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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Jux · 22/08/2017 14:36

Is the babysitter young, a student? Did they buy the iPad themselves or was it a gift? I imagine he/she hasn't a great deal of money and so either spent ages saving up for the device and couldn't afford a case as well, or it was a gift and he/she hadn't got around to getting a case yet.

They probably brought it round because it's a neat thing you can occupy yourself with once kids in bed, but also can use to amuse children before bed. Either way, it's there in op's house because sitter was employed by op. OP's child broke it while sitter was working for op.

OP, I'd make all arrangements for getting it fixed online and then tell her to take it to wherever, or tell her to get it fixed and give you the receipt.

OnionKnight · 22/08/2017 14:36

It's the latest iPad (non Pro model), Apple certainly wouldn't fix it or replace it for free.

Your child broke it, you pay.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 22/08/2017 14:38

I had this and the iPad was quite new... the lovely boy at the Genius Bar swapped it for a new one. I don't know if they're supposed to do that, or if I got really lucky... but it's worth a shot?

Although I disagree with a lot of posters. You choose to give a child an expensive item, it's the babysitters problem, not yours. It's very kind of you to say you'll rectify.

Original poster
Somerville · 22/08/2017 14:38

I do acknowledge, and did in my OP, that this is my responsibility, BTW. Smile
But I wasn't going to pay £200 for the screen to be ordered when the place couldn't specify how much fitting it would then cost, or how long it would take.
I don't even know how much the iPad is worth at this stage.

OP posts:
OnionKnight · 22/08/2017 14:38

I don't even know how much the iPad is worth at this stage.

More than £200.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 22/08/2017 14:39

And never try to fix it yourself. DH is very techy and tried and somehow broke it more Confused

ItsNotLit · 22/08/2017 14:39

If your DD is ten then, yes, I think you are right in paying. It's a bummer that it's so expensive though.

SpiritedLondon · 22/08/2017 14:39

Ok half a dozen police officers are saying that it's down to the babysitter. Firstly, no one asked her to bring it ( it was not a requirement of the job). Secondly, what kind of babysitter lets a small child loose on an unprotected iPad. ( I won't give you the " thirdly" because it was a bit brutal). Because I'm soft hearted I might offer to pay half but I'm afraid this is a tough life lesson for her.

chickenowner · 22/08/2017 14:39

Of course you should pay for it!

LadyWithLapdog · 22/08/2017 14:40

There won't have been a contract for this informal arrangement so it does come down to an understanding between the parties IMO. If it had been the OP's iPad/TV/glasses who would have been at fault? The child (not responsible due to age) or babysitter (not directly involved)?

LadyMaryCrawley1922 · 22/08/2017 14:40

She was babysitting and doing you a favour

She wasn't doing her a favour, she was working and being paid to do a job. That is not a favour.

And if you stupidly bring your expensive gadget to work and let a small child play with it, you have to pay for that when it breaks. If she had brought it into a creche and handed it to a toddler would it be up to the toddlers parents to fix? Of course not.
Not a very good babysitter, clearly.

AvoidingCallenetics · 22/08/2017 14:41

I was thinking your child was a toddler and therefore the babysitter was stupid to let her play with it. That your dd is 10 puts a different spin on it - she still ought to have had a case on it but not unreasonable of her to think it was safe to let dd hold it.
So although it kind of is half the babysitter's fault, I would pay it this time and tell her to not bring it again.

Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 22/08/2017 14:42

By law I'm sure if the babysitter was a adult she would be responsible for it getting broken & the cost of it if she was responsible for minding your child at the time but with her being a child herself i think responsibility of cost would fall to you, I haven't got a clue about these screens sorry & how to fix them yourself with a repair kit & yes that sounds awfully high to me sure you can find a cheaper price elsewhere but from what I've learnt your looking at a price range of £50-£150 to fix a iPad screen

ItsNotLit · 22/08/2017 14:42

At ten you wouldn't expect to have to tell a child not to touch an iPad. If it was a little kid that the babysitter had been minding then I think she could have taken some responsibility.

MrsOverTheRoad · 22/08/2017 14:44

You should pay.

Bluntness100 · 22/08/2017 14:44

I can't believe people are saying don't pay. It really is a parallel universe here sometimes. This wasn't a proffessional child carer, it was a sixteen year old girl standing in. The ops daughter broke it and common decency says the op should pay to fix it. Sure she doesn't have to legally, she could be a total bitch and tell the girl, fuck uou it's your fault for letting her have it, see ya.

Op, sadly this is what it costs or try a local repair shop,you might be able to get it done cheaply and depending on where you are there is some mobile repair guys who will come out and do it in your home very cost effectively.

MaisyPops · 22/08/2017 14:46

Yes it's wise to have a case but not everyone does, if they break it themselves then it's there own fault.
If they choose to have an expensive item and not properly protect it then it's their fault.

I have a musical instrument. I could transport it in a specialist case or a bag that's big enough. If a member of the stage crew moves my instrument and it gets damaged then it's not their fault. It's mine for not keeping it in a protective case. I dont NEED a case, but as a responsible person I take care of high value items.

Babysitter should have done the same.

Really what this thread highlights is that some people honestly believe people can take no responsibility for their own possessions and then expect others to fix the outcome of their poor decisions.

Penners99 · 22/08/2017 14:46

2017 iPad screen replacement is £100 max,

NevilleBennett · 22/08/2017 14:47

I think that if you'd said so initially, YWNBU not paying. But now you've agreed you will, and it's just that the cost is putting you off. So I think that YWBU to refuse to pay under these circumstances.

Mama1980 · 22/08/2017 14:47

If it's less than a year old take it to Apple she may have cover there, if not tbh take it to Apple anyway, it will cost sadly but the new unit can't be easily replaced and if the repair place mess it up it will cost even more for Apple to sort out afterwards.

SandyDenny · 22/08/2017 14:48

Do you know how much it would cost to get it fixed at an apple store?

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/08/2017 14:48

This wasn't a proffessional child carer, it was a sixteen year old girl standing in. TBF for 90% of the thread we didn't know that. It could have been a 45 yo handing her iPad to a 2 yo.

If D is 10, I would expect her to kick in a bit as well. At 10 she should understand paying for damage she does.

How much do refurbished iPads cost? Would that be cheaper?

robinia · 22/08/2017 14:50

Op wasn't there when iPad was broken. Babysitter was acting in loco parentis. Therefore babysitter is responsible for actions of child including breakages.
Can't understand why it would be any different. I'd only pay some/all as a goodwill gesture in order to keep the babysitter.

Goingtobeawesome · 22/08/2017 14:50

So many people telling Somerville she should pay for it. She has already said she is!.

I'd feel duty bound to pay most of not all of the cost but the six calls would annoy me unless it's parental pressure.

Fresh8008 · 22/08/2017 14:50

Its pretty straight forward. It was an accident, doesn't matter who's fault it was because it was in ops premises whilst carrying out her job. You can argue an ipad is not a child's toy but you cant deny plenty of babies play with them. So unless specifically banned then you have to fork up.

I would be surprised if you get a brand new ipad screen replaced for less than £200. That's what home insurance is for.