A-hole neighbor broke my fence and refuses to pay to fix it

[Anonymous]

My a-hole neighbor (whom I believe has HFA among other issues) hired a company to plant shrubs along our shared property line. The installers broke one of the poles of my fence, which is inches inside our shared property line. When I went out to look at the work, found the broken post and pointed it out to my neighbor, I asked him (very politely) to pay to repair it. Unlike most people, who would apologize profusely for breaking something that's not theirs, this a-hole started yelling at me and claimed that my fence (which has been there for 8 years) is in fact on his property. He said he had his property surveyed (he moved in 2 years ago) and discovered that my fence is on his property, but that because he's such a nice guy, he didn't say anything to me about it.

I was speechless, so I just turned and walked away from this maniac.

I went ahead and paid more than $400 to get the fence repaired. The fence folk had to dig up the post and replace it with a new one, plus remove and replace the two sections of the fence on either side of the broken post.

I sent a very polite email to the a-hole, along with a copy of the bill, asking that he repay me for the repair. I also asked, very politely, that in the future he inform me well in advance whenever he plans to do work along the property line.

He never replied. We have large lots, so I don't run into him on the street.

DH says we can't sue him in small claims court for such a small amount of money.

WWYD? Do I have any recourse? I'm so pissed, and I'm out $400. Plus, TBH, I'm afraid he'll do something like this again. He has landscapers working on his property all the time.

[Anonymous]

Take him to small claims court. That's what it's for.

[Anonymous]

Try getting your money back from the landscapers or just let it go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try getting your money back from the landscapers or just let it go

Shouldn't the landscaper have paid for the damage they cause?

[Anonymous]

How old is the fence. I doubt fence post would break if it weren't rotted at the base. Why replace two sections of fence if it weren't damaged beyond repair. Also if that fence us on his property he can remove it and send yout the bill. There is an a hole on the block but it ain't him

[Anonymous]

Ask him to show you the survey report that says the pole or fence or whatever is on his land. Maybe it is. Then it's his own problem.

[Anonymous]

I have no idea who the landscaper is. It was a bunch of guys with a big truck and backhoe. I assume it should be $500 at minimum to go to small claims court. And really, it's the principle of the matter, not the money. I feel like he injured me multiple times: first by breaking the fence, then by not apologizing and then yelling at me, then I had to spend all that time and effort repairing the damage his installers did, then not paying!! I don't understand how someone can behave like this. (Although I do suspect he has HFA, or maybe he's just a jerk.) I emailed his wife too (she's an attorney) and she didn't reply either. DH says I should let it go, but I'm so angry.

[Anonymous]

Small claims court

[Anonymous]

It's $400, leas than a day's pay. Move on. Armeicans are so litigious.

[Anonymous]

Check the survey to verify that it's on your land, otherwise just be quiet and don't provoke him. You may be trespassing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old is the fence. I doubt fence post would break if it weren't rotted at the base. Why replace two sections of fence if it weren't damaged beyond repair. Also if that fence us on his property he can remove it and send yout the bill. There is an a hole on the block but it ain't him

Ugh. Are you my neighbor?

[Anonymous]

You are horrible in how you speak about people and maybe there is a reason he is not responsive to you. You should not be placing a fence exactly on the property line nor should they be planting on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask him to show you the survey report that says the pole or fence or whatever is on his land. Maybe it is. Then it's his own problem.

This. If OP doesn't have one of her own, ask to see his. You can't go to court without certified evidence of whose property the fence is on.

[Anonymous]

You are out of line. You will lose if you go to court. Stop harassing them..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are horrible in how you speak about people and maybe there is a reason he is not responsive to you. You should not be placing a fence exactly on the property line nor should they be planting on it.

Re-read what she wrote. Ya ding dong.