That's how long C2 had his driver's license before he was involved in an auto accident. No one was hurt and no other cars were involved. He was driving too fast, lost control of the car and ended up on the other side of the road in a ditch. His best friend was in the car with him. That's against the law in our state. His fine was $103. He anted up.
The car was towed to a local garage. The mechanic estimated the damage at about $1,800 and suggested that since it was more than our $1,000 deductible we call the insurance company. All of this happened about three weeks ago.
Yesterday there was a voice message from the auto shop, saying that the car is ready to be picked up. The repairs amount to $4,000. (Now there really goes our insurance!) Our out of pocket is $1,000. The nice voice says we can pay with cash, a bank check or any credit card except American Express. The pleasant voice goes on to say that if we pay by credit card there will be a 2% surcharge assessed. Is that legal? Isn't there something in the merchant-credit card company contract that says that they can't charge a customer for using a credit card? It just doesn't seem right to me.
Thank Goodness I have the $1,000 in cash. $500 is in my short-term savings account and $500 is from the car fund. This isn't how I planned to use that money. In my January money review I speculated that I would like to pay $900 on my credit card this month. Using that $500 from the short-term savings was going to make that speculation a reality. The other $500 I wanted to leave in the car fund to use for routine maintenance on my new car. It doesn't look like either of those things are going to happen. Anyway, maybe I should ask the mechanic for a 2% discount since I'm going to pay in cash. :-)
Friday, February 15, 2008
Two Weeks and a Day
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13 comments:
I'm glad he wasn't hurt. That's pretty hard for your family, though. :(
Wow. Is your son going to pay you back the $1000? Your insurance is probably going to skyrocket at the next renewal date, too. Boys!
They can charge extra for the use of the credit card, because Visa/MC will charge them 2% of the sale. For example, if your bill were $100, the shop would only get paid $98 from Visa/MC.
I am glad that he and his friend were not hurt. It pains me to think of what will happen to your insurance now (especially with a young male driver!).
However, I'm very proud of you for having the cash to pay for it. No, it isn't how you wanted to spend it, but at least you had it when you needed it.
Good luck wrapping up the situation.
yeah its good that no one was hurt. In Australia the surcharge for using a credit card is often passed on to the buyer if the merchant chooses to, I'm not sure about other countries. I never accepted cards because of fees are high for small businesses. Good luck with the debt paydown it seems to be going well.
Wealthly_1,
First, I'm very glad that neither your son nor his friend were hurt. They were very lucky.
My daughter is counting down the days before she can go test for her driver's license. We spent almost $1,000 on a fancy but well-respected and thorough driver's ed course for her a year ago and she's done a ton of driving under our supervision.
State law says she can't have anyone under 21 in the car for the first 6 months after getting her license. I'd like to believe that she won't pull a stunt like your son did but I'm a realist and I know that anything is possible.
If you're interested in sharing, I'd really like to know what kind of "punishment" or consequences your son will face since he broke the law and damaged your car. My husband and I have had a few lightweight conversations about how we'd handle various driving issues or accidents with our kids but I don't think a parent can really know how they'd deal with something like that until it actually happens.
Wow. That's a hard lesson, but luckily it only hurt financially and your son is okay. My oldest got into a small accident but it ended up costing us almost $1000.00. We made her pay half. Harsh? Yes. But it worked. She was EXTREMELY careful from then on. She's 21 now and has her own car and her own insurance. Thank God.
Thank goodness your DS wasn't hurt!! It sure was an expensive lesson for him not to speed and not to have a friend in the car with him.
About the CC charge, you should look into that...
If it make you feel better...I made it one week! I was 17 driving a fast 74 Camaro (I wish I still had BTW!)No real damage, but hit a mailbox...DOH!
Then again, I haven't had a ticket since I was 19!
Glad they are both OK!
Thanks to all for the support. My son was very shaken up emotionally by the whole incident. I'll write soon about his consequences.
So glad to hear he and his friend were not hurt. Maybe a "close call" will end up making him a safer driver?
My son did exactly the same thing: within a few days of getting his license and first car, ran a signal -- while yakking with his buddy, not paying any attention -- and totaled two other cars. Mercifully, no one was hurt. I'm glad yours was OK, too!
Now that m'hijito is 30 and I am older than the Himalayas, I pontificate: not a CHANCE should 16-year-olds be allowed to drive! If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't even dream of giving a young male (or female) a seat behind a steering wheel. Teenagers do not have the judgment or insight into human nature required to assess either their own behavior or the behavior of other drivers -- they are not prepared to drive safely.
:-) He continued driving like a banshee (though he avoided accidents), so terrifying his uncle that the old boy refused to ride in the car with him. Then he got a job as an insurance adjuster.
Interestingly, since he's started working at the insurance company he's learned the fear of God and of his fellow drivers. He drives like a little old lady -- i.e., exactly like his muther. He cruises the roads estimating the liability of the participants in various near-accidents. Maybe all young people should be required to spend a year answering the phones at an insurance company before they qualify for a driver's license!
I'm so glad he wasn't hurt. The rates for boys are crazy, and y ou'rs will most likely go up.
I found out when I was pregnant that I was having a boy. I vividly recall being seven months pregnant and blow drying my hair when all of a sudden I realized - Oh crap! My car insurance rates are going to be ridiculous! LOL
I do believe it is in the credit card company contract that they cannot pass the fee on to you, but credit card companies seldom enforce it, probably fearing that the companies will stop accepting the cards altogether.
Good luck!
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