Do i need to pay her? My rights?

[adamc11]

Hi Guys,

Here's some background.
In about June/July/August Last year, i had a little bingle in my friends car. I knocked the back of another car. It only scraped her bumper bar, but dinted my friends front left guard. I gave the women all my details and said i was happy to pay to have it fixed. She said she would get back to me. She did a few days later, and she said she would be in contact with me in Jan of this year to fix it if she wanted, otherwise she wouldn't... it didn't bother her as it wasn't much damage, but she had to check with her husband. Now.... since Jan this year i have heard nothing, i assumed all was done with. I fixed my friends car about a month ago with my own money (about $900) so that it wouldn't go through her insurance. NOW tonight, i got a call from this lady, over a year after the bingle, to tell me she is selling the car and wants it fixed! You have got to be kidding, right?
I didn't speak to her, it was just a message, but i'm really tempted to say no, because she never got back to me like she said she would (she pretty much implied if i didn't hear from her, to forget about it, she wasn't fussed) and if i knew i had to pay to fix her bumper or whatever, i may well have used insurance. I don't know if it's copped any additional damage, and really think it's inappropriate that i be asked to pay now. It has been over a year, i never heard anything after Jan like she told me would happen.

I want to know what you guys think? Am i still legally responsible? I know i am liable, but i think any repair i owe her has expired after 14 months.

Thanks Guys,
Adam

[pow3rslave]

am i the only one who thought this thread was about child support?

[adamc11]

am i the only one who thought this thread was about child support?

haha, sorry to disappoint

[SAV_117]

i thought that to lol but no i wouldnt think u had to pay her u had a verbal agreement of jan since than that car could have had all kinda of **** happen to it. to late for her if she called even in march or april i would have said maybe but nope to far gone now i wouldnt pay that BS

[nicko]

i thought it was about paying a woman for sex

not pay the woman. you snooze you loose

[skyper]

i thought it was a good question ,but i don't no,i paint bumpers all day and i'd say it has more damage on it now and it stands out and the new buyer wants her to fix it,so she is going to hit u

[VryNeat]

i was thinking divorce everything is about divorcing nowa days

i wouldnt pay her **** her she probly hit a wall or sum **** now she expects you to fix it

[Zuicider]

verbal contracts never hold in court, and she cant prove you fit her car yer?

[AttaBoy]

I don't think you should be paying since its been a while.

There got to be a certain time before it 'expires' because god knows she may chase you for the payment 10 years later....lol

[adamc11]

verbal contracts never hold in court, and she cant prove you fit her car yer?

Well she has my phone number and name so i suppose she could prove i hit it. I wouldn't lie though, yeah i hit it, i offered to pay and offered to fix it right away, and she delayed and i never heard from her again. I was even happy for her to get a quote at my panel beater (or hers, as long as it was reasonable) and i give her the cash. She never did chase it up though. Still can't believe someone could ring up about 16 months later asking for me to fix it

[Lumps of cheese]

No, it's been too long since it happened i reckon.

[LightningVP]

You can either go in 2 directions:
1) Organise a price that suits her (pay half or something like that) - ONLY if you are a REALLY NICE person or
2) Tell her that she said she would get back to you, and she didn't and thats that....she cant take yo to court or anything as she has waited too long...

[wingwang99]

If you only got left a message i would just ignor it. If she only has your phone number she would have to be pretty keen to get other details and would take a lot of time and effort on her part. So no don't pay it, don't even dignify the fact that she wants you to pay for it...

[LUMPY 8]

no insurance clame + no police report = no proof

[Grennan]

am i the only one who thought this thread was about child support?

I thought it was about prostitution but heey.

ANyway on topic. I would say to the lady, look its far to late for me to fix it now, you couldve had countless other accidents in this time period. Unless she has photos of the damage and can get a quote based on those photos i cant see it holding up in court either as they will say the same thing, in that time period so much couldve happened to the car.

In fact i wouldnt even bother reply to her voicemail.

[adamc11]

You can either go in 2 directions:
1) Organise a price that suits her (pay half or something like that) - ONLY if you are a REALLY NICE person or
2) Tell her that she said she would get back to you, and she didn't and thats that....she cant take yo to court or anything as she has waited too long...

Are you sure she can't take me to court?

[adamc11]

If you only got left a message i would just ignor it. If she only has your phone number she would have to be pretty keen to get other details and would take a lot of time and effort on her part. So no don't pay it, don't even dignify the fact that she wants you to pay for it...

To clarify.... she rang me twice at 9pm tonight, i was sleeping so i didn't answer. Somehow she got my mums mobile number and rang her! She started telling my mum about it, and then she goes to my mum 'you probably didn't know, did you'. Stupid women opened her mouth. Then i got a call from my mum to tell me she had been contacted my this lady. She must have used telstra 1223 with my surname to get my mums mobile number. Like it couldn't wait till tomorrow, had to be done tonight at 9pm and she had to hassle my mum...

[Grennan]

When she rings you next pick up and just say listen i wouldve gladly paid for the damage 10 months ago, when the damage was actually still somewhat recent. You left it far to late, who knows what added damage you have had done to your car. End Convo.

[skyper]

i think u will find there's now more damage ,and u could say to paint my area i would have to pay 4 all the other,and im not doing that, if she gives u heaps tell her to send u a picture of the damage to see if its just yours maybe

[Stretchomatic]

wheres the proof? are they gonna carbon date the scratch on the bumper? tell her it was a one year warranty.

[wingwang99]

When she rings you next pick up and just say listen i wouldve gladly paid for the damage 10 months ago, when the damage was actually still somewhat recent. You left it far to late, who knows what added damage you have had done to your car. End Convo.

I second that

[faroogoo]

Prob wouldnt hurt to seek a little legal advice first thing in the morning,get all your bases covered so you know where you stand.

I agree with Grennan,but by the sound of it she's probably not going to accept no as an answer & just keep on pursuing it.

[maxpower QLD]

Admittedly yes you did the damage but If she left it for that long then you shouldn't need to pay IMO (depending on the dammage caused) .

So how bad is this damage anyways ?

[adamc11]

Admittedly yes you did the damage but If she left it for that long then you shouldn't need to pay IMO (depending on the dammage caused) .

So how bad is this damage anyways ?

Pretty sure it was just her rear bumper bar. No panels were dented. Bumper bar had marks on left hand side corner. For all i know they may have just about buffed out. I never looked at it properly, was way too ****ed i hit my friends car so carelessly (however little the damage was, was still very annoyed at myself). From what i'm thinking, the damage wasn't bad enough for her to take time out to fix it, but now that she's selling it, the new owner wants it fixed. That's why she rang me at 9pm, and then my mum... possibly theres a potential buyer and she needs it fixed asap.

[adamc11]

Prob wouldnt hurt to seek a little legal advice first thing in the morning,get all your bases covered so you know where you stand.

I agree with Grennan,but by the sound of it she's probably not going to accept no as an answer & just keep on pursuing it.

Will be speaking to a family friend who is a lawyer in the morning. Will clear up where i stand then call her with the bad news (i hope)