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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:
SandyDenny · 22/08/2017 15:48

What's wrong with leaving a message for the mum?

If my 16 year old was involved in a situation that they aren't experienced enough to handle properly I'd be happy to help out.

I think this problem is best sorted out by adults, I don't know any 16 year olds who would be confident and worldly wise enough to sort this out fairly by themselves.

A couple of posters have mentioned the law covering this type of situation - which laws would that be?

TheFairyCaravan · 22/08/2017 15:50

I can't believe you've asked the mum either. Claiming on their insurance will increase their premium.

Your DD broke it, you need to pay.

SpiritedLondon · 22/08/2017 15:51

Yes I'm interested in the law too.... I'm not very up on my civil law but perhaps someone can help us out.

Shadow666 · 22/08/2017 15:54

The Mumsnet law? It includes manditory roasts every Sunday and no loo brushes.

MaisyPops · 22/08/2017 15:54

Maybe the Mum will have something to say to their teen along the lines of 'this is why you buy a protective case'.

It could still be damaged in a case but it's a lot less likely. I'd be more willing to help out if the owner of a device actually made some effort to protect it before handing it to children.

People saying 'maybe thr child asked to use it and the baby sitter felt mean to say no'. If they can't say no to a child then they shouldnt be babysitting. If i came back and my babysitter said weve had cookies, and snacks, and the kids were still awake because they wanted to watch frozen and i felt bad about saying no, i'd be beyond pissed off. I'd be nice to them but pissed off

Mummyoflittledragon · 22/08/2017 15:55

I don't think it's cheeky to ask. It's a crack against one corner. Hardly unusable.

Original poster
Somerville · 22/08/2017 15:55

Thanks for the Apple link. I'll get a quote from them once I'm home.

It's ridiculous that the cost of a screen repair is almost as much as a new one.

OP posts:
AllToadsLeadToHome · 22/08/2017 15:56

How sure are you that it wasn't broken when she arrived?

Original poster
Somerville · 22/08/2017 15:57

My older daughter babysits and I wouldn't be offended to get a phone call about this kind of thing if it had happened on her watch. In fact I'd rather know.

OP posts:
Original poster
Somerville · 22/08/2017 15:58

No, not broken already. I'm sure DD2 would have noticed.

OP posts:
SpiritedLondon · 22/08/2017 16:05

I've got a fairly indestructible military style " body armour " case for my iPad. I reckon I could drop it out of a helicopter and it would survive.... It's not pretty but it does its job.

Beebee7 · 22/08/2017 16:09

@bombardier25966

OP has said they are paying for it. Do people even bother to read before posting?

I saw her say it, and yes I do read before posting. But I still don't think OP should pay. Not her responsibility. The babysitter needs to claim on her home insurance. She chose to bring this ridiculously overpriced gadget with her, and let the child play with it, with no protective cover, and whilst they were both eating pizza! Confused

No way is the OP responsible for paying for the damage to the babysitter's ipad.

As has been said, I reckon it already had a fault, or some kind of issue, and the babysitter made sure it 'accidentally' got damaged, in a situation where someone else would have to pay.

Leaspr · 22/08/2017 16:19

It's £246.44 to fix with Apple. Accidental damage not covered in the 1 year warranty

Toddlers4HenDos · 22/08/2017 16:21

I don't think you should pay for it OP, but good on you.

If your babysitter is daft enough to bring her expensive kit over and let her charges use it she should be responsible for that.

But lesson learned for me - I will expressly ask any sitters I use not to bring their expensive tablets, computers etc over, or do so at their own risk.

Hont1986 · 22/08/2017 16:22

Yeah I'm sure the babysitter had this master plan to get her iPad damaged. Confused

JennyLane · 22/08/2017 16:22

Might be worth having a chat with the Babysitter and explaining the cost of repair if it's a tiny crack on the corner.
She might be happy with a monetary compensation instead. I'd have been made up at sixteen to have a slightly cracked screen and an extra fifty quid in my pocket

DotForShort · 22/08/2017 16:27

Of course the OP should pay. (And the OP has been completely reasonable in understanding that this is her responsibility, though also entirely sensible in looking for the least expensive method of repairing or replacing the screen.) Her daughter damaged someone else's property. It was an accident but that hardly matters. Accidents happen but that doesn't absolve the responsible party (or in this case the responsible party's mother) of the obligation to pay for the damaged item. Very surprised that so many people are arguing that she shouldn't pay.

I wonder how far some might take the argument. A child unintentionally damages someone's clothing/shoes/handbag/car. Would people say that it was the person's own fault for wearing/carrying/driving that particular article of clothing/handbag/car?

DollyPartonsBeard · 22/08/2017 16:28

I was babysitting yesterday and decided to paint both my own and my young charge's nails. They decided to check if their nails were dry by wiping them on my jeans. I am now annoyed with myself for wearing my favourite jeans while babysitting and for not putting a towel over my lap or similar. My jeans got ruined as a result of my choices - not those of the toddler I was sitting- and it never occurred to me to ask their parents to pay for new jeans! Small children break things which is why 'baby proofing' is a thing.

ForFuckSakeSusan · 22/08/2017 16:34

Sorry if I've missed this but if it's new and she's had it under 12 months is there any chance her parents would have been sensible enough to add the £24 Apple Cover without the teen knowing about this? It definitely covers accidental damage as I used it last year having smashed my screen 4 months after buying it. Definitely worth asking, I'm always reluctant to have repairs done by 3rd parties as it completely voids the warranty. Good luck, hope you find a solution!

Lweji · 22/08/2017 16:34

I don't think you should pay if the babysitter decided to let your DD hold her iPad. Her problem and her risk to take.

If anything, your DD, as she's 10, she should compensate the babysitter for the cost. Either from her pocket money or repaying you (if you assume the cost) doing jobs at home.

Shadow666 · 22/08/2017 16:36

Well, if someone was babysitting and gave a designer handbag to a child to play with and it got damaged then I wouldnt expect the parents to pay to replace it.

I work with kids, so I wear cheap clothes. I wouldnt do finger painting in a Chanel suit then complain when it got dirty.

MaisyPops · 22/08/2017 16:36

I wonder how far some might take the argument. A child unintentionally damages someone's clothing/shoes/handbag/car. Would people say that it was the person's own fault for wearing/carrying/driving that particular article of clothing/handbag/car?

Child damagaes a car on someone's drive whilst playing football, child's parents should pay.

Somebody is silly enough to leave an expensive handbag out where children are doing craft, owner's responsibility.

Someone wears expensive clothes around kids and they get stained, owner's responsibility.

Somebody gives their child their phone to play with (and there's no protective case), owner's responsibility.

Child is given a phone in a case, manages to get the case off and it gets damaged, parents probably (but technically whoevwr was supervising thr child).

Someone takes their lovely shoes off at the door of a friends house and the dog gets out and chews them, owner's responsibility.

Someone wear's fancy shoes to messy play and they get marked, owners responsibility.

Really, for me it comes down to 'was the person an idiot or was the parent/pet owner negligent in any way'.

MaisyPops · 22/08/2017 16:37
  • clarifying

Someone takes their lovely shoes off at the door of a friends house and the dog gets out and chews them, pet owner's responsibility.

BudgiesInABlender · 22/08/2017 16:38

I hope you don't pay for the repair. The babysitter was silly enough to bring and to give it to a child. Her fault.

SandyDenny · 22/08/2017 16:45

I've just realised that I totally didn't understand what babyproofing meant. I've thought all these years that I've read about it on here (I think it was invented after my dc were babies) that it meant that you made a home safe so a baby didn't hurt itself, I genuinely didn't know that it meant you stopped the baby breaking your valuables. Thank goodness I've never revealed my stupidity by posting on threads about it Grin

Yes, I do realise I've done that now but just glad to know what it means.

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