Trash bin blown by wind scratches resident's car
"Split cost by n" vs "Natural disasters handled individually"
A story has emerged about an apartment building representative who insisted that all households in the apartment share the repair costs after a trash bin blown by the wind scratched a resident's car.
Regarding the trash bin blown by the wind that scratched a resident's vehicle, representative B is saying that the repair cost will be charged to 13 households divided equally. [Photo by Online Community Archive]
On the 29th, a post titled "Controversial Apartment Building Representative Auntie's KakaoTalk Messages" was uploaded on an online community, drawing attention. According to photos posted by A, who identified themselves as a resident of the apartment, in a group chat with apartment residents, the building representative B said, "A few days ago, on a windy and cold day, a large trash bin was blown by the wind and scratched the front bumper of a resident's luxury car," adding, "The repair and rental costs exceed 2 million won, so I will charge the 13 households an equal share." They also added that they would take special care to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Residents of the building opposing when representative B said that the repair cost for the car scratched by a trash can blown by the wind would be collected from 13 households divided equally. [Photo by Online Community]
In response, residents opposed the repair cost claim, saying, "Please explain the basis for residents having to pay the repair costs," "Shouldn't accidents caused by natural disasters be handled by the car owner’s own insurance?" "Damage caused by wind is a natural disaster, so it doesn't make sense for residents to pay for it," and "I suspect the representative is close to the car owner."
A said, "(The damaged car) might be her husband's or she might have caused the damage herself," adding, "It seems like they are secretly making the residents pay. Otherwise, there’s no way they would say something so strange."
Netizens who came across the story reacted with comments such as, "Do you pay medical bills if you bump into a trash bin?" "Charge the wind," "Seeing what the residents say, they all seem kind. If it were me, I would have cursed," and "She seems like a scammer, not a representative."
Damage to cars caused by natural disasters is generally covered if the car owner has purchased comprehensive car insurance (self-vehicle damage insurance). Typical cases include cars parked in designated parking areas being damaged by typhoons, floods, or other natural disasters, or cars breaking down after being submerged in floodwaters. However, depending on the insurance product, having self-vehicle damage insurance does not guarantee coverage for all natural disaster-related damages. Therefore, it is advisable to check the details of the car insurance policy and confirm directly with the insurance company whether natural disaster coverage is included in the contract.
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