PIL has sent be a bill for a broken wine glass

[pugreverywhere]

Yes, had to namechange.

Went to PIL' home last weekend, had a glass of wine and I accidentally dropped it. No big deal, they shrugged it off. I get on well with both FIL and MIL, have been with DH for 4 years now and we are having our first child in 4 months.

They're well off.. as in, VERY well off.. DP and I on the other hand live in a rented 3 bed semi-dettached property so definitely not as well off.

I didn't know at the time, but said wine glass apparently happens to be pretty high end. FIL has this morning sent me an e-mail saying that I can just transfer the £156 to him or buy the glass online. He even attached a link and included their address, should I not know it by now(!).

At first I thought it was a joke only to realise that these people have no sense of humor, so they obviously must be expect me to pay them ASAP. Haven't told DH yet. Really shocked at this as they are not known for being stingy.

AIBU not to pay this? I am tempted to buy a £20 glass off Amazon!

We were given V nice vulgar engraved Champagne flutes (two of them) as a wedding gift that never get used as afraid of breaking them. Had nothing else to offer friend a drink so used one of them, saying "careful, that was a gift and is expensive" – within 10 seconds it was smashed on the floor

Also 700 quid for a cushion made of viscose?? It should be woven from fucking byssus for that price.

I can't imagine paying £156 for a wine glass, no matter how much money I had. I don't think I could bring myself to pay it. Wonder what your partner will have to say about it...

If I broke something at someone else’s house I would offer to replace it and expect to do so. Your FIL is rude to ask, but it’s even poorer form that the OP didn’t offer in the first place.

Should I never accept invitations to the house of a friend with money as I haven't got hundreds of pounds to spare in case I inadvertently break a bit of glass that they have handed me?

I would forward the email onto your dh and tx fil back saying I've forwarded it to dh to deal with

Here's an advert for the shop where the PiL must have bought the glasses

MN is brilliant for tales of unwonted gaucherie.

This deserves a prize.

Surely the only circumstances in which it would be acceptable to do this is if you were blind drunk, standing on the table on one leg, using the glass as a prop in a mad juggling / balancing trick and they had repeatedly asked you to stop and put the glass down safely?

Cos otherwise it's an accident and they need to suck it up. Probably not worth claiming on the insurance - the excess would be most of the £156, surely? - and irritating for them, but this is life and it's extraordinary that they haven't learnt this already

Bloody hell! And presuming they would like the baby then toddler then child to be a regular visitor to their home complete with age appropriate behaviours, incidents and accidents...They are likely to have a shock if they send huge bills to go with any brakages and expect baby to visit...Na...

Place marking to find out what the DH thinks

I think this may already be a mumsnet classic and it's nowhere near over...

What a wanker. You have three choices imo.

1- say no more about it but go over there this weekend. Have DP lift glass, fork etc for you the entire weekend.

2- wear one of those hats that holds cans and has straws that come down the side. Tell CFIL that as you can’t be trusted to hold a glass, you’ve found the perfect solution. Offer to buy him one too.

3- Go nc. You can’t afford to see them!

we got Waterford crystal glasses for our wedding. I had NO idea they were that expensive until I just clicked on that link. I've had them tucked away in a box because I thought they were ugly 😂😂 who knew!!

Ryder63 It's the emotional damage I'm thinking of charging him for. I still mourn that dish.

He lives in Europe somewhere hot and beautiful. Perhaps I can get a free holiday out of him and go and visit him. Or is that being cheeky?

I'm reminded of Hyacinth Bucket and her china.

If I broke something at someone else’s house I would offer to replace it and expect to do so. Your FIL is rude to ask, but it’s even poorer form that the OP didn’t offer in the first place.

Assuming all parties are English, the conversation should have been along the lines of:

Breaker: "Gosh, I'm sorry, let me help clear that up"

Owner: "Don't worry I've got it" or "Could you get the dustpan and brush from the kitchen while I get a newspaper for the broken bits?"

Breaker: "I am really sorry, you must let me know how to replace it"

Owner: "No, don't be silly, no need. Accidents happen, the most important thing is that no-one got hurt"

I really need to know what your husband said, when's he due home?

2- wear one of those hats that holds cans and has straws that come down the side. Tell CFIL that as you can’t be trusted to hold a glass, you’ve found the perfect solution. Offer to buy him one too.

Or even better, one of these

pug did you hurl the glass at the wall in a fit of rage having received a less than enthusiastic reaction to your naked table leg pole dance?

If so, then I'm afraid you only have yourself to blame.

What a shame their house will obviously not be childproof if their belongings are quite so precious. Clearly you wont be able to take dgc to visit for many years.

Tell him to claim on insurance. I have some very expensive, hand blown & cut glasses (wedding presents from relative who was glass cutter.) They are listed as a "named item" on house insurance. The biggest problem I have with replacing them these days is that they can no longer be bought new.

I would go all 1950’s and email FIL back and tell him DH will be in touch

Very definitely a CF. Definitely don't take your child round there - you'd be broke in no time.

Wtf?! Cheeky git

{insert inane comment here to avoid being a cussed of shameless placemarking}