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Original poster

DS and his smashed phone screen

40 replies

Thistimetomorrow · 07/10/2019 17:38

Today walking to school DS was holding his phone when a pupil came up and punched him on the arm. The force knocked his phone out of his hand onto the ground smashing the screen.
The pupil said it was an accident and he would pay to have it repaired.
DH has got an estimate of £130 to have it repaired.
DS has contacted pupil and passed on this information. Pupil is now saying he will only pay half and has given his parents number who I have to speak to later on tonight.
WWYD in this situation?

OP posts:
JudgeRindersMinder · 07/10/2019 17:40

I do think the idiot who punched your son should foot the whole bill, but I’m not sure what your chances are of getting it. Any idea what the parents might be like? Big lesson in unintended consequences for the young lad!

NeverGotMyPuppy · 07/10/2019 17:42

I'd be furious!
Remain firm but polite. Sounds like the boy admits it was his fault. Therefore he should pay. All of it.

Dowser · 07/10/2019 17:43

Happened to my gs
Didn’t get punched but phone was sent flying
Screen has gone completely purple
Looking at about 200 or more to have it fixed
Feel so sad for him but warned him to have it in a holder.

Hope you get some redress..a bit of something is better than a lot of nothing

LIZS · 07/10/2019 17:46

How old are they?

NoSquirrels · 07/10/2019 17:50

Did your DS have a screen protector and a case?

Tbh, in this scenario I’d take the 50%, as arguing about it is unlikely to prove worthwhile and £130 is a lot for anyone to pay - £65 each better than them completely refusing to contribute and you’re stuck with the whole bill.

HotChocolateLover · 07/10/2019 17:51

I’d be bloody fuming too. However, ring the parents expecting the worst (nothing) and be grateful for whatever you get. After all you can’t make them pay anything 🤦‍♀️ So annoying though.

AiryFairyMum · 07/10/2019 17:51

Was it in a case?

Original poster
Thistimetomorrow · 07/10/2019 17:52

@JudgeRindersMinder only met the mum briefly at a birthday party. She seemed ok but I’m concerned the pupil is now saying he’ll only pay half after returning home.
@LIZ 15.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thistimetomorrow · 07/10/2019 18:27

@AiryFairyMum yes, it was in a case with a screen protector.

OP posts:
LIZS · 07/10/2019 18:31

Insurance?

Redred2429 · 07/10/2019 18:33

He should pay it all but don't think you can force this so if it was me I would take the half contribution

Soola · 07/10/2019 18:39

My opinion will be unpopular as usual but I would say that walking to school is likely to encounter boisterousness from friends and he shouldn’t have the phone out.

Insurance should cover the bill and I would like an apology from the other child and that’s it.

InfiniteSheldon · 07/10/2019 18:42

If you get half you are lucky these things happen often not as your child tells you

Chilver · 07/10/2019 18:42

I'd accept the half payment. Your DS shouldn't have had the phone out unless he was speaking into it at the time?

Kannet · 07/10/2019 18:50

That's a lot for a screen repair surely

Changestartsnow · 07/10/2019 18:57

I don't think you can except a 15 year old to pay for it. Where would a 15 year old get that kind of money from?
He was probably being polite and trying to say the right thing and now he has spoken to his parents he realises that he/his parents can not afford this.

I personally wouldn't expect some to pay for something they broke anyway.

Remember he is still a child so speaking to his parents is the right thing to do.

If his parents are offering half then that's generous of them.

I would also get insurance for his phone.

Biancadelrioisback · 07/10/2019 19:12

So was your DS walking along playing on his phone?

Comefromaway · 07/10/2019 19:15

At 15 if they don’t agree to pay for the cost I’d be reporting it as assault/criminal damage to the police.

A punch on the arm is not an accident.

If it was my son I’d be docking his pocket money to pay for it & telling him he’s lucky it’s not more serious.

Original poster
Thistimetomorrow · 07/10/2019 19:30

No insurance. He was holding the phone to turn it off before going into school.
£130 is what the Apple store is quoting. DH left his own phone into an independent phone store to be repaired and it came back in worse condition. The assistant said it was like that when left in, so ended up having to buy a new phone. That’s why he went to a reputable store for repair estimate for DS.

OP posts:
Changestartsnow · 07/10/2019 19:37

Covered under house insurance?

hennaoj · 07/10/2019 19:57

boisterousness? Really? A punch on the arm is assault. It must have been strong to knock the phone out of his hand. You could report this to the police.

Fantababy · 07/10/2019 20:02

A punch on the arm is assault. It must have been strong to knock the phone out of his hand. You could report this to the police.

Really? Have you ever met a teenager? There's a punch, and a punch.

nopixelsfound · 07/10/2019 20:07

If you want to chase it, I'd speak to the parents. I know you said you're concerned that after he went home it went down to that but it may well be that the other boy has told them a very different story ("We were messing around and I knocked him.") with circumstances where offering to pay half would be entirely reasonable.

Bobbybobbins · 07/10/2019 20:17

I would accept half to be honest.

T1gerEye · 07/10/2019 20:21

I'd speak with his parents and gauge reactions there.

And no, a punch isn't just a punch. With a play type scuffle, meh, it is what it is. But a deliberate punch to the arm is not on. I'd be furious with my son if he did this to a friend and yep, we'd be footing the bill under those circumstances.

So op, if it was me you were calling about my sons behaviour, I'd be paying, making him apologise and having words with him