Car damaged by cows...
 

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[Closed] Car damaged by cows in a car park.. Whose insurance / liable?

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Long story short... We parked in a farmers car park which is otherwise known as a field. It's quiet and only open in the summer.
There's a sign on his gate saying beach car park £3 and an honesty bucket.
There are no other signs about where to park so we head through several gates where other cars are parked. There are 30 or so cows sat around in the field. We unload and spend the afternoon at the beach.
Upon our return a cow is scratching itself on our vw T5.
Its smashed off the drivers side mirror, smashed a rear light and cracked the other, dented the boot, dented the rear wing, and put several scratches in the paint work.
As we leave I go and see the farmer who is a bit apologetic but starts by saying we parked in the wrong field but doesn't answer my question about where we should have parked, then says the cows must have got out from another field. I raise an eyebrow and then suggest he should pay for the damage. To my surprise he says send me the bill.
I haven't had a quote yet but can see the repair bill being close to £1k.
Personally I'm concerned he won't cough up.
Should I contact my insurance company?
Is he liable for having cows in his car park?
What to do?


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:30 am
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*gets cup of tea*

This should be interesting.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:34 am
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if you knew there were cows in a field and you left a shiney nice van in the field you`d be lucky to get any recompense for any damage.

i can understand your annoyance. my van has teeth marks in it from the monkeys at longleat. but you kind of accept stuff might happen. its no different than some bugger driving a trolley into it at tesco. very annoying - yes.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:37 am
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You parked in the wrong field... ?

You should have mooooooove it... 😆


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:37 am
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I'd be uddely disappointed if you don't get any money... 😆


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:39 am
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[i]Its smashed off the drivers side mirror, smashed a rear light and cracked the other, dented the boot, dented the rear wing, and put several scratches in the paint work.
I haven't had a quote yet but can see the repair bill being close to £1k.[/i]

My wife just had a £2.5k insurance claim for significantly less damage to her Golf.

[i]
Personally I'm concerned he won't cough up.[/i] Go through your insurer - they'll get the money out of him. (you probably have to tell them anyway)
[i]Should I contact my insurance company?[/i] yes.
[i]Is he liable for having cows in his car park?[/i] if he's asking people to pay to park then yes.
[i]
What to do? [/i] get some quotes in the first instance then decide what to do.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:41 am
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Good thread, I'll look on from afar..

Does seem odd that a Farmer would want you to Park in his field "full" of Cows though..
Mebbies he meant it when you parked in the wrong field.

You do know now that he'll stop letting folks use this as a carpark for fear of more claims (highly exaggerated I know but could happen)


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:42 am
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Milk him for everything he's got.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:43 am
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get lots of photos including the sign and did you get a photo of cow against vehicle?

hope that the farmer pays up

its a car park so not on public space, the fact that it's a field makes it hard to claim as a accident on your car cover...

you may need to use some form of legal cover (either on the car ins or your home ins or other) to claim the cost from the farmer, you'll need photos evidence ideally witnesses to claim

good luck


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:44 am
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At 28ppl he'll be there for sometime to come 😉


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:45 am
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:47 am
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Why not try sending the farmer the bill like he said you could ?


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:51 am
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[i]Why not try sending the farmer the bill like he said you could ? [/i]

possibly - I'd send an estimate first though - get his agreement to pay that in writing before getting any work done.

If he does start playing up though your insurers may not like that you've tried to negotiate your own settlement direct.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:53 am
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Maybe you missed a sign warning of this, you sure it didn't pasteurize but you didn't read it?


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:54 am
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I will but I was just gathering stw pearls of wisdom.
I'm now fearful Mrs cloudnine will reverse into something today as it's way trickier reversing with the mirror missing.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:55 am
 hels
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Was this in Scotland ? Highland Coos can be dangerous. But not as much as the most dangerous Coo of all, the Military Coo...


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:55 am
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Highland coos are dangerous?
You live and loin.

From memory, his farming insurance should cover this.
Just contact your insurers and let them deal with it.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:00 am
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sounds like a potential cash cow, would have thought the farmer realises he has alot at steak........ as I would assume if you are running a legit car park which charges you would need some kind of public liability insurance or something like that. Unless the honesty box changes that?.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:01 am
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I wouldn't go through insurers. It'll end up costing you. Given the usual inflated damage claims £1000 doesn't sound too bad. There is a chance his car park isn't fully legit so he's keen to keep it all on the quiet.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:02 am
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I can't see what your beef is - he said send him the bill.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:03 am
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That bovine has got form (and an ASBO)
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:03 am
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If I found my car had been vandalised by a cow I'd be really MOOdy


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:05 am
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Get on to the farmer as he'll be able to claim through his insurance, the insurance has for third parties that are part of a commercial operation.
Otherwise I'd look at it as any other form of vandalism, especially as he didn't keep his cows safe.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:05 am
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Hmmm, this one is a pity.

On the one hand the farmer is being helpful and not ripping people off for parking. £3 doesn't sound like a lot for parking near a beach but he isn't doing it for charity either. I suspect he rakes in quite a nice earner for this.

On the other hand if he gets a bill for £1-2k (It soon mounts up) he may not look on it anymore as easy money. Would be surprised if he has relevant insurance for doing this tbh.

My guess is you will get your estimate, he will pap himself at the amount and refuse to pay. You will chase for ages and then go through your own insurance and get it sorted. You will insist to your own insurance that they chase the farmer for it and he will state that you parked in the wrong field. Your insurance wont be bothered to chase and it will be very stressfull for you.

Get your estimate carried out quick smart. Send it to the farmer and follow it up quickly. If he is straight forward then everything gets done quickly etc. If he messes around then don't waste time on hime. Get your insurance involved and move on quickly.

Too much time wasted in life worrying about things other people do and for things you have paid insurance for


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:07 am
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Sounds like you'll have to foot (and mouth) up for the bill


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:10 am
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On the one hand the farmer is being helpful and not ripping people off for parking. £3 doesn't sound like a lot for parking near a beach but he isn't doing it for charity either. I suspect he rakes in quite a nice earner for this.

... tax free, I'd wager.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:10 am
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Calfeat Emptor


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:11 am
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Not sure that's right hobo.

IF, c9 contacts his insurer, they'll chase the farmer and if he's not paying ball will pay for the repairs less the excess (assuming that the policy does cover bovine damage...) and it'll go down as a "cost not recovered claim".

It's certainly a fairly rare situation...


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:11 am
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If only the OP's car had been a stretch limousin or a hereFord.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:15 am
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[i]nemesis - Member

Not sure that's right hobo.

IF, c9 contacts the insurer, they'll chase the farmer and if he's not paying ball will pay for the repairs less the excess (assuming that the policy does cover bovine damage...) and it'll go down as a "cost not recovered claim".

It's certainly a fairly rare situation...[/i]

Sorry nemesis, whats not right?

My main point is that if the farmer pays, great. If he doesn't then this is what people pay insurance for and don't let the stress of the event drag on for a second more than it needs to.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:17 am
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You'da thought the farmer would have public liaBULLity insurance.

[/Frankie howard]
suit yourself
[/frankie howard]


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:17 am
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For the OP - when you say you went through several gates, did you have to open them? If they were open already, it doesn't matter which field you parked in, as the cows could have got to your vehicle anyway.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:29 am
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Hobo - yeah, may have misread your post.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:32 am
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I'd just ring my insurers, they would fix the car and pay for it. They can chase the farmer or his insurer for the money if they want to, and I don't have to care, or get involved.

That's what you pay them for.

Simple enough really.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:38 am
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[quote=nealglover ]That's what you pay them for.

and you then pay them back a significant proportion of what you've claimed, unlike the case if you get the farmer to pay for it


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:44 am
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That's what you pay them for.
But you will most likely end up paying them more because of it.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 10:47 am
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There is a protected ncb on the car fwiw.
Happened in West Wales.. Think they were fresians


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 11:00 am
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Free is one thing they weren't 😉


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 11:07 am
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Might be classed as an Act of Cud so you may end up paying yourself..


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 11:42 am
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Don't end up in hock paying for the repairs.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 11:47 am
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[quote=cloudnine ]There is a protected ncb on the car fwiw.

Will still cost you to claim when it comes to renewal time, just not as much as otherwise - protected NCB is just another insurance policy on your NCB, but doesn't cover you for increases in the base premium for becoming a higher risk.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 11:52 am
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Don't get into a beef with the Farmer over this.

Did you open any gates or go over a cattle grid? Seems a bit mad cow to park vehicles in a field you have cows in.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 11:53 am
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WOW this is a legendary thread, you couldn't make this muck up. 😆


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 11:56 am
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and you then pay them back a significant proportion of what you've claimed, unlike the case if you get the farmer to pay for it

That amount of damage to a T5 is going to cost over £2k easily in parts and body shop labour (at a good repairer)
Multiple panels to repair or replace and paint, a fair bit of paintwork to repair/repaint, pair of rear lights to replace, door mirror to replace (paint?) and possibly damages electrics.
£1k won't even be close.

Mine costs a touch over £200 a year to insure fully comp.

what sort of percentage increase do you reckon the insurers will add, for one non fault claim, that would recover a "significant proportion" of that sort of claim ?


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 12:11 pm
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Doesnt really help... Recently I turned up to a RTC where a person had killed a cow in the middle of the road and it had written the car off. The Police didnt know who should be claiming off who.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 12:25 pm
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That amount of damage to a T5 is going to cost over £2k easily in parts and body shop labour (at a good repairer)

I think that's probably milking it a bit...


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 12:53 pm
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I think that's probably milking it a bit...

You've really got this punning off pat now.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 1:00 pm
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I think it's time to moove on here


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 1:01 pm
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[i]I think it's time to moove on here [/i]

Cow puns should definitely be seen and not herd.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 1:03 pm
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Pull the udder one


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 1:05 pm
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Was there not a thread about this fromages ago?


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 1:23 pm
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[i]Was there not a thread about this fromages ago? [/i]

We'd better go Caerphilly on the cheese puns, then.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 1:28 pm
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stretch limousin

<ripple of applause>


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 1:54 pm
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The Police didnt know who should be claiming off who.

Can't see why they'd need to know, they're not insurance underwriters.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 2:02 pm
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OP's gone quiet, must be ruminating on the suggestions. I can't believe the farmer accused the OP of being in the wrong field, how dairy.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 2:06 pm
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Think you'll need bovine intervention to get this sorted out.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 2:12 pm
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Its smashed off the drivers side mirror, smashed a rear light and cracked the other, dented the boot, dented the rear wing, and put several scratches in the paint work.
You're lucky not to have had a hoof in the slats, IMO

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 2:36 pm
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So you drive accross the cows front garden and then complain when they try to mooove you on. A bull would have Hoofed you out and charged you.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 2:55 pm
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Nothing useful to add except maybe next time park in a field full of elephants, they seem far better mannered than cows when around cars
[url= http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/aug/17/escaped-elephant-crashes-dutch-car-boot-sale-video ]http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/aug/17/escaped-elephant-crashes-dutch-car-boot-sale-video[/url]


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 8:52 pm
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I don't know why so many people here are bigoted against cows. I wouldn't have had you down as a bunch of vache-ists.


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:08 pm
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The farmer will be insured, no doubt with the NFU with a minimum of 5 million third party liability (it is the industry standard). He will have informed his insurers about the parking enterprise. When your bill comes in he will hand it to the girl down the local NFU office, who will do all the paperwork and you will get reimbursed. If worried, ask to speak to his insurer and get them to sort out the repair with an nfu approved repair centre. You won't then even have to handle any of the claim/quote work yourself.

In my experience, the NFU may not be the cheapest insurance but it is consistently the best to deal with (as a farmer anyway), when the shit hits the fan (sounds like it almost did quite literally in this case).


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:11 pm
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so you left one of the several gates open, let the cows in, and one damaged your car? 😉


 
Posted : 17/08/2015 9:12 pm
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The farmer will be insured...
...no doubt with the NFU
....He will have informed his insurers about the parking enterprise.

Can I have this weekends lottery numbers while you're on please Mystic Meg 🙂


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 7:54 am
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Are we still churning this one over


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 7:57 am
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Nah, just chewing the cud now.


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 8:54 am
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Some of these comments really don't cut the mustard........


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 9:25 am
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Ooo cow puns.
Err now what's left...?

[s]milk it[/s]
[s]cud[/s]
[s]mooove[/s]
[s]udder[/s]
[s]herd[/s]
[s]moo-dy[/s]

This is offal there are hardly any left.


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 9:53 am
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Dair-y leave his car in another farmer's carpark after this episode? I suspect not.


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 9:56 am
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captainsasquatch - Member
Dair-y leave his car in another farmer's carpark after this episode? I suspect not.
POSTED 9 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

He butter not.


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 10:07 am
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I'm now fearful Mrs cloudnine will reverse into something today as it's way trickier reversing with the mirror missing.

I would be as you are driving a vehicle in a non roadworthy state, as you stated in your earlier post that it was the drivers side mirror, this is an obligatory mirror, and required to be roadworthy, be difficult at that point to claim for any further damage incurred.


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 10:15 am
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what sort of percentage increase do you reckon the insurers will add, for one non fault claim, that would recover a "significant proportion" of that sort of claim ?

Our van got crashed into by neighbour, £1800 damage with costs fully recovered from her policy, my insurance has gone up by, on average £100 per vehicle for 5 years, I insure 5 vehicles so over the time I'd have been better off paying for it myself than claiming....


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 10:44 am
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Our van got crashed into by neighbour, £1800 damage with costs fully recovered from her policy, my insurance has gone up by, on average £100 per vehicle for 5 years, I insure 5 vehicles so over the time I'd have been better off paying for it myself than claiming....

What percentage rise is that as a total ?

To be fair though, it does sound like you live next door to a really crap driver. From an Actuarial point of view that liability is ever present (unlike a random carpark ding away from home) and your insurers are protecting themselves against it by increasing the premium.

Quite different from most non fault claims really.

As is you insuring five cars in your name.

Although, if those increases are genuine, and you can prove it, you can claim against the at fault party's insurers as that is a direct loss to you that they are still liable for. Most people don't bother as it's just a few quid, but your situation is quite different for a number of reasons.


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 11:35 am
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Just refitted a new mirror.. off the top of his head body shop estimate £2.5k+ 😯

Will have an accurate quote later which i'll present to the farmer....


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 2:51 pm
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(H)oooof!


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 2:54 pm
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I can imagine his response... "Pull the Udder one!"


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 3:59 pm
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I said it would be a heiferty bill.


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 4:00 pm
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Will have an accurate quote later which i'll present to the farmer....

Hope it goes well.


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 6:10 pm
 Spin
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I'd feel a little sorry for the farmer but at the end of the day if he's taking money for parking and his animals damaged the vehicle he's at fault.


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 6:16 pm
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Perhaps the farmer will say nayyyy as he has moooo insurance to cover this incident.


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 6:21 pm
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On the horns of a dilemma. I'd get the quote and beef it up a bit and give him some bull and try to cow him into submission. Dexter


 
Posted : 18/08/2015 6:33 pm
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