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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask this childs mum to pay for my pram repairs.

108 replies

awakemysoull · 24/09/2013 11:57

I picked dd1 up from nursery this morning and I had dd2 in the pram. All the children gathered round the pram to see the baby as they usually do and I don't mind that at all. Most of the children are 3 and this is their first year in nursery.

One boy is rather large. Well not large, obese. There's no kind way to say it I have never ever seen a 3 year old child that size before and I'm unsure wether it's a medical condition or over feeding. I am not judging (I'm a size 20).

He started to climb up my pram and got on the wheel and started jumping. I was trying to lift him off but he was so heavy I was struggling. His parents were nowhere to be seen and the nursery teacher was trying to help me get him off the pram. He would not listen and was starting to shake the pram. I was quite annoyed by this point because dd2 was still in the pram and I was worried she was going to get hurt.

We got him off and the whole side of the pram is wrecked. The wheel has snapped in half and the tyre is ripped, the frame is actually loose and I'm not going to be able to use the pram until it's fixed.

I know this doesn't make any difference and it would be just as bad if it was any pram but It's a bugaboo and it cost me a fortune. I saved for ages to buy it and it's the only new item I bought for baby.

His mum and dad appeared and I explained what had happened. His mum laughed and said no way could her ds have done that damage. The nursery teacher stepped in and backed me up explaining again that he broke the pram. His dad started being quite aggressive and said no way was he paying for anything and it was my problem. I pointed out that it was his son who broke it and I did expect them to pay for the repairs.

I was told to fuck off Hmm (in a nursery full of children) and that I'd have to fix it myself.

I managed to half drag the pram home again but it's totally broken.

I think I can claim it on my house insurance but that's not the point. It could take weeks to fix and I have no pram now.

What should I do?

Sorry I'm rambling in quite shaken up and really angry.

Am I being unreasonable asking them to pay for repairs?

OP posts:
BaldricksTurnip · 24/09/2013 12:36

I have three boys aged 5 and under. I have a Phil and Teds double buggy. The blooming thing is built like a tank! My five yo often stands on one of the wheels, I've even been known to let him sit on the hood when he moans his legs are tired! Had it for 4 years and still going strong. I think absolutely any buggy should be built strong enough to withstand wear and tear, especially of the kind you describe. The nursery parents sound horrible but I think they're a no go due to their aggressive attitude. I would definitely take it up with John Lewis and stress the 'fit for purpose' aspect of needing it repaired under warranty.

Pinupgirl · 24/09/2013 12:36

My 10 year old mothercare pram has taken the strain of my 3 dcs jumping all over it and even all 3 riding in/on it. Your expensive pram was clearly faulty-take it back.

Crowler · 24/09/2013 12:40

OP, I'm really sorry. What a horrible pickle you're in.

I think the parents handled this terribly but at the same time, I would be a bit on the defense if I arrived at school to find another parent telling me that my child had broken something in my absence and I was responsible for it. This is not to say that I would be right in feeling defensive, just that I would.

There is no way you are going to get any money out of these people. I would write an extremely polite letter to the school explaining that the child was in their care when this transpired, and could they perhaps pursue their own insurance policy for reimbursement.

Good luck.

Crowler · 24/09/2013 12:40

I agree that this is a faulty buggy, by the way. I had a bugaboo and the wheels are like car tires.

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 24/09/2013 12:42

It's not unreasonable to ask someone to pay for damage but you already have and you've been laughed at (lovely woman) and told to fuck off (charming man) so I am not sure why you would expect the outcome of asking again to be any different. You'll simply be told to fuck off again. I think you'll have to just either take it back and suggest that it's faulty or claim it on your insurance.

imip · 24/09/2013 12:48

I have an almost seven year old bugaboo that has been used for four children (has been used interchangeably with a phil and teds as they are my children and I needed a double buggy for at least the first year). The bugaboo has been used for food shopping, years of kids jumping in it (I've got big kids and even the five year old try's to get into it, iirc, bugaboos are supposed to be til 4yo?). The buggy has withstood all this and has just gone in for repairs. While not officially broke, it had a very prominent 'veer', wouldn't fold and had a 'loose' handlebar,

I would have thought your buggy was faulty from the outset, as mine has withstood a lot of abuse. My first pitstop would be John lewis and then as pointed out upthread, the nursery must have some responsibility,

KitZacJak · 24/09/2013 12:52

YABU - he was the responsibility of the nursery until his parents arrived. You can't expect the parents to pay for something their child did when they were not there.

Though I can understand why you were upset. I would do what munchkinmaster suggests.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 24/09/2013 12:54

I disagree tbh. If my child broke something at a friends house, I'd still offer to replace it regardless of whether I was there or not.

iwantavuvezela · 24/09/2013 12:54

It might be worth contacting bugaboo yourself (google for their details) I bought a second hand one, and i contacted them as i needed an instruction manuel as couldn't work out to fold it - they couriered me, free of charge an instruction manuel, even though i had bought it off ebay.

Bamboobambino · 24/09/2013 12:57

YANBU. The parents were unacceptably rude and should pay for any repairs.
Do take it back to John Lewis and ask for an exchange for a more robust make though. Their customer relations are usually very good.

Editededition · 24/09/2013 13:00

KitZacJak
I understood that the parents were there - just not paying attention.

OP - if they were not there, then it is not their fault. They can't be expected to supervise the child when absent!

Sallyingforth · 24/09/2013 13:02

However rude the parents were, it does seem the nursery are legally responsible and that is where you should direct your claim. It's not going to make for a good future relationship with them though.

FreeButtonBee · 24/09/2013 13:05

For a hassle free solution, do call JL. The front wheel of my Donkey broke and they lent me a replacement wheel and ordered a new one free of change. I think for prams, you need to call your local store even if you bought on line.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 24/09/2013 13:06

Then it's their job to have that out with the nursery AFTER they pay for repairs. Their kid refused to do as he was told and wouldn't even get off despite two people trying to lift him off. Nursery are responsible for loony after the kids , they aren't responsible for the lack of obedience the kids have , that's the parents responsibly and they are clearly not working hard enough.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 24/09/2013 13:06

Looking

LessMissAbs · 24/09/2013 13:08

OMG!

sherbetpips · 24/09/2013 13:09

claim on the insurance. I am not a fan of backing down but the sort of parent who will swear at you like that is not worth pursuing.
If it needs to go for repairs JL usually lend you a replacement? Then you could claim the cost from the insurance. check with the insurers first though.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 24/09/2013 13:14

Why OMG ? The parents could have said "I'm really sorry" or " e can be a bit heavy handed we r working on that I'm
So sorry" instead they laughed, denied it was him despite witnesses and then told her to fuck off in front of the children. Not exactly indicative of parents who try to instill manners and teach good behaviours.

IShouldNotBeHere · 24/09/2013 13:16

That kid must be huge! Sad

The parents sound like arseholes.

choceyes · 24/09/2013 13:16

I have a BUgaboo and it has very strong tyres. I'ts 5 years old and been through two children. yours sounds like a faulty buggy maybe?
I'd just say to JL that a 3yr old stood on the tyre and it broke when it really shouldn't have.

BalloonSlayer · 24/09/2013 13:23

I think I'd approach the nursery and say I had taken legal advice about getting the money from the parents, and the advice I had been given was that as the child was in care of the nursery, then I need to get the money from the nursery because the child wasn't being supervised enough . . . so I'd like to claim off their insurance thankyewverymuch.

pigletmania · 24/09/2013 13:25

Sorry misread, but it is a pram so can only take certain weights. No your not going to have much with the parents, so take it up with JL

pigletmania · 24/09/2013 13:27

Tge parents sound wonderful (not). Any normal parent would be very apologetic and abey offer to contribute to repaires

cestlavielife · 24/09/2013 13:32

he was a three year old in nursery care at the time.

he didnt intentionally break it . he may have behavioual issues etc yes but staff should be aware if he is rough and keep a check on him... take steps to stop him climbing on visiting prams.

claim on your insurance but call bugaboo first.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 24/09/2013 13:33

Kids don't stop being out responsibility just because they are somewhere else.

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