'love thy neighbour'
(story doesn't involve sex or humus... don't want anyone misled or feeling their time has been wasted :P )My cousin stayed with me throughout august, sleeping on my couch while he attended this years Edinburgh festival getting some experience on stage as a comedian. Didn't ask for any money or anything because, well... you help family out right? Towards the end of his stay he flooded the bathroom and consequently the neighbours flat below us. Kind of destroying his bathroom and kitchen ceiling.

I spoke to the neighbour, said i'd pay for anything the insurance didn't cover. trying to do the right thing etc, he was my guest and as such anything happening in my flat is my responsibility. For the next couple of weeks I didn't hear anything, but put aside what money i could knowing a bill of some kind was gonna land on the welcome mat soon.

While waiting for this bill, i ended up in a minor road accident. A Bin got blown onto a main road as i cycled past. Knocking me off my bike and resulting on my getting clipped by a car from behind. queue one minor skull fracture and muscle damage in my right arm... plus a trashed bike.

So while i healed my bike went in for repair... knowing how much cash i had, and thinking 'if i set aside £250 for this flood thing, that'll be ok...' i later picked up my bike and paid them for the repairs. New gear cassette, new front transmission, new bike chain, front wheel bent back into shape, new front light. total bill £180. not happy with the cost, but i cycle everywhere and without my bike i just feel stuck.

The day after picking my bike up the neighbour drops the bill on me of £510. oh shit! I'd discovered last night i couldn't cycle, because the damage had left my right arm weak, so when cycling i kept veering off to the left and wasn't safe on the road. So the timing was bad... if i'd known this i would have done without the bike i can't use and been in better shape to pay this bill (i reckon i could have found the extra £80 somewhere). But as it was, being currently unemployed i find myself buggered.

Then this week (a few days later) my sister tells me she's moving out to live with her boyfriend. I'd been letting a room out to her for £200 a month including ALL bills (very cheap... family rates etc). I'd always known she'd move out and all i'd ask for was a months notice. I got 6 days.

So being in pain, with a hefty chunk of my income pulled out from under my feet I spoke to my neighbour. Explaining my situation and asking if i could pay him £300 now and £210 over the next few months... him being a devout practising christian, and well up on the 'love thy neighbour' stuff said 'no', and made it clear he'd take me to court for the full amount if i don't pay up.

September has just been shit beyond belief. Learnt my lesson though... don't accept responsibility for anything, don't trust family, don't pay for anything you can get away with not paying. lovely world :S
( Shiodome has realised numbers in names aren't cool., Thu 1 Oct 2009, 18:05, 12 replies)

Now
where did I put that violin?
(SBCkittencure, Thu 1 Oct 2009, 20:02, closed)

*clicks*
dunno, it's awfully tiny, must be easy to misplace :P
( Shiodome has realised numbers in names aren't cool., Thu 1 Oct 2009, 22:14, closed)

But you've made
a good attempt to pay - surely if you have a chat with your local citizens advice bureau they'll be able to help? Your neighbour deserves fuckall for being such a cunt. I'm not sure it'll help, but have a *click* on me.
(berk, Thu 1 Oct 2009, 20:05, closed)

Personally
I'd let him take you to court.
(Captain Skippy pooed in a bag and left it on your doorstep, Thu 1 Oct 2009, 20:45, closed)

fuck your neighbour
thats what his insurance is for. If you are wanting to repay the money offer him £5 per month. Any court looking at your circumstances would be happy you were taking steps to set things straight. Personally i would deny admitting responsibility in the first place. The CAB should see you ok. Good luck!

CLICK
(OTT, Thu 1 Oct 2009, 21:06, closed)

I work in insurance...
and I'm fairly sure that his insurance, if not yours, should pay the whole cost of this thing.

I know that if the bath developed a leak, then they would pay for all the resultant damage, but not to repair the original cause (the crack in the pipe or whatever).

However, this is simply accidental damage and is covered under any basic house insurance policy. All you'd have to pay is the excess, which as standard is anywhere between £50 and £250 I believe.
(porkinator is a Rock n Roll nerd!, Fri 2 Oct 2009, 10:11, closed)

ditto, I think he's taking you for a ride.
Accidental damage should take care of practically anything that was... you know.... damaged accidentally, minus the excess.

I'd ask him for a breakdown of where he gets that figure and reasons why the insurance doesn't cover it! If he's going to be a cunt, then be a cunt right back.
(The_Mighty_Spleen, Fri 2 Oct 2009, 11:39, closed)

Yep
He's taking you for a fool. Pay nothing without evidence, especially if you're talking 3 figures!
(LittleKitty, Sat 3 Oct 2009, 5:35, closed)

Your cousin
should be kicking in on this as well though right?
(MyFakeName, Fri 2 Oct 2009, 10:40, closed)

You obviously haven't learned your lesson...
I'm not one to patronise but:

Buy some decent home insurance (and don't be too tight to tick the 'accidental damage cover' box), and then buy some insurance for yout bike. I have both of these and the sum total for the two policies is £230 ayear - two thirds less than you shelled out for your bike and the flood.

And then, make sure anyone that rents from you signs a 'tenancy agreement' - then you can demand money from them if they abscond before the notice period is up. Failing that, try taking a 'deposit' when you next rent, then if they do bugger off, you can keep said deposit.

Life ain't hard. You just make it so.
( Albert Marshmallow is a completely irredeemable cunt, Fri 2 Oct 2009, 14:37, closed)

Surely...
..you have a claim against the owner of the bin that caused your accident? If it was on the kerb ready for collection on the instruction of the council then maybe they are at fault. Whatever, I'd make an apointment at your local CAB to at least see where you stand.
(MadBouncyDog Barking at the moon since, Sat 3 Oct 2009, 0:04, closed)

I'd personally say the driver of the car has more of a case to answer - if he/she was so close that they were unable to stop without hitting you, then they're at fault surely?
(Pope Jamiroquai III, Sat 3 Oct 2009, 1:06, closed)