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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:
LaurieFairyCake · 04/09/2012 20:40

What a load of crap - I would expect to claim on my insurance if someone broke something in my waiting room.

Plus I also have public liability insurance if they hurt themselves breaking the lamp - that didn't happen did it ? Wink

Mrsjay · 04/09/2012 20:41

OH a dentist but still fgs a 1 thousand pound lamp !!

SamuelWestsMistress · 04/09/2012 20:41

Well the amount they over charge for dental surgery tell them to sling it!

Mrsjay · 04/09/2012 20:42

you could ask what their excess is and offer to pay 'something' they need to claim on the insurance,

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 04/09/2012 20:42

Tell them to get stuffed. They must have insurance.

BonnieBumble · 04/09/2012 20:42

A sweeping statement but I really don't like private dentists. They saw me coming every time I entered the bloody practice.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 04/09/2012 20:43

Saintly FFS, I could do that! It's just a normal lamp where they've bent it a little bit.

Someone saw them coming.

saintlyjimjams · 04/09/2012 20:44

I know, I reckon if you look closely you'll find 'mug' written on it somewhere....

pictish · 04/09/2012 20:45

Oh look Saintly they forgot to glue the last corner of the shade into place! Wink

Crap lamp for that money.

LynetteScavo · 04/09/2012 20:46

Yes, of course their insurance should cover it.

They would be losing my custom for being so utterly ridiculous.

EasilyBored · 04/09/2012 20:46

Ah, but it's not just a lamp. It's a Guardian of The Light. Clearly it has special powers. bloody well better for that price

No, I wouldn't pay it. Anything worth more than 50p is nailed down at my dentist surgery.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 04/09/2012 20:47

No Saintly, it's not a mug, it's a lamp. Laaamp.

Arf Grin

bruschetta · 04/09/2012 20:47

The lamp shouldn't have been in a place where a child could reach it.
If it was in the waiting room I'd be making loud noises about an unsafe environment.
Refuse to pay and let them know you're pissed off that your DD could have been seriously injured by the broken lamp.

Jakadaal · 04/09/2012 20:48

It was their choice to put a costly lamp there - most probably to create an expensive 'ambience'. Throw health and safety at them and then check their public liability insurance policy.

BonnieBumble · 04/09/2012 20:48

Name and shame so we can all avoid.

FeersumEndjinn · 04/09/2012 20:48

Definitely don't pay - it is ridiculous to put anything worth that kind of money in a waiting area, they should assume most of the responsibility for being so idiotic as to put an expensive breakable item there.

However, I disagree with the people who are saying "Don't Pay a Penny" - if your child broke it then you should contribute something towards a replacement - but the amount you pay should be for the equivalent sensibly-priced normal kind of lamp. Find an ordinary non-designer lamp that is or a similar size, see what price it is (circa £30-£50) and offer them that much. If their insurance doesn't cover the rest it will be because their insurers also agree that it is downright reckless to put something that expensive in that situation.

TheHeirOfSlytherin · 04/09/2012 20:49

If I were a dentist specialising in young children I would have a child-proof waiting room.

YANBU.

marb2309 · 04/09/2012 20:50

No I wouldn't pay. And I work for a private drs practice. They shouldn't have this out, and they have insurance to cover it. If you feel that bad, I agree offer to pay the insurance excess - but ask for documentary evidence about what that is.

holyfishnets · 04/09/2012 20:50

Their insurance should pay. They are running a business and should be insured for damage on their business property surely?

Also you could argue that they knew there were risks attached to leaving a 1k lamp in reach of small children. Also that the lamp mustn't have been securely placed to have toppled over so easily. They are very lucky that your DD didn't hurt herself when their lamp fell on to the floor.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 04/09/2012 20:56

You should ask to see the waiting room risk assesment. There will be one. if there isn't, don't pay, just find another dentist.

If they have done what they are supposed to do, then you need to pay the insurance excess if there is one.

I am shocked at the number f people saying you shouldn't pay at all. It seems no one takes responsibility for their own actions nowadays. Hmm

Claifairy · 04/09/2012 21:02

Ask to see their generic Risk assessment.

Ask to see their most recent assessment of the waiting area (esp for heavy items/electrical items.

Ask DH if the light bulb was accessible and on and if there was any signage to say not to touch lamp due to temp of said light bulb (little fingers and heat). I know this is going a bit OTT but needs must!

Ask for receipt of lamp to prove purchase price and age as if it is not brand new there is also wear and tear to be considered.

Ask to see PAT testing paperwork to ensure that the lamp had been checked within legal timelines to ensure safety and the PAT testing book to prove testing not just the sticker and which company was used. I am not sure if they need to have the lamp PAT tested due to its size and usage but it doesn't hurt to ask awkward questions .

Did they complete a accident form at the time? Ask to see completed form and if not question why they did not ask for your information to complete form and ask what injuries, if any, occurred.

Hopefully, at this point they may back off.

Northernlurkerisbackatwork · 04/09/2012 21:05

This is absurd. Don't pay. This was an accident, they should have insurance to cover it and they are certifiable for putting a £1000 lamp in a public reception area anyway.

RuleBritannia · 04/09/2012 21:07

Also ask to see the receipt for when the lamp was bought. How will they prove that it was worth £1000?

waterlego6064 · 04/09/2012 21:08

YANBremotelyU.

VivaLeBeaver · 04/09/2012 21:09

If they insist tell them that you're going to see a no win no fee solicitor and sue their arse for injury and shock caused by the lamp.

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