Wrecked Car Tampered With

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
ah,, here it goes. His bestfriend pulled the wheel and ran into the county commissioners yard right after he got his license. They tried to hide that too.

Sounds like your entire family deals in lies and deceit. Time to teach some lessons.

 

[FettsBabe]

Yeah, I would let him take the lumps, but in 11 months he has to have another car to drive to college and i just can't give him a pinto. Those will all be crushed due to cash for clunks by the legendary Obama.

What really makes me mad is I would have never known had we not seen the dents. I would not have been able to do anything as there would have been no proof.

The stepdad was not remorseful at all.

 

[BoomerD]

Had they been up front and honest about it, I'd have considered letting them fix the damage IF they can do it properly and competently. Could be a good "bonding opportunity for the kid and his step-dad.

Since they've tried to lie and hide it from you, I'd take a more hard line on it and demand that it be fixed in a body shop...at the step-dad's expense.

Is the title and insurance in your name? If so, file the claim with your insurance. Let them collect from the step-dad's insurance.

 

[Regs]

guyver is correct. They are liable for your vehicle and are expected to repair it to typical and reasonable standards. If you are unsatisfied with their performance you can pursue them by other means.

 

[FettsBabe]

Boomer, yes, it is titled in my name only and the car, and my stepson is on our insurance policy. They do nothing with or for the car.

I would have let them fix it had they been honest, now I don't trust them.

I am thinking what you are....1. pay the estimate I get or file it on insurance.

BUT what do I do about the stepdad altering the damage already?

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
Boomer, yes, it is titled in my name only and the car, and my stepson is on our insurance policy. They do nothing with or for the car.

I would have let them fix it had they been honest, now I don't trust them.

I am thinking what you are....1. pay the estimate I get or file it on insurance.

BUT what do I do about the stepdad altering the damage already?

He's shit out of luck. It's called an accession made in bad faith. The added value becomes the property of the owner.

 

[bctbct]

What are you going to do if you find out the boy wrecked it, and stepdad is taking the blame to protect him?

Sometimes you cant win.

 

[FettsBabe]

No the color of his stepdad's blazer is on the car. My stepson didn't do it. he wouldn't cover for him. he would ask us ot pay for it

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
Boomer, yes, it is titled in my name only and the car, and my stepson is on our insurance policy. They do nothing with or for the car.

I would have let them fix it had they been honest, now I don't trust them.

I am thinking what you are....1. pay the estimate I get or file it on insurance.

BUT what do I do about the stepdad altering the damage already?

Tell your insurance agent that it appears that the step-dad was trying to pound out the dents, but you found out and want it done properly...by a body shop.

You could possibly get nasty as hell and even get the cops involved if the estimate is high enough...

Not sure what state you're in, but here in Kahleeforneeya, you are required to report any accident that causes injury or damage over $750 to the DMV...even if it happens on private property.
Check with your local DMV. If nothing else, this can give you additional leverage to get the step-dad to pay for the repairs.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
BUT what do I do about the stepdad altering the damage already?

whatever he did is now part of the damage, in terms of needing an estimate done..

when you go to a shop.. they'll be like "ok.. i see someone tried to bondo this.. its gonna cost us $200 to remove that, and fix the finish..." or something like that.

 

[FettsBabe]

no bondo yet. he just tried to pound them out.

how do i prove the amount. his mother won't release the photos. she says they don't exist.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
how do i prove the amount. his mother won't release the photos. she says they don't exist.

written estimates.. most major repair shops will provide written estimates.

past photos don't mean anything.. they're gonna look at it currently, and price accordingly.

 

[thepd7]

get an estimate, make him pay for PROFESSIONAL fixing. If he bitches talk to the cops, that's basically a hit and run because he did not talk to the OWNED of the car (you).

 

[FettsBabe]

thats what ii thought but everyone keeps telling me it doesn't matter since he tried to fix it

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
thats what ii thought but everyone keeps telling me it doesn't matter since he tried to fix it

imagine it's a stranger, and not a relative.

if you're parked at a supermarket, someone breaks your window... then proceeds to try to replace it..

what would you do?

 

[arkcom]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
Yeah, I would let him take the lumps, but in 11 months he has to have another car to drive to college and i just can't give him a pinto. Those will all be crushed due to cash for clunks by the legendary Obama.

What really makes me mad is I would have never known had we not seen the dents. I would not have been able to do anything as there would have been no proof.

The stepdad was not remorseful at all.

Why are you buying a brand new car for school? Why not just send him with the one he's got?

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
no bondo yet. he just tried to pound them out.

how do i prove the amount. his mother won't release the photos. she says they don't exist.

Take it to a body shop...get written estimates. Take your OWN detailed photos.

If they try to stop you from taking the car...call the cops. After all, it's legally YOUR car.

 

[FettsBabe]

I know, but its hard because its his Mom and Stepdad. I would have called the cops in any other situation. What they did is illegal.

What really pisses me off is they put crap in his head and then he gets an attitude with me about the car as if I am the person that is wrong.

When you try to tell him stuff he says you are lying. Like I told him today that his stepdad was irritated that I knew and I could tell on the phone and he was like...no he didn't. I'll call him and ask.

He's pissed because he knows he is wrong, their little plan didn't work, and now we are the bad guys.

He works with his Dad and he is meeting his Mom for lunch today. She just happened to be in the area, which I would like to say is 45 minutes from her house!!!!

He goes back to her house tonight and tomorrow and back to ours on Thursday. Can't wait for that conversation!!!!!

grrrr.

 

[FettsBabe]

Oh, "why is he getting a new car?" He's not. I should have said a newer used car for college if he can drive on campus. If not, he can stay with what he has.

 

[BoomerD]

You COULD always tell him that since it's legally YOUR car, if he doesn't want to have it professionally repaired, then you'll take it back and the step-dad and mom can buy him a car to drive...and repair as they choose.

Sometimes, the only option is to take the hard line and stand your ground for what's right. (even when you're wrong)
(but in this case, it sounds like you're fully in the right)

I can't imagine the difficulty of being a step-parent with the kid being pulled in different directions by both sides...each of whom thinks they're in the right.

My parents were divorced, so I had a step dad, but because my dad was in the USAF and was never anywhere close to us, I rarely got to see him after the divorce. There was nearly zero of the inter-family squabbling that happens in situations like yours.

 

[FettsBabe]

Exactly, but he, in the end, will get crap told to him if we don't let his arse stepdad do it. however, there will be a warranty that is printed out and a printout just like if i had it done at my shop. if not, NO DEAL!!!!

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
Exactly, but he, in the end, will get crap told to him if we don't let his arse stepdad do it. however, there will be a warranty that is printed out and a printout just like if i had it done at my shop. if not, NO DEAL!!!!

A warranty from a private person isn't worth the paper it's printed on...BUT, it sounds like you're going to go ahead and let them do this...good luck.

 

[nanette1985]

You realize, don't you, that you are legally responsible for the car, and if (heaven forbid) the kid is driving and the shoddy repair gives way and he gets hurt and/or hurts other people, you are on the hook?

I also have an ex and a teenager who lives with me, and a lot of stupidity about money and so on.

You're better off getting your name off the title and the kid off your insurance. Get the car back, take it to a decent shop, fix it if you can afford it, if you can't afford it, get it off the street. Don't argue money with the kid's other family - bad all around. Don't give the car back to the kid, sorry. "It's not safe" is a really good excuse to keep it away from him.

There is no way you can "win" in a situation like this. No matter what you do, you're the bad guy. The best you can do is cover yourself. He hasn't shown the maturity required for you to trust him to drive a car in your name. And get him off your insurance NOW. That just leaves you open to all sorts of issues. If this is the way he acts in an accident, you don't want him anywhere near your insurance policy.

Good luck.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: princess ida
You realize, don't you, that you are legally responsible for the car, and if (heaven forbid) the kid is driving and the shoddy repair gives way and he gets hurt and/or hurts other people, you are on the hook?

I also have an ex and a teenager who lives with me, and a lot of stupidity about money and so on.

You're better off getting your name off the title and the kid off your insurance. Get the car back, take it to a decent shop, fix it if you can afford it, if you can't afford it, get it off the street. Don't argue money with the kid's other family - bad all around. Don't give the car back to the kid, sorry. "It's not safe" is a really good excuse to keep it away from him.

There is no way you can "win" in a situation like this. No matter what you do, you're the bad guy. The best you can do is cover yourself. He hasn't shown the maturity required for you to trust him to drive a car in your name. And get him off your insurance NOW. That just leaves you open to all sorts of issues. If this is the way he acts in an accident, you don't want him anywhere near your insurance policy.

Good luck.

Well said, Princess.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
2002, but it is a GT Clone with lots of extras and upgrades.

My problem is, I don't trust the twit now. he should have just been a man and called me instead of being a wuss and trying to hide it.

Who the hell gives a 17 year old that?