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Original poster

Not to replace babysitter's ipad screen that DD2 cracked

296 replies

Somerville · 22/08/2017 13:58

DD2 managed to slip over holding teenage babysitter's iPad last night. Complete accident.

It was babysitters decision to bring it - there was no need for her to. And really she should have it in a case. But I digress, because of course I would be unreasonable not to have it repaired.

It's a major PITA because I can't drive right now so I've done long bus journey to nearest town with a repair place (who quoted £60 over the phone) to be told once there that her iPad glass (the latest, 2017 model, which is just called IPad, or colloquially IPad 5) isn't replaceable on its own - they tried to charge me £200 to order in a whole new screen, plus as yet undefined fitting cost. Shock

I'm suspecting/hoping that they were uninformed or trying to con me, but I don't have much signal (on bus home now with tearful DD2) so google research is slow.

6 missed calls from babysitter on when she can expect her iPad back, which I'm dodging until I have more idea. Help me to not be unreasonable and point me in the direction of cost effective and fast way of repairing it please, please, please...

OP posts:
heartstornastray · 23/08/2017 18:50

Anytjing to do with Apple is damn expensive. I'd offer to go halfs.

jayne1976 · 23/08/2017 19:28

Not your iPad so your home insurance are unlikely to cover.
She's a kid who was probably being pestered to hand over the iPad, in her situation I would have probably done so panicking about an ensuing tantrum, she's not trained to deflect the child's attention! don't know if she had it in her bag or was using it whilst caring for your dd2 (which she shouldn't have been )

Do think it's your responsiblity, a pocket gesture is going to see her babysitting (for other people) for many years to replace the item.

catsaresomucheasier2 · 23/08/2017 19:33

I'd be asking why she let your DD have a hold of it in first place OR why she left it unattended somewhere where DD could grab it OR if she was there to babysit why wasn't she watching what DD was up to. Kids are kids, they break stuff, she brought this valuable item to YOUR home. Are you actually sure it wasn't broken BEFORE she came round?!

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 23/08/2017 19:38

Somerville I think you're being overly generous paying for even the excess tbh and if it was my teenage daughter I'd be telling her to either live with the crack or pay for the excess. She should have had it in a case & she should have made sure DD wasn't in a position to damage it. The other thing she can do is have a £20 glass screen protector put over it, she'll barely even see the crack. She was irresponsibility nsible with it & yet all the adults are rushing around fixing it for her, it's really not teaching her anything imo.

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 23/08/2017 19:39

cats at least read the op's posts.

WeatherwaxOrOgg · 23/08/2017 19:57

I was going to say it's your responsibility but actually, after reading this, I dont think so:

Littlepleasures Tue 22-Aug-17 14:04:34
Bit of a dodgy area as to who's responsible. Was she in charge of your dd at the time or were you?

She brought it around and she was supposed to be in charge of your daughter and she let your daughter use it. Her fault entirely.

Original poster
Somerville · 23/08/2017 20:02

i know what you mean, Chipping my dear, as if something similar happened to DD1 while babysitting I wouldn't expect the parents to necessarily rectify it. But when a situation is legally/morally ambiguous (and this thread illustrates that this one is, given the strong opinions that I should or shouldn't pay) I would rather not err on the side of being stingy. Having said that, I was very grumpy about it at the point that the costs were spiralling - I'm on my leave now and midgets are tight.

The most I need to pay is £100 which I can totally live with.

OP posts:
LadyLapsang · 23/08/2017 20:04

Interesting to see what happens once the claim is assessed. If they tell the truth, 16 year old took iPad to work and 10 year old broke it. I would expect the insurers to contact your insurers to claim on your public liability for you employees. I would guess that would be difficult because it sounds like you are paying her on the black economy (cash in hand).

Original poster
Somerville · 23/08/2017 20:05

I'm on mat leave and budgets are tight, rather. I would never use the word midget, short of a typo. Shock

OP posts:
Original poster
Somerville · 23/08/2017 20:09

Oh not at all, Lady. I run payroll to cover 3 hours a month of babysitting. Hmm

OP posts:
Lovelymess · 23/08/2017 20:22

Who was in charge at the time? Did you see your daughter break it?

LadyLapsang · 23/08/2017 20:24

Well, if she is covered, why don't you claim?

user1475434161 · 23/08/2017 20:33

I think it always helps to put yourself in another's shoes in these type situations. If I were a young babysitter and s child broke my iPad (let's face it, it's a rare teen who will be parted from tech), I'd be upset.
Though o also understand why it's a bit of a pain in the arse for you to shell out on something unforeseen. Halfway house as others have suggested is to offer a gesture, maybe an Apple voucher or something that she can do with what she pleases. I'd say I couldn't afford an astronomical repair but here's a £50 voucher or whatever. I'd also probably look into getting some quotes of affordable repairs.

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 23/08/2017 20:33

With the things my iPad/iPhone both change, I often think they're out to me lynched! Pre 'i' stuff I simply couldn't understand people blaming their gadgets, now I know better 😖🤣

I think it's quite possibly time to let the thread die...the responses will only get more batshit by the minute Hmm.

quercuscircus · 23/08/2017 20:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 23/08/2017 20:35

I'd dearly love to know why people don't read the thread - even if it's just the OP's posts. Baffles me.

quercuscircus · 23/08/2017 20:36

Sorry made mistake with posting :(

pinkie84 · 23/08/2017 20:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StarUtopia · 23/08/2017 20:44

I used to be somewhat of a professional babysitter as a 16yr old!

Putting myself in her shoes, I would never have taken an expensive item babysitting with me. If it had broken, I would have been furious (with myself) and gone home with my tail between my legs to my equally furious parents (who would then have had to help me sort it out)

OP has been very generous. I actually can't believe the amount of people who think it's ok that a 16yr old rocks up to babysit carrying something very expensive and distracting her from her paid job.

Purplealienpuke · 23/08/2017 22:20

Poor midgets.......

Booshbeesh · 23/08/2017 22:35

If you took.ur ipad to work and left it on the desk letting peoplw touch it and it got broke would you expect your boss to pay for it? Same situation. She was responsible for your child at the time. She chose to brong it to work. She vhose to allow the child to carry it. You are definately not responsible.

Nomorechickens · 23/08/2017 22:48

To all those saying use a case - my GS(6) dropped my kindle fire, in its hard case, from a low height, and the screen totally shattered, the kindle is now unusable. Fortunately a new one is now about £60, the same price as a screen repair. I won't be using any device in future without both a protective case and a glass screen protector.

MaisyPops · 23/08/2017 23:22

Nomorechickens
I think what we are saying is that whilst no case is foolproof the cumulation of not bothering to put a case on it and handing it to a child with greasy fingers doesn't exactly paint a picture of somebody who is careful with their equipment.

A case reduces the chance of it being broken (assuming it's a proper protective one and not some flimsy crap to look pretty). By not using one, the baby sitter made this outcome much more likely.

Chickenagain · 24/08/2017 00:17

Just a thought, if the iPad is so new, is there s chance that it was bought on s credit card with s free insurance period? If so, it might have a lower excess & no affected NCB.

Curlyhepburn · 24/08/2017 03:52

You are absolutely responsible for repairing the ipad. Small child accident or not. Also you are technically her employer if you pay her to babysit so if you dont want her bringing personal effects you have to give clear rules about it same as any other job.

Its a b**ch i agree but I think youre better off getting your home contents to cover it and put it down to experience

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