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AIBU?

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Original poster

DS threw bully’s phone in lake

265 replies

CandidBeaker · 18/06/2024 13:38

DS, 13, and his friend were being bullied by some other children in the park yesterday and a girl was filming him having his books thrown on the floor so he grabbed the phone from her and threw it into the lake. She hit him and then they all ran over to the lake and DS and his friend came home.

I received an angry voicemail from her mum this morning demanding that I pay for a replacement. I was fuming. I’m not paying for a new phone when she was the one who caused it herself by joining in harassing my son. It’s called karma. If she thinks I’m buying a new one she can fuck off. AIBU?

OP posts:
Cheerupmaggi · 18/06/2024 17:21

If it played out how your son said, I say good for him! Nasty girl got what she deserved!

Granberry · 18/06/2024 17:20

Save the voicemail

mathanxiety · 18/06/2024 17:18

ObsidianTree · 18/06/2024 14:16

I would say you'd be happy to pay for the replacement phone if she can get you the footage from the phone as it needs to go to the police/school. Along with the names of all the children bullying your child, including her daughters details too obviously. That should see the end of any demands.

Good on your son. I would say the bully got what she deserved.

Yes to this.

mathanxiety · 18/06/2024 17:17

Tell this woman she can retrieve the phone from the lake, and if it still works, she'll see why your son threw it there.

poolemoney · 18/06/2024 17:17

prh47bridge · 18/06/2024 17:11

What I mean is that if he gets a job within 6 years or gets the money in some other way, they will be able to take it.

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So they'll wait around until he's finished school? Or Uni? And then sue?

Floralnomad · 18/06/2024 17:16

Of course you have to replace the phone or at least pay the insurance excess , all these children will have gone home with differing versions of this incident but the only one who has actually done any material damage is your son .

Eeeden · 18/06/2024 17:14

Interesting how angry everyone gets when someone uses the word 'bully'. He threw her phone in a lake and for all we know she didn't do anything at all. He could have been the one bullying her. He did throw her phone in a lake. I would ask the other mother what her DD says happened and if the two stories don't match I would look into it further.

Temporarynameforthisone · 18/06/2024 17:12

Can’t believe some of these responses!

If your son had knocked the bully out I would say “Good!”

I was raised ti believe bullies deserve what they get so if a bullied child fights back and hurts the bully that’s tough.

prh47bridge · 18/06/2024 17:11

poolemoney · 18/06/2024 17:06

What do you mean? Will they dock his pocket money by 50p each week?

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What I mean is that if he gets a job within 6 years or gets the money in some other way, they will be able to take it.

Opinionwontchangeluv · 18/06/2024 17:11

I wouldn't pay for it

EsmeSusanOgg · 18/06/2024 17:11

Perhaps ask the other mum if she really wants evidence of her daughter being involved in an assault and the making of malicious communications... Or would she perhaps think it wise to drop it and tell her daughter to keep away from your child and her from you.

TheFunHasGone · 18/06/2024 17:09

Shed be better off claiming off her insurance and telling her nasty little daughter not to film people being bullied because it makes her as bad

Gall10 · 18/06/2024 17:09

They can fuck off then fuck off a bit further!

Temporarynameforthisone · 18/06/2024 17:08

Diddums!

I would be telling the mum that her daughter filming your son being bullied makes her daughter a bully too! And rather tran defending her daughter she should be disciplining her!

poolemoney · 18/06/2024 17:06

prh47bridge · 18/06/2024 17:05

If he is able to pay within 6 years he can be made to do so.

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What do you mean? Will they dock his pocket money by 50p each week?

Isittimeformynapyet · 18/06/2024 17:05

CitizenZ · 18/06/2024 13:46

I can only assume that the mother of the girl does not know the true version of events (hence her anger) as surely if she knew her daughter was using the phone to film bullying, she would tell her daughter that it serves her right.

I hope you don't work for the CPS!

prh47bridge · 18/06/2024 17:05

poolemoney · 18/06/2024 14:48

How will they come after they boy? He has no money. And parents aren't liable for the damage done by their children.

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If he is able to pay within 6 years he can be made to do so.

ReadtheReviews · 18/06/2024 17:04

@ObsidianTree has it. If the footage is retrieved and shows he wasn't provoked, you'll pay.

Well done to your son.

Needanewname42 · 18/06/2024 17:04

oakleaffy · 18/06/2024 16:56

This!
The footage of the alleged bullying would solve things.Do phones upload stuff to Cloud immediately?

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Thats what I don't know.

prh47bridge · 18/06/2024 17:03

Willyoujustbequiet · 18/06/2024 14:11

It's only £70 and if the phone was up to £1000.

I would if someone destroyed my phone.

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The court cost is even lower if the phone was less than £500. Small claims fees start at £35 for a claim of up to £300, £50 for up to £500 and £70 for up to £1,000.

Doteycat · 18/06/2024 17:01

You got a voicenote?
Id just ignore it. You dont have to respond. Dont delete, but do ignore.
and tell your DS to tell the wee missy take a running jump if she says anything to him again.

OnTheRightSideOfGeography · 18/06/2024 17:01

If filming somebody who is being attacked/victimised in a compromising position - with a device that is capable of storing and disseminating the images/videos across the world in seconds - is not illegal, why all the 'fuss' about things like upskirting and revenge porn?

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 18/06/2024 16:58

@CandidBeaker what goes around comes around! no sympathy for her and her drowned phone! she seems the type of person who would film someone being beated up before posting it on the internet!

BobbyBiscuits · 18/06/2024 16:58

I don't think it's acceptable to throw someone's phone in the lake, regardless of who or what they were filming. It could be a matter for the police. But I understand why you don't want to pay her.

oakleaffy · 18/06/2024 16:56

Needanewname42 · 18/06/2024 13:58

Ideally you want the footage thats on that phone - hopefully it's backed up to a cloud somewhere

This!
The footage of the alleged bullying would solve things.Do phones upload stuff to Cloud immediately?