DS and his smashed phone screen

[Thistimetomorrow]

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?

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

Yes, I’ve got a 15 year old boy. A punch to the arm strong enough to make him drop his phone is assault.

I have a guy who comes to my house and replaces screens in ten minutes for £30-£60 depending on the phone.

A billion times more convenient and way cheaper than using the Apple store.

Doubt it had a screen protector and case if it has smashed. I learnt my lesson smashing my old iPhone screen and footing a £100 bill for a replacement so bought a screen protector. It’s been dropped face down on concrete and tiles but hasn’t smashed thanks to the screen protector. The protector should be smashed up but not the screen. I think your DS is fibbing. They’re 15 so I don’t think the kid who unwittingly smashed his phone should pay, it’d most likely be the parents footing the bill which doesn’t seem fair.

If you are going to send a teenager off to school with an expensive phone, you really need to insure it. The odds of it being stolen, lost or damaged are relatively high.

@Whattodoabout I've broken my screen many times with a screen protector and case on it !

I'm deeply unpopular for it but DS has to have his iPhone in a deeply untrendy OtterBox case. He also has a decent screen protector (some are £2, some are £30 and there's a reason why)
The deal is that it's a decent phone and DH and I foot the bill. When he pays for it he can wander round with it how he chooses

I got insurance for my teens phone. It’s in a case recommended by the dealer and last time he managed to crack the back of the phone. I pay excess of £60 but that’s better than the £130 for a replacement. I found with Apple we get a new phone rather than them replacing the screen.
But frankly I’d be more worried why your son is getting punched and I’d be asking my son if this is a frequent occurrence and if this other boy is a repeat offender. And report it to the school.

I'd take the half because quite honestly, you'd be lucky to get that. It's shit but more often than not the victim would be shrugged off and nothing at all is paid.

That being said, shop around a bit. That seem excessively expensive unless it's something like an iPhone 11. You don't HAVE to use an official repairer.

You say your DH depart want to use an unofficial repair service but I would look for a shop with a good reputation. Check reviews out. Ask for recommendations on your local tv sales pages.

*doesn't not depart.

@Whattodoabout I can assure you it had a screen protector and a case that was bought as a Christmas present. DS was walking with another pupil who has confirmed his account of what happened.
I spoke with the dad last night and we have agreed on half the payment.
Thank you to everyone one who replied.
A few lessons learned!

Insurance very rarely covers the bill, there is often excess of £75 to £100.
,Covered under house insurance
Again excess

That's a lot for a screen repair surely
My Samsungs have been nearer £300

We’ve used IMend in the past, cheaper and repaired the phone perfectly and they come to your house

DH has repaired our iphone screens for about £25. Shop around. £130 isn't the only price.

• That's a lot for a screen repair surely My Samsungs have been nearer £300*

Going by Apple's repair charges it's likely an iPhone 6 or SE. For a phone of that age it's hugely overpriced. You could buy a phone for that price.
Screen replacements in independent shops for phones quite likely out of warranty (those models have been out for quite some time now) are anything from £25+.

I only use Apple if I wanted to keep the warranty.