ANNIE’S MAILBOX: Friend fixed car, caused problems

May 26, 2010 at 4:12a.m.

Dear Annie: My father and I co-own a vehicle. I recently had a mechanic friend install parts for me as payment for baby-sitting his stepdaughter. After he completed the repair, more problems arose. My father took the car in to the dealership, and it turns out my friend caused hundreds of dollars in damage by not installing the parts correctly.

My father says I should pay for these repairs and learn my lesson about having a friend work on my car. I argue that my friend is a certified and trained mechanic and should be responsible for the new repairs that need to be done.

How do I handle this?

Car Trouble in Minnesota

Dear Car Trouble: We are surprised that a certified and trained mechanic would do such damage, and he should be informed. Don’t be accusatory. Simply let him know what happened after his repair work, and say you “thought he should know” in case he comes across a similar situation in the future. He should then offer to reimburse you for the repairs you needed to make because of his incompetence. At the very least, he still owes you for baby-sitting. If he does not offer, let it go or take him to court.

Dear Annie: My boyfriend, who has always struggled with mild depression, recently suffered a severe trauma that left him with PTSD. Because his parents believe that therapy and medication are for “crazy people,” he has not received any type of treatment and shows no signs of getting better. Could you suggest some places he could contact for PTSD, stress and/or depression?

Stressed Girlfriend

Dear Stressed: Here you go: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (nami.org) at 800-950-NAMI (800-950-6264); The Anxiety Disorders Assn. of America (adaa.org) at 8730 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910; the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (dbsalliance.org) at 800-826-3632; Abraham Low Self-Help Systems (recovery-inc.org) at 866-221-0302 and The National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (ptsd.va.gov).

Dear Annie: I read the letter from “Exhausted Wife,” whose husband expects her to pay for her share of their vacations, even though she can’t afford it.

I have spent 40 years married to a loving, wealthy woman who makes at least 10 times what I do. For decades, I struggled (and resented) supplying 50 percent of our common expenses. Then I started contributing only 10 percent of my income and have managed to accumulate a little savings. I feel so much better, and she never gave me a hard time.

“Exhausted” should hire a cook and a house cleaner and pay them out of their common income so she feels less exploited.

Virginia Reader

Dear Virginia: We hope they have a common income she can access. Your wife wants to vacation with you and is sensible enough to understand that the disparity in income means she should pay a higher percentage of the cost. “Exhausted,” unfortunately, does not have a spouse like that.

Creators Syndicate