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AIBU?

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Original poster

To expect them to pay us back for TV

52 replies

Booboostwo · 12/06/2017 20:15

Friends of ours mentioned that their TV was broken, they could not afford another one at the moment and were really missing it. We had a spare TV and offered it to them. This was very clearly a loan as we said this explicitly - we'll need the TV in the near future but we're not using it at the moment.

A few weeks later they mentioned the TV was broken. Their DC was trying to switch it on, wasn't managing and used a hammer on the screen. This was all mentioned with a 'isn't DC cute' kind of tone and loads of smiles. There was no mention of compensating us for the TV. They barely apologised, it was more of a 'you'll never believe what happened' kind of story.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 12/06/2017 20:17

WTF was their child doing with a hammer?!?

TyneTeas · 12/06/2017 20:18

A hammer?

An actual hammer?!?

EyeHalveASpellingChequer · 12/06/2017 20:20

Please tell me you mean a toy hammer.

Highalert · 12/06/2017 20:20

He hit it with a hammer? Shock

AnathemaPulsifer · 12/06/2017 20:20

Find the same model of used TV on eBay and tell them (with voices, next text!) that there's no huge rush, as you said you won't need it back until next month/September/whenever so they have some time to sort out the replacement.

AnathemaPulsifer · 12/06/2017 20:21

And offer to send the link if they're ready to sort it now.

AnathemaPulsifer · 12/06/2017 20:21

*NOT text

FuzzyCustard · 12/06/2017 20:21

Ye gods! Child trying to switch on TV with a hammer?

They should definitely compensate you (but bearing in mind they couldn't afford a TV in the first place you might have to wait).

Otherwise, you now know what kind of friends (and parents) they are for future reference.

Original poster
Booboostwo · 12/06/2017 20:23

Real hammer. They do a lot of DIY and leave a lot of tools and materials around with young DC, often unsupervised. The DC is fine but could easily have been hurt I imagine.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 12/06/2017 20:23

What Anethema said. They might also be bullshitting you.

KeiraKnightleyActsWithHerTeeth · 12/06/2017 20:23

Wtf? A hammer? How old is this kid?
YANBU.
I would text or phone and say
"Regarding the television we allowed you to borrow. We will need it back soon, so we just wanted to give you a heads up in plenty of time that it will need to be replaced by xyz date. The model name and no is and we bought it from abc."

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/06/2017 20:26

They can probably find a second hand comparable TV fairly easily because people replace them and can't sell them on.

Their parenting on the other hand Shock

londonrach · 12/06/2017 20:28

Did they sell it on? (Not believing hammer story)

Original poster
Booboostwo · 12/06/2017 20:28

The DC is 4yo.

OP posts:
ofudginghell · 12/06/2017 20:29

I'd be sending them a text asking what they plan on doing about the replacement tv they owe you as you would like yours back now please.

And never lend them anything again

gamerchick · 12/06/2017 20:34

Are you sure they haven't sold it?

thereallochnessmonster · 12/06/2017 20:35

Yeah, right. Who would let their dc loose with a fricking hammer and not be mortified about it?

Agree with above posters - they're scamming you. Or they have an incredible brass neck...

'Sorry to hear about my TV. We do need it back, as I said. It's a Samsung xxx , and we bought it from John Lewis for about £xxx. It's a 40-inch screen [in case they buy you a 12-inch replacement].

Could we have a replacement by xxx date? thanks. And mind darling dc with hammers in future!

Good luck...

Original poster
Booboostwo · 12/06/2017 20:38

It hadn't crossed my mind that they would be lying! That seems seriously unethical!

I am fuming about it but DH wants to drop it as it's not worth falling out over. Had they come to us, really apologetic and mortified that they could not afford to replace the TV it would have been fine, but they seemed to think the whole thing was amusing.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 12/06/2017 20:42

I think they either sold it on or they're trying to keep it. Nope, I wouldn't drop it.

Fluffypinkpyjamas · 12/06/2017 20:45

This is why I never lend anyone anything. YANBU and they need to pay for a replacement.

allegretto · 12/06/2017 20:45

My ds broke our tv by enthusiastically playing the maracas a little bit too close. Tv screens are very delicate so the story might be true. I would ask them to pay though.

PaulDacresFeministConscience · 12/06/2017 20:45

I wouldn't let it drop either. I'd be texting them to say that you're sorry to hear that their DS has broken your TV and could they let you know if they intend to replace it or would they prefer to give you cash instead?

SidesofFeet · 12/06/2017 20:46

Do you know if the tv is actually broken? I'm just wondering if they are trying it on a bit since they couldn't afford a new tv themselves, I'm wondering if they are hoping you will tell them not to worry, forget about needing the tv back and they have a new tv at no cost. Can you go around and see the tv, confirm it's actually broken, can't be cheaply repaired by them. i think you'll not get them to replace it since they couldn't afford one in the first place, pop round confirm it's broken and take it away.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 12/06/2017 20:47

I think helpfully giving them the details so they can replace it is sensible. Makes you wonder what happened to theirs! Maybe house insurance will cover it, maybe not. It's their problem to sort out.

allegretto · 12/06/2017 20:48

Ask them if their insurance will cover the damage.

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