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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not want to pay £1k for a lamp my toddler broke in the doctor's waiting room?

169 replies

sanam2010 · 04/09/2012 20:23

Ok so my DH took my 22 month old DD to a doctor for a check-up today. About ten minutes after appointment time, when they had been waiting for 15min, apparently DD reached for the lamp on the magazine table next to them (she was on DH's lap), the lamp fell off the table and broke.

They then said this was a very expensive special lamp worth £1,000 and that we had to pay for a replacement!! Isn't this mad? I don' have any insurance that would cover this.

As much as i regret the damage and wish she hadn't touched anything, first of all if they had kept te appointment time this would not have happened (private practice, not NHS by the way), plus it was a complete accident, not a case of negligence or intentional damage, plus what are they doing putting a £1k lamp on a simple coffee table in the waiting room? And shouldn't their insurance cover this?

What do you guys think is a reasonable agreement i can reach with them? Is it unreasonable not to pay for it?

OP posts:
onebigwish · 04/09/2012 20:24

I don't think YABU, though I predict this thread may well kick off.

Hope not, good luck OP.

WipsGlitter · 04/09/2012 20:24

That's mad. Surely their insurance will cover it!

catgirl2012 · 04/09/2012 20:24

YANBU

I would be telling them to claim on their insurance!

DowagersHump · 04/09/2012 20:25

They should (and will) have insurance. Offer to pay the excess (but ask to see the policy)

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 04/09/2012 20:25
Shock

Buy them something nice and cheerful from Ikea and claim it cost 2k.

ratbagcatbag · 04/09/2012 20:25

Sorry but I'd just not pay, they should have accidental damage on their insurance to cover it. Sorry but accidents re just that.

lotsofcheese · 04/09/2012 20:25

It does seem a lot for a lamp...

MrsCampbellBlack · 04/09/2012 20:25

Seriously? Just say no - you'll have to claim on your insurance.

ToothbrushThief · 04/09/2012 20:25

I would not pay I'm afraid. They will have insurance. It sounds like an accident

SizzleSazz · 04/09/2012 20:25

Yes, their insurance should cover it. I wouldn't even enter into any negotiations and would just reiterate it was an accident in a public area.

NutellaNutter · 04/09/2012 20:26

Yes their insurance should pay out. They are insane trying to get you to pay this!

kim147 · 04/09/2012 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

randomfemale · 04/09/2012 20:26

I wouldn't pay for it - they should claim on their own insurance.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 04/09/2012 20:26

YANBU. I'd buy them a replacement Ikea lamp (maximum a tenner) and explain to them in words of one syllable about public areas, expensive items and the potential for catastrophe.

GhostShip · 04/09/2012 20:27

What the fuck are doctors surgerys doing spending £1,000 on a bloody lamp?

Next time they try to refuse you am expensive drug, this would be a great thing to refer to!

ToothbrushThief · 04/09/2012 20:27

Actually... on reflection ask to see their risk assessment of their premises. Dangerously sited lamps knowing small children will be present and all that ... Wink

PureMorning · 04/09/2012 20:27

What sort of nutter pays 1k for a lamp then sticks it on a waiting room?

Squeegle · 04/09/2012 20:28

They must have insurance
How on earth could they ask this of you and reasonably expect you to pay? Surely this couldn't be legal ?

OhChristFENTON · 04/09/2012 20:28

Utter bollocks, don't pay - apologise by all means but don't pay.

altinkum · 04/09/2012 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnnaLiza · 04/09/2012 20:28

That's crazy! Don't pay a penny! As you say they shouldn't have put an expensive lamp on a coffee table in the waiting area. Plus they can claim it from the insurance.
Out of curiosity, was it an "adult's" doctor or a children's doctor?

WinkyWinkola · 04/09/2012 20:28

Potty to have such a lamp in a waiting room anyway. Are you sure they're decent doctors? They sound a bi thick to put such an expensive lamp where they did.

Their insurance will cover it.

SirBoobAlot · 04/09/2012 20:29

YANBU.

Who the fuck has a 1K lamp, let alone in somewhere like a doctors surgery where there will be hundreds of people coming through each day?!

FelicitywasSarca · 04/09/2012 20:29

Yanbu at. All.

Silibilimili · 04/09/2012 20:29

Claim on insurance. Don't pay up op.