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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To make them pay half each??

87 replies

Ginmakesitallok · 17/01/2018 21:25

Dd1s laptop has been broken. She says dd2 lent on it on sofa and now it doesn't work. Screen is buggered, panel on back isn't fitting. Thing is there's a crack in the screen bit, a bit of plastic has been broken off- like it's been dropped. Dd2 has dropped it a few times.

I don't know who broke it. They both still have Xmas money - and have more savings than dp and I! I think they should pay half of new laptop. Dp thinks we should pay half.
Wwyd?

OP posts:
Allthewaves · 17/01/2018 21:26

what does dd2 say? Could you not claim accidental damage on your house insurance

FucksBizz · 17/01/2018 21:29

How old are they?
If they're teenagers If I were you, I'd get them to pay half between them. Then you and DP pay the other half. So each DD pays 1/4 each.

Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 17/01/2018 21:29

Dd2 says sorry. Not worth claiming on insurance because of excess.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 17/01/2018 21:30

They're 14 and 8. Why should we pay to replace? It wasn't us who broke it!

OP posts:
Nocabbageinmyeye · 17/01/2018 21:30

Well as it stands you don't know dd2 dropped it. A sofa is a stupid place to leave a laptop. Clearly neither mind things or it wouldn't have been dropped a few times. I think unless dd2 owns up to dropping it, if she did at all, then dd1 should pay for it all

Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 17/01/2018 21:32

We know dd2 has dropped it. She says she dropped it, but that it was working until dd2 lent on it and she heard a crack.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 17/01/2018 21:33

Sorry - getting dds mixed up! Dd1 has dropped it. Dd2 lent on it.

OP posts:
NewYearNewMe18 · 17/01/2018 21:35

Do you have Sky?

Our sky policy allows us to have 6 other electronic items insured on the policy - so that covers our laptop, PS4 and several phones

FucksBizz · 17/01/2018 21:35

Why should we pay to replace? It wasn't us who broke it!

You've answered your own question.

mrsm43s · 17/01/2018 21:36

I think an 8 year old should be supervised with expensive electrical equipment, and the person mainly at fault is the one who failed to supervise her correctly and/or left the equipment in an unsafe place.

I'd either replace the laptop myself or make DD1 go without a laptop or split 50:50 between DD1 and yourself. I wouldn't expect DD2 to pay at all unless you were aware that she deliberately or maliciously broke it.

Louiselouie0890 · 17/01/2018 21:36

Dd1 should pay. Daft place to leave a laptop. Is dd1 the older child?

Allthebestnamesareused · 17/01/2018 21:36

Using your reasoning of why should you pay as you didn't break it then why should dd1 pay as she did not break it either!

Therefore you expect an 8 year old to pay as she broke it

Idontdowindows · 17/01/2018 21:36

It's broken, so now they do not have a laptop. If they want another laptop, they'll have to pitch in and get it themselves. If they don't pitch in, they don't have a laptop.

IrkThePurist · 17/01/2018 21:37

Dont replace it. Tell them they cant look after expensive things & you cant afford to keep replacing them. Try again when they are older and more careful, and make them save up to chip in.
Stop them borrowing each others things.

Notasperfectasallothermners · 17/01/2018 21:37

After the first time dd 2 dropped it she should have been banned imo.
So ultimately you should pay her half.

SavoyCabbage · 17/01/2018 21:37

Sofas are for lying about on. Dd1 shouldn’t have left a laptop on a sofa where it it likely to be sat on.

OuchBollocks · 17/01/2018 21:37

The 8 year old is much less culpable than the 14 year old - she didn't drop it, and a sofa is a stupid place for a laptop. Maybe spilt it 60-20-20 as a gesture of goodwill, between dd1 - dd2 - you, or else 70-30 between the girls if you don't want to pay anything at all.

mrsm43s · 17/01/2018 21:38

DD2 should definitely not be paying if DD1 dropped it and all DD2 did was lean on a laptop left on a sofa. Honestly, she's 8 and has done nothing wrong at all. Don't take her money off her, so unfair.

OuchBollocks · 17/01/2018 21:39

I do think the 8 year old is more than old enough to know you don't sit on expensive electronic devices so ought to contribute.

BrownTurkey · 17/01/2018 21:40

Leaning on a laptop when you are 8 is not crime of the century. Both need to learn to put tech in safe position and not mess with it, and learn to value others belongings (as I am sure they do, generally). I am not sure 8 year old should pay, though a token amount or chore for her contribution to the damage might be appropriate. Dd1 could pay a token proportion. And wait. Or pay more and have a replacement sooner?

Glumglowworm · 17/01/2018 21:42

If it’s DD1 who has previously dropped it and DD1 who left it on the sofa then she should be paying a much bigger chunk than DD2 who sat on it because it was left in a stupid place. A sofa is for sitting on not leaving expensive electronics on.

DD1 should pay for a replacement. Maybe get DD2 to buy her a nice case for it to encourage her to put it away properly

Auspiciouspanda · 17/01/2018 21:43

I think it's pretty easy to put a laptop next to you on a sofa then go to the toilet or something. Yes in a perfect world you'd put it away properly but I think 8 it old enough to know not to lean on something. Yes sofas are for laying on however you look before jumping on surely?

Urubu · 17/01/2018 21:44

Are really suggesting that an 8yo whose only mistake was to not notice a laptop was left on the couch should pay for a replacement??

Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 17/01/2018 21:44

Oh god - so many options!!!! Who would have guessed a broken laptop would be such a moral maze?? Will sleep on it (they're both happy with going half - though dd2 doesn't have much money sense!)

OP posts:
monkeywithacowface · 17/01/2018 21:44

DD1 dropped it and left it on the sofa so I think if anyone should pay is her.

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