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AIBU?

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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:
Clutterbugsmum · 17/01/2018 22:43

I think DD1 should contribute, I would also add that if she drops the new one or leaves anywhere it shouldn't be I would be removing it and she will only have supervised access to it as she clearly can not be trusted with ans expensive item.

kittymamma · 17/01/2018 22:45

I am in agreement with the PP who suggested:

50% - DD1
25% - DD2
25% - You and DH

For the exact same reasons.

DD1 has to take responsibility for her belonging, would she suggest it wasn't her fault if she left it on the train and it got stolen? No, its a ridiculous argument.

DD2 - Needs to understand that you have to treat other people's belongings with respect and not treat them in a way that is not its intended use. I would take money from my 6 yr old to make that point and have done. Granted, it was for a £6 toy not lots of money.

You - Because as the person that didn't break it but is chipping in, you get to be all smug about your generosity. And it also negates DD2's claim on the replacement. And also, you then can have real grounds to make sure they look after the replacement that you paid towards.

YellowMakesMeSmile · 17/01/2018 22:47

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

That's a very strange attitude to take with children. Things get broke and they will damage or lose things simply because they are children. If needed for school, I'd be replacing as a parent unless purposely damaged.

C1everclogs · 17/01/2018 22:47

Agree that the sofa probably wasn't the best place. Laptop screens can be bought pretty cheap online though, I bought and fitted a new one for £20 after mine went on a tumble down the stairs!

ooos · 17/01/2018 22:56

You pay half and the laptop owner pays half - youngest who leant on it gets no pocket money/has to put £10 towards the bill.

You're proving that you and your DH are willing to help your children when needed (it will be a big thing for your DD to look back on - that you helped her when she needed her laptop for schoolwork and such) Youngest will learn that her actions have consequences and eldest will learn to be more careful with her possessions and not leave them lying around in front of young kids.

It's a slight loss for you all but a good lesson for the kids to learn in the long run.

userofthiswebsite · 17/01/2018 23:03

Where is an 8 year old going to get half the price of a laptop from? Whoever is to blame...

Just buy them a new basic one and say no further replacements if it gets damanged.

QueenUnicorn · 17/01/2018 23:05

Just pay for it, the grudge they will hold against each other wont be worth it.

Bluedoglead · 17/01/2018 23:08

I would just fix the screen. I dropped mine and the local repair shop charged me £40amd that was for a 15.6”screen for an Asus.

llangennith · 17/01/2018 23:13

These things happen. Just get it repaired at your cost.

Butterymuffin · 17/01/2018 23:19

Agree with pp who said get a desktop instead. DD1 can do school work on that, and it won't get broken in this way.

Butterymuffin · 17/01/2018 23:20

BTW who paid for the laptop in the first place?

thatslow · 18/01/2018 01:46

If Dd1 has “dropped it a few times”, it probably didn’t take much leaning on to finish it off. Most of the damage sounds like it had already been done by dd1.

BritInUS1 · 18/01/2018 02:21

Why was it left somewhere than an 8 year old could accidently lean on it?

I think you should pay this time but make sure the new one is looked after better

palmfronds · 18/01/2018 02:28

Definitely check how much a repair would be - the casing on my laptop was completely buggered and it also wouldn't charge, got the whole lot fixed for £80 by a local guy. Going straight for a new laptop seems a bit extreme and could cost everyone a lot of money unnecessarily!

SukiStinks · 18/01/2018 03:40

Get quotes for repairs. Why buy a replacement if it could cost less than £40 to fix? I leant on mine accidentally (had rested it on sofa so I could let the cat out), it was pushed out of alignment, sounds like yours,and it cost £29.99 to repair.

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/01/2018 04:08

It sounds as if the girls feel pretty contrite to be ok with going halves. Kids do stupid stuff. Even teenagers. No way would I expect an 8yo to contribute. She’s a little kid and I’m glad you posted that you’re not going to ask her for money. If you can afford it, I’d personally buy a new one or pay to get it fixed myself. Chalk it up to experience and be very clear to dd1 she is responsible for her laptop. If there is a next time, you won’t be replacing it.

I dropped my iPad and even though it’s in a case, the screen is broken. Accidents happen.

araiwa · 18/01/2018 04:19

Why buy a new one when a screen / case can be cheaply fixed?

littlesisterwith2olderbrothers · 18/01/2018 06:57

You should have got a desk top pc not a flimsy laptop! Kids aren't exactly known for looking after their stuff.
I have 3 teens who have all broken their laptops and now they've had desktops for years with no issues.
I also replaced these myself "even though I didn't break them" weird attitude you have their.

HaHaHmm · 18/01/2018 08:23

I don’t really understand why parents buy laptops for younger secondary school students. They are more expensive than a desktop PC of comparable power and they are more vulnerable to physical damage, plus they’re an ergonomic nightmare. Kids don’t really need the portability of a laptop until university or possibly sixth form (except perhaps in cases of shared custody where they need to be able to use the machine across two places). Desktop PC all the way; if you invest in something reasonably powerful it will see your 8yo through most of secondary school too.

NapQueen · 18/01/2018 08:28

Dd1 can stay behind at school and use the school computers to complete her homework each day.

Replace it as a gift for birthday if she wants. But when it is her birthday.

Ethereum · 18/01/2018 08:39

To all who are saying get a desktop instead - turning a laptop into a quasi desktop is absolutely possible.

Try this - if it has a hdmi port, plug a cable in to that and run it into your tv and turn the laptop on. Go to that input on the tv. You might have to press a function button to get the laptop to use the external display only.

If the laptop still works, consider getting a cheap monitor, keyboard and mouse and using it like that. The kids will have no incentive to move it then seeing as the internal screen is broken.

HaHaHmm · 18/01/2018 08:41

Very good idea, Ethereum. Then when laptop eventually gives up the ghost simply replace with a new tower PC.

Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 18/01/2018 10:16

Good idea ethereum -will help us see if it's truly buggered (which I suspect) or if just a screen issue. The screen is showing up just white - with some black cracks in bottom corner. Will try tonight.

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 18/01/2018 10:25

Why is a 14 year-old so careless with expensive equipment?

If she gets another one it is only to be used at a table. And maybe it should be a family one, not just hers?

ZoopDragon · 18/01/2018 10:33

I think parents should pay for accidental damage, or have it insured. It's really mean to make them pay with their Christmas money! I would pay then only let them use it under supervision, sitting at the table, and not walk around with it.

If they spilt a drink on the sofa, would you make them pay to have it cleaned? I don't think this situation is very different.