Car Dilemma

[mizfiesta]

My friend left her car parked at my house while she went on holiday to NZ for three weeks thinking it would be safer than leaving it parked at her home. It wasn't.

A few nights ago some youths decided to smash the back window. It's also left the boot dented. I was completely unaware but a neighbour phoned the police. First I new about it was when I seen the note on windscreen left from Police asking for the car owner to get in touch.

I phoned the Police last night (Wed) and was advised that the officers dealing with it wouldn't be back on duty till Saturday.

Now I don't know what to do! Do I email my friend, who is off to NZ on holiday and not due back for another 2 weeks that her car has been damaged? Or do I not ruin her mood on her holiday and wait till she comes back? If I do forewarn her, can she contact her insurance company from NZ and arrange the collection and repair of her vehicle? Is that even possible if she's not her in person?

Or do I let her have the headache of having to put her car in for repairs and be without it when she comes back and needs it to get to work? Help please!

[johnny37]

I would think that the insurance requires her to report the incident 'as soon as possible', ie when she returns. does not sound serious enough to spoil her holiday. May even be drivable if the lights etc are working. The glass is normally covered separately and will cost about £50. The dent doesnt sound massive. May be able to get it repaired. but will have to be resprayed if done on insurance. Check the internet for a 'dents' man, or a replacement 2nd-hand boot lid (£100ish?).

[Khandro]

You could contact autoglass https://www.autoglass.co.uk/ and get them to replace it today, for which she can reimburse you, it has to be done anyway and it will probably be cheaper, particularly as its a back window, than loosing no-claims on her insurance.
If it gets rained on, or worse more kids try to get inside more damage will be done and it will all cost more in the long run.

[ToraToraTora]

Tape a bin bag over it and wait till she comes back. Do not spoil her trip with this.

[mizfiesta]

Tora, bin bag already in place. And I think it's probably best not to let her know. Especially if knowing doesn't mean she can get the insurance company to fix it any sooner than her return. Unfortunately I don't have any extra cash to fix it for her in the meantime.

[Zacs-Master]

If you leave it and further damage is caused, it may invalidate her insurance (worst case). Sorry, but you have to tell her.

[ToraToraTora]

don't be silly Zacs, as long as you note the details date and time, delaying for 3 weeks will not effect anything. You could get the screen replaced by autoglass and get her to repay you. As there is no third party involved I'd say she's almost certainly be better to get this fixed herself rather than involve the insurer anyway. Do not spoil her trip. Believe me if I was away for 3 weeks, I would not want to know about this trivia.

[ukbod2015]

she might need it when she comes back so i`d be inclined to text with a photo and ask her what she wants you to do.

[ToraToraTora]

.....yeah and spoil her trip for her! WAP!

[Hopkirk]

I would want to know.

It can be sorted while she is abroad.

She would be deflated to get back to find it damaged and not repaired.

[tonyav]

So would I, Hopkirk.

[mizfiesta]

Update on situation. I contacted my friend's relative who contacted my friends insurance company. For the insurance company to act, they had to have contact from my friend, who then had to give clearance for their relative to act on their behalf. So my friend called insurers from NZ and gave the green light for her relative to act on her behalf. It all went really quick from there. The insurance company sent out a repair company to pick the car up from me yesterday. The repair company will carry out necessary repairs and keep the car till my friend gets back from NZ. So, ultimately she DID find out about the vandalism to her car :( It was unavoidable if we were to get the car repaired for her return. And she relies on her car to get to work etc. She assures me that it's not ruined her holiday! I'd have still preferred to have shielded her from this, but it simply couldn't be.

[Khandro]

Great! AND she's got free, protected parking for the rest of her holiday :0)

[Hopkirk]

You have been a good friend

[mizfiesta]

Thank you Hopkirk, much appreciated. I did feel bad about it happening when I was supposed to be looking after car, but I guess these things happen. Just sheer bad luck. And Khandro that's one good thing to come out of it I guess...free parking till she returns home! Thanks to everyone who responded.