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AIBU?

Daughter broken her new phone

170 replies

lexi873 · 15/01/2019 19:57

Hey,
So as the title says I bought my 11 year old daughter an iPhone for Christmas after a long time of nagging that eeeveryone else has got one, and today she has spilt a bloody drink on it and broken it!
I know accidents happen but I’m more angry that she’s hidden it and lied I asked her what had happened to the screen and she kept saying she didn’t know (the apps keep closing and the screen is swiping by itselflf) so more fool me thought it must be faulty and was going to take it back to the shop tomorrow before she confessed!
I know she’s only 11 and accidents happen but my AiBu is would you make her pay out of her own money for a repair or the cost? It’s on contract for £22 a month for 18 months and I’ve got to pay that and she’s only had the damn thing 3 weeks, I know I should have got insurance but the cost of the phone was enough and I could only afford a phone as a treat in the first place. I’m so angry, it’s her birthday on Friday and I’m meant to be taking her and a friend for a meal and sleepover but I don’t even feel like it now after she lied.
What would anyone else do? Thanks

OP posts:
elvis86 · 15/01/2019 20:01

You were stupid not to get insurance.

You wouldn't be unreasonable to make her pay for the repair (possibly out of any birthday money she may get?), but you would be unreasonable to ruin her birthday as a punishment. Presumably she lied initially as she was worried that you would be mad?

Edgeworth · 15/01/2019 20:01

Turn the phone off now and put it in a bag of uncooked rice for a start.

The rice will turn out delicious.

Believeitornot · 15/01/2019 20:02

Well maybe she lied because she knew what your reaction would be....

I wouldnt have got an 11 year old an iPhone!

Leave her birthday out of it - that's too far .Just have her pay up using pocket money even if it takes ages

And get a cheaper phone.

lastqueenofscotland · 15/01/2019 20:02

I’m mean but I would expect her to cover the cost or at least contribute
I wouldn’t cancel her birthday
But I wouldn’t by an 11 year old an iPhone either

Pachyderm1 · 15/01/2019 20:04

I don’t want to make you feel worse but honestly why would you give something so expensive to a kid and not insure it 🤦‍♀️

ErickBroch · 15/01/2019 20:05

I am really clumsy and made a lot of mistakes with technology as a kid, I was useless and felt awful and got a bollocking from parents always. She probably lied because she was scared.

I understand you are pissed off - but firstly turn phone off and put it in rice for 3 days. Off the whole time. Will probably work fine after that.

** source: I have dropped my phone into toilets/baths many times

MissConductUS · 15/01/2019 20:06

I think it's unreasonable to give a child an expensive phone without a protective case like an Otterbox. I can't imagine not having such a case on my own phone.

If it's an iPhone X they are supposed to be water resistant. Ring Applecare and explain what happened or take it to an Apple store. There's a chance they'll cover the repair.

cardibach · 15/01/2019 20:06

Does your house insurance cover it? Or is the excess so big there is no point?

ErickBroch · 15/01/2019 20:07

For £22 a month as well it's an older model - should be easier to replace a screen. Still rice it though, need to absorb the water.

sulflower · 15/01/2019 20:07

Check to see if any of your bank accounts or credit cards (if you have one) have phone cover. The bag of rice trick didn't work for my iPhone when it drowned in my gym bag when my water bottle leaked.

HandDriedRoses · 15/01/2019 20:08

It's not going to be an iPhone x at 22 a month/18 months

Personally I'd get insurance tonight then call in a week and say it's been spilled on

Armadillostoes · 15/01/2019 20:08

YABU-Your angry and quite vindictive attitude is why she can't come to you when she screws up. It isn't her fault you didn't get insurance. Making her contribute to the repair or replacement cost is a fair and natural consequence. However, seven thinking about cancelling her birthday is OTT.

Think about your behaviour and why your DD is scared truth to tell the truth.

potatoscone · 15/01/2019 20:09

I would not be mad at her, accidents happen. It's a shame she felt she had to lie tbh.

Take it as a lesson and learnt to live within your means. Stretching your finances to the limit so an 11 year old can have an iPhone is staggeringly unwise.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 15/01/2019 20:10

What kind of iPhone?

Why didn’t it have a cover and screen protector on - at 11 years you needed insurance

Tutlefru · 15/01/2019 20:11

You mean commit insurance fraud hand? Hmm

Accidents happen. Adults do it too.

garethsouthgatesmrs · 15/01/2019 20:12

I wouldn't trust myself with an uninsured iphone let alone an 11 year old child. Trust me all her friends won't
Cancelling her birthday plans is entirely unreasonable It was an accident. If you broke your phone you'd be upset enough without someone then saying you couldn't celebrate your birthday. Contributing to the repair bill and losing £8 a month to cover insurance from now on seems a more suitable natural consequence.

garethsouthgatesmrs · 15/01/2019 20:13

*all her friends wont have one.

ChrisjenAvasarala · 15/01/2019 20:13

Insurance doesn't covet water damage anyway. Almost all phone insurance has that as an exemption.

Flibbitygibbit · 15/01/2019 20:14

Put phone in a plastic bag with rice and if you have one of those silicone things you get with new shoes ? Make sure it’s off. Leave it over night at least in the airing cupboard. I did this and it worked after although got rice in the one of the jacks. Leave it switched off though 😊

Iamneverfull · 15/01/2019 20:14

Just put in in rice or the airing cupboard. Failing that, how much is it to repair? You could deduct some from her pocket money for a couple of months. It was an accident though and we've all had accidents with our phone's! I'm sure she feels terrible enough about it, sad that she has broken it and worried about you being angry! She lied because she was scared of what you would say thats all.

Usuallyinthemiddle · 15/01/2019 20:15

I imagine she's heartbroken. As would you be. Accidents happen. Try and fix it and tell her she can come to you with anything. Poor kid.

Walkingdeadfangirl · 15/01/2019 20:15

Maybe your house insurance covers it?

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MargotsFlounceyBlouse · 15/01/2019 20:17

Don't punish her any more - it was too much responsibility for her to have something so expensive. She's still very young.

Get her an unlocked 20 quid Alcatel Pixi or Argos Alba smart phone, you can get this tied to the contract you're stuck with - although 22 a month isn't the best deal out there (but I appreciate you can't necessarily get out of it now.)

Draw a line under it and if she mithers for expensive tech again at least you have a reason for saying not yet!

potatoscone · 15/01/2019 20:18

Insurance doesn't covet water damage anyway. Almost all phone insurance has that as an exemption.

This is absolute tosh.

You choose your level of cover as with any other type of insurance.

Avis7 · 15/01/2019 20:18

Take it to the Apple shop, beg them to fix it and see if they'll offer you an out of warranty replacement cheap. This is what I did when I killed an iPod Touch by dropping it in a cup of tea as a responsible grown adult.

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