My brother in law had a car accident about two months ago and didn’t have the money at the time for a new car seat for his kid. No problem I have a car seat I wasn’t using at the time and told he that he could borrow it for a few weeks till I needed it back after my child came back from their fathers house.
Well now my kid is back and has been back for about a month and they won’t give the seat back. They keep saying they don’t have the money to buy a new one and that I’m being nasty by saying I need my car seat back and told me to buy another one.
I’ve asked nicely, I’ve asked bluntly and I’m not sure what else to do. I made very clear it was a loan not a permanent thing and that I’d need it back by a certain date. I’m not in the position to buy a new car seat.
What else should I do?
6 Replies
As unfair as it is, this is the risk you take when you loan things out. You can buy a new seat for as cheap as $120 and most places have after pay. If it were me, I would buy a new seat and wipe the brother in law.
Rock up there and take it back. Or let it go, but one from Kmart and never lend anything to them again.
I've learned a few things over the years.
1. Don't ever lend things to people that are valuable, sentimental or essentials that you need back. You will get burned!
2. Family are often the first ones to fuck you over.
3. People will rarely extend themselves for you the way you do for them.
4. Some people smell generosity the way dogs smell fear, those people will think nothing of taking advantage of you.
Chalk it up as an expensive lesson learned because BIL has made it clear he's not giving it back. Short of breaking into his car and taking the carseat back or making a civil claim (which is an expensive and lengthy process) you don't really have another choice.
It's shit you're dealing with this and I do hope you can get a car seat sorted out asap.
Ask him for some money toward a new one then. Do you know his partner? Ask her for it back. Or tell him ypu'll report it as stolen because it is. . I just bought a car seat on Marketplace for $50, its a damn nice one too! Im sure you can afford that, ir tell him to do it, and never ever lend him a single thing again, never ever do him any favours again nor contribute to any gifts on special occasions etc... Do nothing for him ever again.
He's a bit of a shit cunt to expect your kid to go car seatless tho, goes to show he actually doesn't give a shit about other peoples kids. Never leave him alone with yours if you have before from now on either.
Put it behind you. Yes it’s annoying but just take it as a life lesson. Never lend things to him again. Can you after pay a seat or put one on zip pay?
Depending on where you live insurance actually covers the buying of a new car seat... he might of been able to get one through that.