Paying for smashed TV

[Lovelilies]

Help quick!
Bit of a dilemma. DS (3.5) playing at friend's house this morning with her DS also 3. I live 2 doors down and had just nipped home for something. The TV got smashed. The Mum says she saw my DS throw a toy plane at the TV.
Background, their TV got smashed last week when the 2 boys were alone in their lounge, it was assumed the other boy did it as he has 'form' for breaking things. My DS likes to play with him. He's pretty non verbal so have to go by what my DS says.
Now I wasn't there when it happened this time. My DS says the other boy did it. I do realise he's 3, and may tell fibs. I don't really think my DS did it, but like I say I wasn't here and the other Mum says she saw it.
So I have given her £230 (what she thought he TV cost).
Now her dick head partner is kicking off saying it cost £320 and I need to give them more money..
help!!

A three year old doesn't cause that damage anymore than a loose german shepherd does. An adult not supervising cause that damage. I've lost a lap top screen when I had friends children over and a tv to a three year old so I know how shit it is and that you can't have eyes in the back of your head but seriously this is on them. I didn't even mention the laptop screen to my friend as more fool me leaving out.

I wouldn't have let my child play around at their house if the husband is a known bully though!

Oh and the three year old in question (mine btw) did actually break two TVs in less than two weeks. Purely by throwing something at it. So it can happen. They may have replaced one and their son did it again.

Excellent advice from BandeauSally

Plus - maybe she is lying fibbing because she's frightened of her partner's reaction if she tells him her DS did it.

I would be asking to see the receipt for the TV that was bought to replace the first smashed one. They could have been given it by a friend or relative, or as others have said, it's the original TV!!

(It's why I'd assume it was the first boy though) some kids are just naturally destructive. and have bloody good arms

I smell bullshit too. How could two tvs get smashed in the course of a week.
They could totally buy a tv with the money you have already given them.

Child throwing a toy can be pretty hard and also it depends on how it hits.
There's a family story about my uncle throwing a piece of cardboard in a temper as a toddler and smashing a window. I can totally believe a plane toy could smash a TV.

Also if the ds is saying his friend did it rather than it was already broken/it didn't happen, then it's unlikely it didn't happen. But I don't think you can take him saying his friend did it as truth either, most 3yos can work out blaming a friend/sibling is a good idea. I had an advanced toddler who worked that one out by 18 months.

Our insurance has a £500 excess, so it wouldn't cover it. Our reasoning is that we don't break much stuff and the saving we made with that excess covers it in not too many years. As we haven't claimed in nearly 20 years we have saved much more than that.

Having said that I wouldn't expect someone else to pay for non-malicious damage, particularly a toddler.

I think it also depends though on why she had your toddler. If he was round to play then no, but if she was looking after him as a favour then it does put a different slant on it.

But I wouldn't pay more, and I think you've been generous in giving that much straight off.

DH managed to smash a smartphone screen twice in 8 days recently
Smartphones get dropped though and they always seem to fall screen side down.

Yes I think this is a scam too

A three year old was able to throw something heavy enough to smash a Tv, high enough to smash a Tv fixed to the wall? Twice. Sounds horribly fishy.

Just a thought- did they replace the one broken last week with an identical one ? Dont think I would be doing that given how fragile the screen appears to be.

If they d what would stop her/him getting the old one out of the garage /shed and setting up the scenario today, when you just happened to have popped home?

A further suggestion-Its A WEEK OLD- Suggest they return it to the store with the receipt, and say the screen was smashed on unpacking. Could prefectly feasibly have been a gift purchased last week for a birthday this week.

No, I wouldn't normally condone that sort of thing, but hey.......

innagazing TVs do get smashed. Our DTs, approx 3 at the time were in the sitting room, I was in the kitchen. I could hear them playing with their toy maracas (sp?) making a lovely tune. I went in there to compliment them on their musical skills, and saw that they were banging their maracas on the TV screen... New TV required.

OP - if they do come back to you, ask for the receipt for the "new" tv - if they have bought it in the last few days, they should have it to hand. Like others have said, I suspect there were not 2 broken TVs.

Don't pay a penny more and don't allow your child to go there any more. That's outrageous.

Once my mother in law dropped an iron heat side down on our carpet and singed it. I didn't ask or expect her to pay for the damage.

I think they've got a real cheek.

You don't need 'friends' like that.

OP, sign your DS up for cricket now, he'll be England's future star in 15 years.

giving you friend the benefit of the doubt that she didn't swap the knackered telly for the good one whilst you were away and blame your DS to get cash out of you, you've done all you can and ignore all future texts.

You've already given them enough. You dealt with it with your friend. Just tell the partner, that no. You are not giving anything else.

Close the door and leave it at that.

What are people meaning when they say "unsupervised"? The mother saw the OP's DS throw the tpoy plane into the TV so was obviously there, so are people meaning that she didn't stop them throwing things when they say the children were unsupervised?

Op - do you trust your friend?
Is it likely that she has lied about your DS's involvement?

If no - then accept your DS broke the tv.

If they bought a new one, then they should have a receipt - find out how much it was and then you can decide if your contribution is enough.

If you don't trust that she's telling the truth, then why be friends with someone who would like about your child and take money off you under false pretences?

I don't want to lose a good neighbour friend
The feeling wouldn't appear to be mutual. She wants your money, more than your friendship.

Lack of supervision - her fault
Lack of insurance - her fault

Was the TV already broken if it was smashed the week before? i would be inclined to offer them 50% and apologise profusely and leave it at that..

*Don't pay a penny more and don't allow your child to go there any more. That's outrageous.

Once my mother in law dropped an iron heat side down on our carpet and singed it. I didn't ask or expect her to pay for the damage.

I think they've got a real cheek.

You don't need 'friends' like that.*

Why have they got a cheek?
Surely if you break something, then you offer to pay to fix it?

No IloveBanff - the mother says she saw the OP's DS do it. He said he didn't and that the other kid did it.

You have already paid more than I would have. I'd give half.

Of course 'people' can afford insurance if they can afford £230/£320 for a television! They just have the wrong priorities.

She has offered to pay to fix it and has handed over cash!

My take on this though is that if I have a 3 year old in my house and an accident occurs and something is damaged then it is at my risk and either my insurance covers it or it is my loss.

It is a bit different I think if an older child or adult deliberately or wilfully damages my property.

Would you really charge another parent if a child accidently broke something in your home???????

I would suggest that she replaces it with a smaller, cheaper TV since this keeps happening. Smaller screen = less chance of being hit with a flying toy. Ask her for the change from you £280 (!!) once the replacement small set has been purchased.