No court could possibly take this seriously?

Re: No court could possibly take this seriously?

• VarunaTT member

  

  September 26

  Sweet jesus.  It'd be small claims and she'd be laughed out of court for myriad of reasons. 
  
  I think the real issue is that the door frame company might come after LW if they refuse to pay.  So realistically, I might pay it and then take my mother to small claims court, b/c she committed fraud and made me pay a bill + my expenses for dealing with it, beyond the fact that it was from an act 23 years ago as a minor.

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• banana468 member

  

  September 26

  VarunaTT said:

  Sweet jesus.  It'd be small claims and she'd be laughed out of court for myriad of reasons. 
  
  I think the real issue is that the door frame company might come after LW if they refuse to pay.  So realistically, I might pay it and then take my mother to small claims court, b/c she committed fraud and made me pay a bill + my expenses for dealing with it, beyond the fact that it was from an act 23 years ago as a minor.

  I'd push back on the doorframe company first.  Let them know that your mother was totally remiss and ask them what kind of second rate company they are to just send invoices without consulting with the approving party.  By that token the LW's mother could send the invoice to ME - a perfect stranger.
  
  This would be dealbreaker relationship ending territory for me.  Mom holds a grudge for 23 years over something that happens?  
  
  I'd actually consider talking to an attorney if I knew one to figure this out.  I wouldn't pay a bill that I'm not liable for and would also look to cover my bases given mom's shadiness. 

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• MyNameIsNot member

  

  September 26

  My first step would be a letter to the company advising that I was not responsible for this invoice and warning them about attempting to collect. Hopefully the don't have LW's SSN to report to credit, but I would dispute the shit out of it if they tried. 
  
  And then let them. Either mom or the company can take it to small claims. I'd be there with bells on. 

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• levioosa member

  

  September 30

  Goddamn woman, why even have a kid if you're going to hold a childhood accident over their head like this? This cannot be the first instance of something like this happening. This would be a deal breaker for me. I don't need to keep in contact with a parent like that. There are easier ways to have a passive aggressive enemy.
  
  I would push back so hard on the company. Oh? She told you to bill me? Where was my copy and signature on the quote? Agree with PPs on this. 

  
  

  
  

  

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• short+sassy member

  

  September 30

  First, I would laugh at this company for trying to make me responsible for a repair bill that I never agreed to or even knew about.  Especially for repairs to a property that I didn't own.  I'd tell them to go kick rocks.
  
  Interestingly enough, I'm not surprised by the company even though this was very foolish of them.  My husband has signed 5-figure repair contracts for our personal home, but he doesn't own any part of it.  I have never been contacted by any of those companies to verify that I, the ONLY OWNER, was authorizing those repairs.  I was well aware of them and would have, but it's scary for all parties they don't even check.  Though they typically require a significant down payment before starting any work.  That's at least a good protection from someone vindictively ordering work or the LW's situation.  But for a smaller job like $1200, this is what can happen. 
  
  The mom is issuing an empty threat anyway.  It's doubtful she would take the LW to court.  Knowing this, I would tell her DO IT.  Take me to small claims court.  You are decades past the statute of limitations, even if this had any merit and it doesn't.
  

  

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• banana468 member

  

  September 30

  short+sassy said:

  First, I would laugh at this company for trying to make me responsible for a repair bill that I never agreed to or even knew about.  Especially for repairs to a property that I didn't own.  I'd tell them to go kick rocks.
  
  Interestingly enough, I'm not surprised by the company even though this was very foolish of them.  My husband has signed 5-figure repair contracts for our personal home, but he doesn't own any part of it.  I have never been contacted by any of those companies to verify that I, the ONLY OWNER, was authorizing those repairs.  I was well aware of them and would have, but it's scary for all parties they don't even check.  Though they typically require a significant down payment before starting any work.  That's at least a good protection from someone vindictively ordering work or the LW's situation.  But for a smaller job like $1200, this is what can happen. 
  
  The mom is issuing an empty threat anyway.  It's doubtful she would take the LW to court.  Knowing this, I would tell her DO IT.  Take me to small claims court.  You are decades past the statute of limitations, even if this had any merit and it doesn't.
  

  Right.....to sue a CHILD?!? 
  
  I would have to believe no court would argue that a child is responsible for the repairs required to damage he caused at 10.  Certainly not when the damage is to his mother's home!

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• short+sassy member

  

  September 30

  banana468 said:

  short+sassy said:

  First, I would laugh at this company for trying to make me responsible for a repair bill that I never agreed to or even knew about.  Especially for repairs to a property that I didn't own.  I'd tell them to go kick rocks.
  
  Interestingly enough, I'm not surprised by the company even though this was very foolish of them.  My husband has signed 5-figure repair contracts for our personal home, but he doesn't own any part of it.  I have never been contacted by any of those companies to verify that I, the ONLY OWNER, was authorizing those repairs.  I was well aware of them and would have, but it's scary for all parties they don't even check.  Though they typically require a significant down payment before starting any work.  That's at least a good protection from someone vindictively ordering work or the LW's situation.  But for a smaller job like $1200, this is what can happen. 
  
  The mom is issuing an empty threat anyway.  It's doubtful she would take the LW to court.  Knowing this, I would tell her DO IT.  Take me to small claims court.  You are decades past the statute of limitations, even if this had any merit and it doesn't.
  

  Right.....to sue a CHILD?!? 
  
  I would have to believe no court would argue that a child is responsible for the repairs required to damage he caused at 10.  Certainly not when the damage is to his mother's home!

  
  Interestingly enough, people usually can sue children directly in small claim's court when they cause financial damage.  However, the child is not financially responsible for paying the judgement until they are 18.  Oftentimes, the parent will pay it for them.  If not, the plaintiff does need to keep renewing the judgement, but I think they can do that indefinitely for most jurisdictions.  This is true for all judgements, not just against minors.
  
  However, I highly doubt a parent could sue their minor child in small claims!

  

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• banana468 member

  

  October 1

  short+sassy said:

  banana468 said:

  short+sassy said:

  First, I would laugh at this company for trying to make me responsible for a repair bill that I never agreed to or even knew about.  Especially for repairs to a property that I didn't own.  I'd tell them to go kick rocks.
  
  Interestingly enough, I'm not surprised by the company even though this was very foolish of them.  My husband has signed 5-figure repair contracts for our personal home, but he doesn't own any part of it.  I have never been contacted by any of those companies to verify that I, the ONLY OWNER, was authorizing those repairs.  I was well aware of them and would have, but it's scary for all parties they don't even check.  Though they typically require a significant down payment before starting any work.  That's at least a good protection from someone vindictively ordering work or the LW's situation.  But for a smaller job like $1200, this is what can happen. 
  
  The mom is issuing an empty threat anyway.  It's doubtful she would take the LW to court.  Knowing this, I would tell her DO IT.  Take me to small claims court.  You are decades past the statute of limitations, even if this had any merit and it doesn't.
  

  Right.....to sue a CHILD?!? 
  
  I would have to believe no court would argue that a child is responsible for the repairs required to damage he caused at 10.  Certainly not when the damage is to his mother's home!

  
  Interestingly enough, people usually can sue children directly in small claim's court when they cause financial damage.  However, the child is not financially responsible for paying the judgement until they are 18.  Oftentimes, the parent will pay it for them.  If not, the plaintiff does need to keep renewing the judgement, but I think they can do that indefinitely for most jurisdictions.  This is true for all judgements, not just against minors.
  
  However, I highly doubt a parent could sue their minor child in small claims!

  That's what I was thinking.
  
  My kid broke a window this summer hitting a baseball.  It was MY window.  Coincidently he was 10 at the time.  If this was the neighbor I assume she could say "Your son has to pay me back" and the real answer is that I need to pay for her window.
  
  But it's MY window.  So at 10, he's MY financial responsibility.  It doesn't become HIS responsibility when he's 18 for something he did at 10.  There's a reason we even treat children the way we do when it comes to crimes and it's not like we go to an 18 year old to shake down what happened 8 years prior to try them as adults. 
  
  
  

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