A couple weeks ago, a family member borrowed and messed up one of our cars by backing into one of our guest’s cars. Although family member offered to have it fixed,the guest fixed it (but not back to 100%) himself and family member did not insist on having it put 100% right professionally. Right away, I was not impressed, if I messed up a stranger’s car, I would be paying to fix it up to the condition it was in before. So if he didn’t insist on getting the stranger’s car 100% fixed, I figured he would at least be ashamed enough to put ours 100% right- especially given that we lend him the car virtually whenever he asks, even though it nearly always inconveniences us in some way since we end up ferrying him or the car back and forth so family member doesn’t have to go out of his way to get it. THEN my silly husband goes and says they can try to pop the bumper dent out themselves. I knew it wouldn’t look like it should when finished. The bumper is still dented, and the touch up paint looks terrible. I asked husband if he was okay with that, and he said yes rather unconvincingly. I know he is not okay with it, but he would rather deal with his sour grapes than ask family member to pay for the repair because it would be awkward.
What rots my socks more than anything is that family member just asked if he can borrow the car again. To me, this is an emphatic NO. He seems like a good driver when you are in the car with him, but has had a total of four accidents, two major with his own vehicle and two minor with other peoples’ vehicles. Husband is reluctant to have the “you can’t borrow our car because we can’t afford it if anything major happens” talk because it would uncomfortable. So instead, we will be driving them around to do their errands when they need. I guess it’s not my blood family so I don’t understand, but it still seems unreasonable to me.
Combined, they make almost as much as Husband and I, they just need to buy their own damn car already. —Displeased Wifey
This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2010.
I got to line number 4 before I got bored. As unfortunate as it is, your family member lent them their car, it is their responsibility to repair said vehicle. If they want to go after the person who caused the damage then that’s up to them. You take responsibility for lending someone a vehicle. I also hope you didn’t use up your daily quota of words to write this bitch, that would be unfortunate if you couldn’t produce any more long winded novels today.
Agree 100%. The guy is a bum, plain and simple, and shouldn’t see your car again, let alone borrow it.
S.H.I.T.D, please use up your daily quota of fucking off. Thanks
Don’t blame me, that’s the law. What he should or shouldn’t do isn’t up to me, it’s up to them. If he wants to be a douche, in this case he has the law on his side. It’s an insurance issue, not a matter of opinion, look it up.
They may make as much as you OP, but I’m sure they pay a lot of money for insurance. Please continue to not let them have your car, as I don’t want to get in an accident with them 🙂
OMG, FOUR accidents?!? /sarcasm
SHITD
No one’s blaming you, they’re just calling you out for being an ass-hole. Loose your first and last sentences and you’re fine. Not the friendliest fella, but not really an ass-hole either.
What make/model and year were the cars involved?
DO NOT loan your car to that particular family member. If he gets into a serious accident with your vehicle, and doesn’t have sufficient insurance coverage, guess who the victim’s lawyer is coming after – you! The guy is a high risk driver, keep the car to yourself. To hell with the sour grapes.
My old man taught me how to drive….I think I would rather the bitch you dealt with.
Something else you might want to consider, with 2 major accidents under his belt, the insurance company may have deemed him uninsurable. If this is the case he is not insured on your vehicle, and you will be paying out of pocket for his next major accident. Might want to check that out, it may very well be that out you were looking for. Won’t be any sour grapes if your insurance company says no to him driving your car.