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This Guy Buys His Son A New Car, Threatens To Report It Stolen After Finding Out His Son’s Step-Father Took It
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This Guy Buys His Son A New Car, Threatens To Report It Stolen After Finding Out His Son’s Step-Father Took It

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Relationships between spouses after divorce often lead to various not-so-lovely stories, which sometimes turn out to be even less lovely if children were involved. This applies, for example, to the relationship between fathers and stepfathers.

And when almost adult children become parties to a protracted conflict, it can be very difficult to understand who is right and who is not. For example, as it was in the situation that ensued with this Redditor, whose recent post received more than 11K upvotes and almost 2K various comments.

More info: Reddit

Image source: David Villarreal Fernández (not the actual photo)

The original poster shared custody of his 16 Y.O. son Andy with his ex-wife Eliza

So, the original poster shares custody of his 16-year-old son Andy with his ex-wife Eliza. In the new family, Eliza has many children – three with her new husband Scott, and three more from Scott’s former marriage.

At the same time, the OP lives alone, makes good money working in a family company, while Eliza and Scott do not earn a lot. Moreover, the OP has repeatedly wondered how they manage to feed such a large family.

This Guy Buys His Son A New Car, Threatens To Report It Stolen After Finding Out His Son's Step-Father Took It

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Image source: dontdrivethecar

The father helped Andy to get a driver license and then bought him a new car

The OP and Eliza ended up in court over whether Andy should attend private school. The father won the case, but in addition to paying for classes, he was also instructed to provide transportation to school and back. As a result, OP helped Andy to get a driver license and then bought him a car – a 2021 Mazda SUV. According to his own words, he is aware that teenagers do not need new cars, but he chose this one for safety reasons, mainly.

Eliza and Scott called OP a “pretentious p***k”, but the car was bought with his money and is in his name until Andy turns 18. Moreover, the mother and stepfather did not pay a dime for the car as the father pays for the upkeep of the car and insurance, while the son pays for gas.

Image source: dontdrivethecar

Andy told his dad he was being punished and his step-dad took the car to drive to his work

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And so, one fine day during spring break, Andy called his father and asked him to bring the model paints he had left at his house. The OP was surprised that the son himself wouldn’t come to pick it up, so Andy replied that he was being punished and had to stay at home.

The OP went to his ex-wife’s house and was surprised to notice that his son’s car was not there. It turned out that Scott took the car and drove to his work. The OP insisted that only Andy should drive the car. Eliza told him that their own car had just broken down and they would no longer take this Mazda.

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Image source: dontdrivethecar

The next day the OP found out that Scott had taken the car once more

The next day, father deliberately drove past Eliza’s house and saw the car was gone again. He called Andy and found out that his stepfather had taken the car once more. Then the OP called Eliza and said that if her husband did not bring the car back immediately, he would call the police and report the theft.

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Image source: dontdrivethecar

Even Andy said his father had gone too far

Eliza threw a tantrum, but Scott immediately rushed in – although he blamed the OP for missing work and losing money because of him. Finally, the OP told them that if he ever discovered that Scott took the Mazda again, he would immediately call the cops without any warning. This time even Andy said his father had gone too far – but he felt within his rights.

Image source: artistmac (not the actual photo)

People in the comments basically supported the OP

At the same time, the commenters basically supported the OP, arguing that since he bought a car for his son, then only Andy has the right to drive it, and if the son was being punished (by the way, as the OP noted, he was punished for refusing to do his chores, and not as his stepfather wanted to drive a new car), they should have let the car sit there and wait for its owner.

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Some people thought that Eliza and her husband simply decided to take advantage of the situation

According to some people in the comments, Eliza and her husband simply decided to take advantage of the situation, and they were just being rude and disrespectful. The most important thing is actually that Andy feels good. By the way, the OP admitted that his son loves both his mom and dad, and he does not feel any discomfort about them living separately.

The situation, however, still looks rather ambiguous, so we will be grateful for your opinions and comments. Perhaps some of you have found yourselves in a similar situation, so please write in any case, it would be really interesting.

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kathrynstretton avatar
kathryn stretton
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like Scott isn't insured to drive the car. If he damages it, go to Judge Judy. I'll watch it!

chasugc_1 avatar
Chas UGC
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right. If the father needs transportation that bad, then have his step son drive him to work and let the stepfather pay for the gas. When, the step father is done with work then have his step son return and pick him up. This should facilitate the step father to hurriedly get his own car repaired and solve the problem with the step son being taken advantage of since he is being provided a roof over his head, which I seriously think his OP should fix. Why burden his ex wife with seven children, if she can barely afford them? His only son by her is the one who is suffering. He should apply for sole custody and the step father could call if he needs a ride to work, or get a bike or catch the bus.

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katmckinney avatar
Katherine Marsh McKinney
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm surprised the OP didn't bring up the matter of insurance. His policy will state who is and is not allowed to drive the car, and if it's driven by someone not on that list and they have an accident...

jpringle606 avatar
Jude Fire
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if they look up the liscence plat theyll see that it is in OP's name until OP's son is of age

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michellec0581 avatar
Michelle C
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a huge lack of respect and responsibility here...Honestly I would report the car stolen next time he takes it. What they aren't seeing are the legalities of the situation...the car is registered under the father and he pays insurance for the son to drive it. If Scott gets into an accident, dad is screwed...not only could insurance deny the claim but if someone is injured and sues dad would be on the hook. Also looking at how immature Scott and Eliza are acting they could rack up thousands in parking and other fines that could cause dads license to get suspended or his property levied and he would have to spend more to fix it. The only way to get them to stop taking the car without taking it away is to have them suffer the consequence. The son cannot give permission for them to borrow something he doesn't own so they can't use that angle. They can't retaliate since your visitation/custody is properly sorted with the courts and if they try they will lose theirs.

megan_boomershine avatar
Megan Boomershine
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well a police officer would still peg step dad for uninsured driving if he was to wreck it. That wouldnt have anything to do with dad. If I wreck my neighbors car I dont give their license to the cops I give mine in an accident. And if I'm not insured on their insurance I'm getting either cited or arrested for driving with out insurance and also In getting my license suspended for driving a car I'm not insured on. That's how the law works. The only one who can be sued is the one who wrecked it. But tickets are different those coinside with your license plate.

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kathrynstretton avatar
kathryn stretton
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like Scott isn't insured to drive the car. If he damages it, go to Judge Judy. I'll watch it!

chasugc_1 avatar
Chas UGC
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right. If the father needs transportation that bad, then have his step son drive him to work and let the stepfather pay for the gas. When, the step father is done with work then have his step son return and pick him up. This should facilitate the step father to hurriedly get his own car repaired and solve the problem with the step son being taken advantage of since he is being provided a roof over his head, which I seriously think his OP should fix. Why burden his ex wife with seven children, if she can barely afford them? His only son by her is the one who is suffering. He should apply for sole custody and the step father could call if he needs a ride to work, or get a bike or catch the bus.

Load More Replies...
katmckinney avatar
Katherine Marsh McKinney
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm surprised the OP didn't bring up the matter of insurance. His policy will state who is and is not allowed to drive the car, and if it's driven by someone not on that list and they have an accident...

jpringle606 avatar
Jude Fire
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if they look up the liscence plat theyll see that it is in OP's name until OP's son is of age

Load More Replies...
michellec0581 avatar
Michelle C
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a huge lack of respect and responsibility here...Honestly I would report the car stolen next time he takes it. What they aren't seeing are the legalities of the situation...the car is registered under the father and he pays insurance for the son to drive it. If Scott gets into an accident, dad is screwed...not only could insurance deny the claim but if someone is injured and sues dad would be on the hook. Also looking at how immature Scott and Eliza are acting they could rack up thousands in parking and other fines that could cause dads license to get suspended or his property levied and he would have to spend more to fix it. The only way to get them to stop taking the car without taking it away is to have them suffer the consequence. The son cannot give permission for them to borrow something he doesn't own so they can't use that angle. They can't retaliate since your visitation/custody is properly sorted with the courts and if they try they will lose theirs.

megan_boomershine avatar
Megan Boomershine
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well a police officer would still peg step dad for uninsured driving if he was to wreck it. That wouldnt have anything to do with dad. If I wreck my neighbors car I dont give their license to the cops I give mine in an accident. And if I'm not insured on their insurance I'm getting either cited or arrested for driving with out insurance and also In getting my license suspended for driving a car I'm not insured on. That's how the law works. The only one who can be sued is the one who wrecked it. But tickets are different those coinside with your license plate.

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