What would you do if your new car was scratched by someone elses child ?

**Mumtotwokids** · 18-01-2009 16:47

What would you do if your new car was scratched by someone else's child ? Not on purpose, but an accident ?

Here are the details - the car is new(less than a year old), the car is (stupidly) black, the scratch is deep and white, about 30cm long, and goes over two panels. The child is 4ish and was riding a bike past it, even after all of the children had been repeatedly asked to be careful of the car and not to ride their bikes past it. The car was parked at a holiday park (camping/caravans etc) the child's parents and us have a permanent holiday unit there so diplomacy is required.

Now my question is, what would you do ? Would you inform the parents, would you expect them to pay for the scratch ??? or would you take it on the chin because even your own children had on occasion ridden their bikes past ?

**missie_mack** · 18-01-2009 16:51

Probably take it on the chin. Accidents happen and all... I would probably let the parents know so your not hiding it from them or keeping secrets etc

Could one of those paint pens retouch the area or at least seal it so it doesnt get rust?

**munchie** · 18-01-2009 16:52

I would probably inform the parents in a non aggressive friendly way and then I would leave it in their hands (see if they offer to pay for the damage) and tbh I think it would be kind of rude to to just dismiss that. But then again all the kids were playing, it was an accident, Its a hard one but I personally would do as I just said. Goodluck

**PunkyDiva** · 18-01-2009 17:02

It's just a car and presumably you have insurance or can afford to get it fixed.
Something like that which is totally accidental is IMO not worth making a scene over, no matter how diplomatic you are, and risking a friendship. I'd just cop in on the chin, sooner or later would have happened in a shopping centre carpark or the like anyways.

**NewBeginnings** · 18-01-2009 17:17

I'm going to go against the grain and say I'd be expecting the child's parent to be paying for it

I'm a very car person... and to me touching someone else's car is a big no no and I always go out of my way to not allow DS near people's cars and I freak when he does go near them. He gets lecture after lecture about people's cars and touching them... and heaven forbid if he does! I'm not kidding I freak!

I know accidents still happen... but I put myself in the other person's shoes and I know I'd be pretty p!ssed if it happened to my car... especially if it were a black car... If my DS scratched someone's car I know I'd be paying them to get it fixed, I couldn't not... so to me I'd just expect the same in return...

**Teegzie** · 19-01-2009 07:09

I'd tell the parents of the kid who scratched it, but only so they could use it to backup their "don't ride near the car...ever!" discussion again with the kid.

I think it is a bit rude to expect someone to pay for it when it could have just as easily been your own child who scratched it. The kid needs to be told off (just as you would have done to your own kid if they had scratched it) but really accidents happen and you don't want to ruin a friendship over something that, as previously mentioned, could randomly happen in a carpark!

**RoarsomeMum** · 19-01-2009 07:19

I'd be hoping they at least offered to pay in part.. That is assuming you know FOR SURE what happened and who caused the damage.

Id Def be talking to them.

**Roopee** · 19-01-2009 07:21

Originally Posted by PunkyDiva

It's just a car and presumably you have insurance or can afford to get it fixed.
Something like that which is totally accidental is IMO not worth making a scene over, no matter how diplomatic you are, and risking a friendship. I'd just cop in on the chin, sooner or later would have happened in a shopping centre carpark or the like anyways.

I agree wholeheartedly with this.

Our Car is a deep burgundy colour and after we'd had it less than a month a friends child was riding his scooter around and forgot where the brakes were. He ploughed straight into the back of it and left a big dent and a scratch. It's still there.
It's just a car and not worth ruining a friendship over.

**Silvana** · 19-01-2009 07:43

Originally Posted by NewBeginnings

I'm going to go against the grain and say I'd be expecting the child's parent to be paying for it

I'm a very car person... and to me touching someone else's car is a big no no and I always go out of my way to not allow DS near people's cars and I freak when he does go near them. He gets lecture after lecture about people's cars and touching them... and heaven forbid if he does! I'm not kidding I freak!

I know accidents still happen... but I put myself in the other person's shoes and I know I'd be pretty p!ssed if it happened to my car... especially if it were a black car... If my DS scratched someone's car I know I'd be paying them to get it fixed, I couldn't not... so to me I'd just expect the same in return...

. The excuse of "it was just an accident" doesn't sit well with me because most incidents on the road are just accidents and that is why we insure our cars - to protect against accidents. But a 4 year old can be taught to respect other peoples property and if that child had been told repeatedly not to go near the car, then the parents should hold some responsibility.

If my child did that I would pay, we should teach our kids from an early age that we should own up to our own responsibilities.

**ladybugblue84** · 19-01-2009 07:54

Who was responsible for watching these children at the time? If the parents were not actually around to watch the children but left them in your care then I would say it was your responsibility to ensure the children didn't scratch your car. How can the parents be responsible for something that they couldn't control?