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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not pay for dd's phone to be fixed

14 replies

MarciaBlaine · 02/12/2016 20:53

She dropped it today (was knocked from her apparently) and whilst the screen isn't cracked it has gone totally wafty. I'm 99% sure it wasn't in its case either - she has form for this. She is devastated as her "whole social life" is on there. I am really torn between insisting she pays for the fix, or a replacement (much cheaper one presumably) as it's one year into a 2 year contract. Or feeling like it's my fault for letting her have such an item where the financial consequences of breakage are so onerous. Or being cross as she knew it had to be treated as a precious item and was told the consequences of breaking it. Or feeling sorry for her if it was genuinely knocked from her hands.

We never had this shit when I was growing up Hmm Not sure what is the fairest way to proceed. She can have the old NOKIA in the meantime to remain contactable...

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 02/12/2016 20:55

How old is she?
I think a lot of it depends how it got knocked out of her hands. Was she using it in a sensible place and at a time she was allowed to when some hooligan flew into her. Or was she messing about with friends and dropped it?

Reality16 · 02/12/2016 21:06

It depends on her age and whether or not she has history for not looking after things. My DD dropped her iPhone 6 a few months back and broke the screen. She was devastated and worried she would be in trouble, when she came home she was in floods of tears. However I was more than happy to pay for a repair as she had been so careful and never damaged her iPhone 5 which she had for 2 years, and it was a genuine accident. We all have them.

Floofborksnootandboop · 02/12/2016 21:15

I'd make her make for some and pay the rest myself. It happens to all of us, even adults.

I currently have a bent iPhone from dropping it and a crack in my screen protector that I'm too lazy to replace haha and I'm a 39 year old!!

Original poster
MarciaBlaine · 02/12/2016 21:25

She's 13 and said she was stood checking the bus timetable app when a boy with a massive bag rushed past and knocked it from her hands. And it was in its case (insisted on by me) of course, but leapt from said case when it hit the floor. Without wanting to dripfeed, we are having some right discussions at the mo about her wanting to be treated more responsiblly when she is not,always living up to her end of the deal. Typical stuff for her age probably. But I am a bit dubious about the tale.

OP posts:
burgundyandgoldleaves · 02/12/2016 21:27

Oh, I'd just get it fixed. I drop my phone all the time and I'm 35! Blush iPhones do break so easily.

Trifleorbust · 02/12/2016 21:28

That doesn't sound like it was her fault to me. She has a case on it and obviously it is important to her. Is she usually careless?

Does she have access to money or would you refusing to pay mean she had no phone?

Allthewaves · 02/12/2016 21:31

Always insure iPhone. They are so easily damaged

isthatpoisontoo · 02/12/2016 21:31

They deliberately make the contacts longer than the life of phones to lock you in. One of the things I like best about being an adult is that I don't have to answer to anyone for accidents like this. They happen to everyone, only kids get lectured about it. Getting her to pay at least part is reasonable, but making it some kind of personal failing isn't.

burgundyandgoldleaves · 02/12/2016 21:34

I agree with isthstpoison

IJustWantABrew · 02/12/2016 21:39

Why don't you 'deduct' half the money from what you would spend on xmas pressies and then pay for the rest yourself. Tell her if it breaks again she pays the full cost from pocket money or has to do additional chores round the house.
If the phone 'fell from the case' I would get a better case as well, although they don't really stop screens from smashing.

RhiWrites · 02/12/2016 22:01

I use this kind of glass screen protector to stop my screen from smashing. Anyone can drop a phone.
amzn.to/2gwnywa

DailyMailSucksAss · 02/12/2016 22:29

Make her pay for the repair through chores?

maskell01 · 02/12/2016 23:31

I dropped mine,6days after I brought it!it had a massive screen on it,it shattered! The quote was £130 +vat!

I joined the care team and paid the excess of £40!

Granted that was with phones4 you before they went bust but I have heard great things about protect your bubble!!

stabbytheunicorn · 03/12/2016 13:11

If it's on a contract you should have insured it. You can pay for phone insurance independently for a few quid a month. So for that yabu.

If you can't afford to fix it you should have insured it. End of.

If you can afford to fix it but want to teach her a lesson then fix it and ask that she pays for insurance or saves money from now on to cover any future repairs that may happen.

I'd suggest a cheap handset next time, or buying a phone outright or insuring.

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