Her Neighbor Told Her to Send Him the Bill After His Son’s Ball Broke Her Window, Then Said the $420 Repair Was Too Much and Offered $250

A woman’s neighbor’s kid was playing ball in his yard when it flew over and smashed the outer layer of a large side window on her house. That night, the boy’s dad apologized and told her to send him the bill.

She called a window company, paid $420 for the repair, and left the receipt in his mailbox. Now he says that was way too much, offered $250 instead, and accused her of nickel-and-diming a kid.

Ball Through the Side Window

The ball came flying over from the neighbor’s yard and hit the big window on the side of her house. The outer layer shattered.

The inside layer stayed intact. Still, the window was damaged and needed to be fixed.

A broken window can quickly turn into a bigger problem. Cracks can let in drafts, moisture, or pests, which can lead to more expensive repairs if left alone.

Kid Who Couldn’t Look Her in the Eye

The boy came over to get his ball. He couldn’t look at her and just stood there, shifting from foot to foot.

She wasn’t angry with him. She could tell he felt bad about what happened.

To her, it was clearly an accident. She just needed the window fixed.

His Dad Promised to Cover It

That evening, the boy’s dad came over. He admitted his son broke the window and apologized.

He told her to give him the bill. She told him she knew his son didn’t mean to do it.

At that point, she believed they had a simple agreement. He’d pay for the repair.

One Window Company and a $420 Quote

The next day, she called a window company. A technician came out and measured the window.

He explained that even though only the outer layer broke, both layers are sealed together as one unit. The entire piece had to be replaced and custom-made.

The repair would cost $420. She only called that one company and told them to go ahead.

Insurance Wasn’t an Option

She checked whether insurance would help, but her deductible was much higher than the repair cost. Filing a claim wouldn’t save her any money.

Many homeowners have deductibles of $500, $1,000, or more. For smaller repairs, it often makes more sense to pay out of pocket.

So she paid the full $420 herself. Once the new glass was installed, she put the receipt in her neighbor’s mailbox.

Receipt in His Mailbox

A little later, the neighbor came knocking. He said $420 was far too much for the repair.

He told her he knew someone who would have done it for $250. He said she should have let him get a quote first.

He offered to pay $250 and called it fair. Then he accused her of nickel-and-diming a kid over a window.

His Guy Would Have Done It for $250

She reminded him that he told her to give him the bill. He said he didn’t expect it to cost that much.

That leaves a $170 gap between what she paid and what he’s offering. It’s money she’d have to cover for damage she didn’t cause.

Since then, his wife has gone out of her way to avoid her. The relationship next door now feels tense.

Asking Him First or Fixing It Herself

She isn’t upset with the boy. She just doesn’t understand why she should pay part of a repair for something she didn’t break.

At the same time, she knows she never gave his dad a chance to find someone cheaper. She’s left wondering whether she should have checked the price with him first, or whether his promise to pay meant he should have spoken up about his own contractor before she ever made the call.

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