Good fences make good neighbors

And it appears the inverse is also true. The fence between my half of the duplex and the other half gave way in a storm several weeks ago. And the owner of the other half is being rather truculent about his role in repairing it.

It's his fence. It doesn't even match my fence. His renters have asked him repeatedly to make the repair. Here's how it's gone so far:

Owner told renters (who told me...) that it's my responsibility, that he contacted me, and that I refused to pay. 

After that, I got owner's number and got in touch for the first time.

After a day exchanging text messages (about three weeks ago) he finally agreed we should split the cost, and he would schedule the repair. 

About five or six different days came and went over the course of the past few weeks where the owner promised the renters that, "The fence guys are coming today." 

Finally, the whole bunch of us ended up in a group text where the renter offered to let my people take care of it and deduct the cost of the repair from her rent. This got his attention. He responded that she cannot do that because it's not her house. 

Apparently, owner's wife intervened and found new "fence guys." The scheduled repair date is Tuesday. 

I have learned by now that there is no reason to do either of the following:

1. Hold my breath and trust this person to complete repairs, or 

2. Believe a single word he says, because he claims to have spoken with me in October, when he didn't even have my number (or probably even remember my name.)

If I'm being honest, I'd like to rip out my half of the fence just to prove how little it means to me. My back yard is split by a driveway, and I see no need to enclose that small portion. I suppose I should just leave it as it is and pay the half when and if the repair ever occurs. Still, a part of me wants to write out a check and have it delivered in the slowest means possible. Maybe I can pay in pennies. I'll surely get right on paying my half of the repair costs with the same speed, honesty and courtesy as was shown to me.