In a recent Reddit post on r/mildly infuriating, someone shared a situation that many would call absurd, ridiculous, and legitimately hopeless. The original poster explained that he accidentally crashed into a colleague’s car during a snowstorm in 2020. He did the responsible thing: pleaded guilty and paid $2,600 directly to the employee to get it repaired.
Five years, no repairs, and a surprise bill
But the car was never fixed. Now, the new repair estimate has risen to $3,800, so the worker is again asking for an additional $1,200. “I won’t pay,” the OP wrote flatly.
Don’t miss:
The incident occurred in a poorly plowed rural parking lot. A tractor had piled snow behind the OP’s truck, and when he tried to get out, his vehicle skidded and his hitch punctured the bumper of a 2016 Toyota RAV4. The OP immediately took responsibility and told the employee to get the quotes.
When the worker came back with the repair estimates, the OP sent him the full amount via PayPal, adding a little extra to cover the fees. The employee signed a note acknowledging the payment. “He’s never repaired,” OP said.
Now, as the fellow waits to sell the car, he finally wants to fix the bumper. He approached the OP with the higher, current estimate, and started showing up during his shift, asking for more money and leaving notes at his workstation.
“He [said] He was ready to take me to small requests,” wrote the OP, who contacted the company’s HR department and warned the employee to stop contacting him.
Rising: Did Nvidia and Tesla miss out? RAD Intel could be the next AI powerhouse – Only $0.81 per share
Reddit is heavy
Commenters quickly sided with the OP. “Let him take you to small claims. Judges need a little humor in their lives,” joked one person. Another said the judge would “have a field day with this one” and would “be laughed out of that courtroom pretty soon.”
Others pointed out that most states have statutes of limitations on property damage claims that typically run between two and five years. “He has about 6 weeks left on the statute of limitations here,” the OP noted. “But I can’t imagine a judge ruling in his favor.”
Several legally informed commenters also emphasized that the signed note and proof of payment are critical. “You’ve met your end. Inflation and the time value of money are no longer relevant here,” one person said.
Some people even joked that the co-worker owed the OP money. “Tell him you’ll use that money to buy Nvidia stock in 2020 and he now owes you $20K,” one person wrote.
Also see: An EA co-founder shapes this VC-backed marketplace-Now you can invest in the next big platform in gaming
Other problems with the vehicle
The OP also revealed that the co-worker’s car has deeper problems than just the bumper. “It’s got rust from the Middle East under it, leaking head gaskets, and judging by where he parks it, an oil leak a quarter a week.”
Most commentators agreed: The helper may need money for a down payment on a new car, not the old bumper. “Let’s be honest, if you actually paid this man what he’s asking, he still wouldn’t be building the truck,” one person wrote. “He will use the money to pay for the down payment on his new vehicle.”
For now, the OP isn’t worried. He has documentation, HR on his side, and what appears to be full online support. “I still don’t overpay him,” he concluded.
Read next: Bezos’ favorite real estate platform is paving the way for an ongoing personal loan boom
Image: Shutterstock
Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge’s one-of-a-kind market trading ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights It can keep you ahead in today’s competitive market.
Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:
This article says he hit his employee’s car in 2020 and paid $2,600 for repairs. Five years later, the car still hasn’t been fixed and the partner is asking for more money The post originally appeared on Benzinga.com.
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. all rights reserved.