Flatmate says I owe her £600

[Digestivesandcheese]

I was meeting my flatmate (who is also a good friend) in London recently and agreed to bring her weekend bag with me on the train (She was meeting her DM earlier in the day for a trip to the Theatre) I had a rucksack containing my things for the weekend.
I got off the train in London and realised I had stupidly left her bag on the train. I got back on the train but the bag was gone! It hasn't turned up in lost property. I have chased up several times.
My friend says I owe her £600 for the bag and contents. I agree it was my fault but can I claim compensation from the rail company as the bag hasn't turned up? If not, I will have to borrow money to pay my friend for her things

Well, yes in general, but not when that person lives with me and knows me well enough to say my property is ‘upmarket’ as the OP does in regard to her flatmate.

That she didn’t doesn’t mean that, in agreeing to take responsibility for them, OP wouldn’t find herself liable to replace them as a result of losing them.

Before you agree to do something, it’s on you to consider what that could mean for you.

It couldn't make OP liable for replacing used clothes and other stuff with brand new. There is no expectation in law that the person whose things have been lost can effectively make a profit out of it.

@Xol is correct, I think. OP didn't have a legal duty. So it comes down to ethics.

What I've learned from this thread is I'm going to be careful about doing favours for people! Cos it'll bite you on the arse if something goes wrong

Only if your mate is a grabby twat.

100% this.

I can't believe this thread is still raging on.

The OP as presumably a sentient rational adult, could have thought about the consequences of the flatmate's belongings getting stolen, which is highly likely in this day and age on public transport, and had a reasonably discussion with the flatmate in advance, instead of which the flatmate just dumped the bag on the OP and the OP went along with it.

All very nice and a generous gesture to the flatmate, but really ill-advised without having agreed what would happen in the worst case scenario. Now the shit hits the fan and suddenly the OP is the devil incarnate and finger pointed at them for doing the favour, but harshly it's one of those "well you asked for it" moments.

Why should the friend have to pay the excess though and subsequently have increased premiums?

Crikey that would take over 2 years to pay off!

I could not let a good friend of mine get into debt which will take her two years to pay off to cover the cost of my stuff.

Yes, she made a mistake and lost the bag but it was not deliberate.

I was trying to think what I'd take away if it was (presumably) 2 nights away.

I'd wear the evening dress underneath a coat if going straight out to a theatre after travelling.

Make up bag, phone charger, passport in handbag. I only ever wear a ring and necklaces on my person.

Overnight bag: one change of clothes (sorry if I'm a slob), i.e. 2 tops and jeans, footwear, perhaps jacket, shampoo, face wash in weekend bag. Perfumes a bit tricky as flatmate might like expensive stuff. Nightdress would be awkward as childhood friend bought me a tailored white silk nightdress from Shanghai which is really intricate and I would cry. Inexpensive travelling bag.

No idea about flatmate's preferences but OP has said she's sorted it now.

I'm not criticising flatmate at all but was the bag expensive? Also a bit confused over how large it was that she asked OP to take it along with OP's own rucksack.

But glad it's resolved and OP mum helped.

Well I hope you learned your lesson and never do anything nice for anyone again.

I have to go away this week after work so I'll start a thread on what we pack as it would be interesting to hear the differences and what we prioritise or our preferences :) For 2 nights.

I did say I'd start a thread on this before. A friend launched themselves at me for a hug in my house and accidentally smashed a bottle of perfume over approx £60. I was extremely pissed off but just sighed. He's not rich and couldn't have afforded to replace it.

I'm not much interested anymore in designer clothes just well made ones which suit but it would be interesting to hear what others take away for 2 (?) nights. So I shall start a thread after this upcoming weekend! With photos!

I'd love to hear what you pack :)

As my wardrobe F&F, Primark and charity shops I'm not sure I should contribute!

I'll bite:

Three Calvin Klein bras at 55.00 each-165.00
Three pairs CK knickers at 25.00 each -75.00
Doen Day dress: 350.00
Self Portrait evening dress: 300.00
Suede trousers: 40.00 (Second Hand)
Cashmere jumper 40.00 (Also second hand)
Valentino shoes 400.00 (on sale)
Makeup: I don't wear that much, so not as much as some people would quote, but around 80.00 worth.
Nightdress Marks and Spencer15.00
Tights Wolford 25.00

Total 1490. Do people now understand how the friend, who has reasonably expensive tastes, might well have been giving the OP the value of HALF the case, not the whole one!

The only part that referred directly to you, was where I mentioned 'vitriolic fury', which was from your post of 4/11, and the part about where you compared helping a friend to move house then asking them to pay you with someone leaving your weekend bag on the train.

Don't even know why or how I'm responding to this thread again - it annoyed me so much first time round I hid it.

OK, recent wedding bag...
2 bras £2.50 each (Primark). Knickers from 5 pound mutiipack (Primark), charity shop shoes 4 pounds, dress 55 pounds from Seasalt, shrug Cardi thing from Roman, 20 pounds, hair flower from Claires 5 pounds, T shirt for bed 3 pounds from Primark, socks x 2 from multi pack 2.50 Primark, jeans x 1 = 19.99 Tesco, tops x 2 approx 20 pounds. Washbag contents, nivea tinted moisturiser 2.50 ish, face powder 5 poundsish, toothbrush 1.50ish, toothpaste, 2 poundsish, lip balm 2 poundsish, solid perfume 5 poundsish, hairspray 2 poundsish. Dental floss 2 poundish, face wipes 2 poundsish.
In fetching bag for life from poundland with kittens on, 1.45 deodorant 1.50.
I think comes to around 165 pounds...
Let's say 170 in case added up wrong or forgotten something...
I am low budget and don't wear makeup apart from minimal listed...