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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a bit upset at having to pay for all of it?

109 replies

SleepyDopeyGrumpy · 19/04/2011 00:20

Background story is a friends son was at my house playing on the console with my 2 ds when it was knocked over by my youngest and the friends son's game inside was damaged with laser burn.

Now it was a complete accident and could have been any of them that it had happened to but my ds2 owned up and was really very sad and crying about it, i told him not to worry it was an accident but the boy started saying "you have to buy me a new one now mummy will say so".

I told the boys mum when she picked him up and she went on about how this was a brand new game costing £45 and that i will have to replace it.
I am in no position to have even £5 spare atm so will take time to get together that kind of money. My boys only have the one game that they play on the console whereas this other boy has many and is very spoiled.

I guess im just a little annoyed that she is going to leave it all up to me for something that was a complete accident and if it was the other way around i would have just said never mind we will see what we can do when its been out a while.

OP posts:
blackeyedsusan · 19/04/2011 10:45

what I am concerned about is this mysterious younger child you are hiding frrom your friend. you are being unreasonable not to lock this small child away so her precious spoilt brat child can play his game in peace. you were probably unreasonable letting your son play with it too! I mean who would have thought that she would let her child bring the game over knowing there was a small child in the house. .. she has absolutely no responsibility for her actions at all!

Original poster
SleepyDopeyGrumpy · 19/04/2011 11:19

Blimey thats a lot of replies.

Can i just add that the boy who came over is 4 the same age as my youngest and he was playing with my other ds who is 6 so its not that my younger one shouldnt have been around or playing aswell.

I didnt want to say the game incase i was recognised by someone i dont know if her family use MN but ive already given way to much detail anyway so may as well. She said it was from asda and it is the newest Ben 10 game but until i speak to her i cant get the title as i know there is a few.

Will have to wait all day now and hopefully she will come over and let me know if she managed to get it fixed at BB. I think i will just keep the boys playdates to a park or something now instead of having people over or letting them go over as i didnt know something like this would cause problems with people. It is very sad but i think it is best if this boy doesnt come over anymore as he isnt content to play with my boys toys and i want nothing expensive in this house now that does not belong.

OP posts:
ssd · 19/04/2011 11:28

whats BB?

if she can't get it fixed offer to take it to get it fixed yourself, it'll cost less

bubblecoral · 19/04/2011 11:32

If her child is 4 as well, that changes my opinion. I thought it sounded like the older ones were 7 or 8 or above.

With children that young, she was silly to leave something expensive in their care, unless you agreed to it being used in your house. Therefore, imo, she is responsible for half, you are responsible for half.

ragged · 19/04/2011 11:35

45 quid sounds obscenely expensive, most games for PC/DS/whatever platform come in at 20-25 brand new, tops. I just found this one (for Xbox) but that's rated 12+ (so presumably not for 4yos?) and it's still well under 30 quid.

lurkeyishere · 19/04/2011 11:36

I dont know what platform you use but a simple search here by release date shows this game is the newest www.find-game.co.uk/26387-Ben-10-Ultimate-Alien-Cosmic-Destruction.htm
there are tabs there for all the consoles and it will show the lowest price none are over £20
Hope this helps

lurkeyishere · 19/04/2011 11:37

sorry it didnt come out as a link
www.find-game.co.uk/26387-Ben-10-Ultimate-Alien-Cosmic-Destruction.htm

Jaydles · 19/04/2011 11:37

If she bought it brand new for either xbox 360 or ps3 it probably was £40-45 I think that ultimate alien is the newest ben 10 and is now £27.99 new from Argos

goodbyemrschips · 19/04/2011 11:39

Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction (Xbox 360) (2010) - Xbox 360
Buy new: £29.99 £17.00

15 new from £17.00 2 used from £16.82

AMAZON

Jaydles · 19/04/2011 11:40

So clearly she is taking the piss asking to be reimbursed for the full amount she paid for it when she can replace the game for less than half what she is asking

Collaborate · 19/04/2011 11:42

Ignore her and see if she has the gall to ask you for it. Then suggest she sues your son in the small claims court.

What a cheek!

warthog · 19/04/2011 11:44

what????

maybe she's as skint as you are and it was a real struggle for her to buy it!!!

now because of your son she's out of pocket and the game is broken.

sorry, but you do have to take some responsibility.

TheCrackFox · 19/04/2011 11:44

If you are going to buy her a new one (not sure if I would TBH) then buy her a 2nd hand one for under £20.

houseworkwhore · 19/04/2011 11:45

YABU for not having contents insurance (although i wouldnt claim for a game)
if you add up the value of every single item in your home that could be damaged as the result of a fire you will see how important it is. I pay about £12 a month contents insurance, its a drop in the ocean if you compare it to how much you would loose in the event of a fire.

I think the other mum is being a little unreasonable, She should pay for half as she knows your circumstances, however your son broke it and in this case you should pay atleast half.

diabolo · 19/04/2011 11:45

I would feel honour-bound to replace it, it's just the right thing to do.

My dog ate a Nintendo DS game that belonged to my son's friend a couple of years ago, and I just bought a new one for him. Total accident, but at my house so I felt responsible.

I wouldn't pay £45 though, as others have suggested, order the cheapest one you can find.

GypsyMoth · 19/04/2011 11:45

are these 3+ age rated then?

MoonGirl1981 · 19/04/2011 11:58

I agree that he chose to bring it over, it's up to him to replace it. Besides, you can't afford it. Tell her that.

I'm not convinced that it would become damaged that way (my OH who is manager of a GAME) also doesn't think so.

Accidents happen, especially with children.

heliumballoons · 19/04/2011 12:04

sleepy I know you won't claim for this but as an aside my insurance on my HA Flat - for up to £10,000 is 94p a week. Grin

I think its should be a half and half thing. I have had things broken by accident, and things broken when DC's have been asked to stop doing something and they've carried on. Even in the 2nd incidence all I've done is make the dc's stay in the lounge where they can be watched. I've never asked for money as I've taken it that if I haven't stayed to make sure they don't do X again, then some of the responsibility is mine.

stream · 19/04/2011 12:05

Did you actually see the game working?

Ormirian · 19/04/2011 12:08

She sounds really nice Hmm

I think you should split the difference. All the boys were playing it when it happened. If it had been DS alone I guess it would have been all your responsibility.

Try amazon for a cheaper version.

expatinscotland · 19/04/2011 13:42

We're skint, therefore I don't send my kids to play at other peoples' homes with expensive stuff.

Offer her a second hand one and if she balks at that tell her to shove it.

NestaFiesta · 19/04/2011 16:05

YABU. Giving 4-6 year olds a £45 game to play with and expecting nothing to ever happen to it is unrealistic. She is rude and passive aggressive. If it was an acccident, and it sounds like it was, I would put it down to experience if I were her.

Also, she knows you are strapped for cash and have your own kids. Does she really want to take £45 off you and your kids for one of her spoilt boy's many games? I'd personally offer half the cost of a used game and let the friendship fizzle out.

Insomnia11 · 19/04/2011 16:42

The other parent sounds like a bit of a chav on the make. I bet if you look up the game it didn't even cost £45, or it costs £45 new and they got it preowned.

Tell her to whistle for it.

thisisyesterday · 19/04/2011 16:47

if one of my children broke something belonging to someone else, accidentally or otherwise, then i would replace it. surely that's basic manners?

why on earth wouldn't you????

no reason not to look for a pre-owned one or something tho

ENormaSnob · 19/04/2011 16:54

Did you know the they were playing on the new game?

If so, then I do think you should take some responsibility.

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