Should I Accept Payment From Neighbour?

[Proofraider]

Back in January, my neighbours partly cut back some leylandii that they'd allowed to grow untouched for more than 20 years, which were taller than their three-storey house. They didn't employ a proper contractor, just a mate with a chainsaw who just cut straight across the main trunks and brought the whole lot down - in doing this bodge job, they pulled down the BT telephone cables to both our houses, my TV aerial cable, slates from my roof and the fascia and guttering at the front of my house. To cut (ha, ha) a long story short, they've never acknowledged being responsible for anything (apparently it's mine and BT's fault for having cables and roof slates that come down) and refused to deal with my insurers or use theirs (if they have any).
At the time, they did say they'd repair the TV cable - over about two weeks they said first of all that they'd do it themselves, then when they realised it needed a professional they faffed about trying to find someone who'd do it on the cheap, then they gave me a letter telling me to make my own arrangements and they'd pay, but only up to £50 which by their reckoning was the amount it would cost. I got it done, the bill was £75 and I left a copy at their house. I never heard anything more about it. My insurers covered most of my costs (which ran into four figures) but I was left out of pocket in the hundreds on the total bill. My insurers tried to recover some money but faced with no response they stopped when the cost of pursuing it would be more than the amount they'd get back.
On Sunday my neighbour called round about something else, and in the course of an increasingly unpleasant talk I referred to having their letter saying they'd pay for the TV cable and getting nothing - he said they'd never received the bill. When I got home last night they'd left a cheque for £50 at my house, with a note saying they were "happy" to pay it even though they don't consider that "we should be caused to pay you any monies".
After nearly 10 months and with something given in such poor grace, I feel like telling them to stuff it, or at least return the cheque with a polite note saying that since they clearly don't consider that anything they did caused any damage and after such a long time, I wouldn't think of accepting it. If I do take it, I know that they'll then behave as if they aren't at fault any more (not that they ever thought they were) and at some point I'll get it thrown back at me that they paid me for something when they didn't have to etc etc so that makes them virtuous and blameless. I've also thought of returning it and asking them to give the amount to a local charity and let me have a copy of the receipt (I'm pretty sure they won't donate it).
They aren't lacking in money, but any time something needs doing at their property they'll either try to do it half-right themselves or get some mate round to help - other neighbours have told me that they've come asking to borrow equipment or ask someone to come and do things at their place and no-one likes it much. Mr Next Door is particularly difficult to deal with and I certainly don't want any more contact with them than absolutely necessary.
What to do? Any thoughts? Thanks.

[ummmm]

Just bank it if thats the only amount you'll be able to recover.

[saintpeter48]

You can either, 1) Cash the cheque and have nothing more to do with them, treat it as a lesson learned, 2) Take them to the small claims court to recover the whole amount or 3) Cash the cheque and write to them telling them your feelings on the whole matter, but this may cause further friction! My choice would be the first option. Good luck.

[Peter Pedant]

I am a landlord: whenever someone offers me money ( haha ) I take it - with a receipt of course.

The majority part of your loss is insured and so has been made up.

IF your insurance has paid you off - then you no longer have a claim - ( see subrogation ) . and once you have pocketed fifty quid - does that mean you cant claim later for another £100 ?

( sorry Yuri is trying to replace my Java ) .....

so 1) money is money
2) I would write a nice letter thanking them for the cheque - and specify it is for the telephone line
3) and cash cheque

It is clear that if they are taking money they are accepting liability
( I mean no one pays money if they dont owe it ]

and try harder to get on with your awful neighbours

[Peter Pedant]

we're all going for option 1

StP he may NOT have a claim if the insurance has paid....