could help find somebody that would fix it for less money? Not to mention, if you've been friends for "many years" why not help a friend out?

 

[tasmanian]

If it breaks while your borrowing it you should at least pay 50% or all of it.

 

[43st]

Have someone hold the trunk release open as you close the trunk. I've had this happen on doors a few times, it might be able to be fixed by futzing with it.

 

[xSauronx]

i say pay half. if youre clever maybe you can find a way to fix it. Hell, when the hood of my car doesnt want to open I grab some WD40 or Kroil and blast the mechanism all over and it works fine for a while. Id damn sure tinker with it before I paid for someone else to do so.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: 43st
Have someone hold the trunk release open as you close the trunk. I've had this happen on doors a few times, it might be able to be fixed by futzing with it.

Absolutely this first, then pay half if it doesn't work.

 

[Baked]

Don't have friends, they'll all just screw you in the end. Trust me on this.

 

[BabaBooey]

This is why I do not loan out any of my stuff,they break it and look at you like what,it's your stuff.....help fix the trunk,damn she was nice enough to help your sorry ass out.

 

[IronWing]

Under the circumstance, I'd pay for it if it can't be fixed via messing with it. Then I'd forget about it. If you don't pay for it, she will never forget it.

 

[Farang]

I would not pay. If you are using the thing normally and it just breaks that isn't your fault. She is wrong for demanding money for it to be professionally fixed. This is a 13 year old car.

To take this more to the extreme, I drive an 86 Toyota. If a friend borrowed it and put a big gash in the side, I would not expect them to pay the $800 or more it would cost to repair the vehicle. It is an old car. In your case, you didn't even cause the problem.

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: Pyramix
I should add that the problem with the trunk was some wire had gotten affected (perhaps when I put in the key) which prevented it from closing.

Well that's BS, wasn't your fault at all. Then again she did let you borrow her car which probably saved you a lot of money on car rental/taxi fares/whatever. I'd just pay it as a gesture of goodwill.

 

[sandmanwake]

You borrow someone's stuff, you're responsible for it breaking while it's in your possession.

 

[speg]

Wasn't her fault either though... if I lend something to someone I expect it back in the same shape as I lent it out.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: sandmanwake
You borrow someone's stuff, you're responsible for it breaking while it's in your possession.

Originally posted by: speg
Wasn't her fault either though... if I lend something to someone I expect it back in the same shape as I lent it out.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: speg
Wasn't her fault either though... if I lend something to someone I expect it back in the same shape as I lent it out.

Yes, it was, for driving a 13 year old car with a trunk that was about to break.

 

[rudeguy]

I would pay for it. She hooked you up, hook her up.


:camera: of friend?

 

[imported_weadjust]

If you value the friendship and a free ride pay for it or fix it yourself. It would cost a lot more than the repair to rent a car while you had no ride. How far are going to have to walk to work on Mon.?

 

[gorcorps]

Complete longshot here: Many old hondas had a problem with the trunk latch getting loose which stopped it from closing. Try tightening the latch that is on the main body of the car, not the lid.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Complete longshot here: Many old hondas had a problem with the trunk latch getting loose which stopped it from closing. Try tightening the latch that is on the main body of the car, not the lid.

Good call. We rattled a few loose putting system in cars.

 

[ZzZGuy]

In your care, rather small job, you pay for it.

But set new ground rule that you will not pay for anything major on that POS while under your care, and accept you will never borrow it or anything else major ever again form her.
Just try to say it in a nice way.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would make sure to get the point across in a nice way that it was not of your doing so you don't seem like you're careless about the car, but I'd pay for it given it's small and it would be a favor for letting you use the car.

 

[octopus41092]

Split it 50/50, if they refuse, it's up to you, do you think it's really worth arguing over $130 with a good friend?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Farang
I would not pay. If you are using the thing normally and it just breaks that isn't your fault. She is wrong for demanding money for it to be professionally fixed. This is a 13 year old car.

To take this more to the extreme, I drive an 86 Toyota. If a friend borrowed it and put a big gash in the side, I would not expect them to pay the $800 or more it would cost to repair the vehicle. It is an old car. In your case, you didn't even cause the problem.

some people have no morals..