Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

PIL has sent be a bill for a broken wine glass

999 replies

pugreverywhere · 03/05/2018 14:55

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!

OP posts:
Jamiefraserskilt · 03/05/2018 18:30

Had I realised we would be billed for a glass if it got broken, we would have brought our own from home. Who knew that a nice visit to your house would end up costing us money?!
Perhaps they should stay in the cupboard of you are worried about breakage.
We will stick to our original plan for father's day and if you insist on settlement for an accident, we will start a Payment plan for the glass as we are pretty tight for money at the moment. How does £10 per month sound?

AuntLydia · 03/05/2018 18:31

Ah. Perhaps he is feeling a bit miffed and put upon? Lending his car, buying lots of stuff for the baby. Does he feel as if he's being taken for granted I wonder? I also think the suggestion of buying a glass for fathers day is a little odd. Either you buy him a replacement because you accept its your responsibility - in which case it's not a gift. Or you don't buy him one.

I think DH needs to speak to his dad.

ScreenQueen · 03/05/2018 18:33

Just got a response now saying "yes, but technically shouldn't you be giving me two then? the broken glass can hardly count as a present".

...aaaand the correct response was "technically you shouldn't be getting any cos you're a rubbish host and a shitty father". Written by your DH, not you Angry

Glowerglass · 03/05/2018 18:34

Bloody hell I've got waterford crystal glasses. I'd be glad to see the bloody things broken. They are indestructible as far as I can see.

I'd thank anyone that broke the fuckers.

SilverHairedCat · 03/05/2018 18:34

If this is unusual behaviour, which it appears to be, it sounds like there's something else going on you're not privy to. Perhaps he's upset about something he thinks you've "done"?

Mummyoflittledragon · 03/05/2018 18:34

Screenqueen. That works Grin

A more mild version would be “technically you’re getting new for old”.

BattleaxeGalactica · 03/05/2018 18:34

£156 for a glass?!

Was it forged in rainbow flames and tempered with unicorn tears by the light of the midnight moon?

You could just reply 'haha, nice one' and see how it goes but really this is a prime example of fools and their money being easily parted. Quaff straight from the bottle next time Wink

Original poster
pugreverywhere · 03/05/2018 18:35

If FIL feels like we are taking advantage of him, why does he insist in getting so involved? We had gone out and bought a decent travel set for our baby only to have PIL drop by with this fancy Egg pram (that we couldn't afford) because 'only the best is good enough for baby' - quote: FIL

DH does lend his car that FIL has up for sale anyway and pays a fee for having it! It's not like we are living off them

OP posts:
Gwenhwyfar · 03/05/2018 18:35

"Were you pissed? If it was a genuine accident"

Why would it not be a genuine accident if she was drunk???

mogloveseggs · 03/05/2018 18:35

Well he sounds delightful!

MargotLovedTom1 · 03/05/2018 18:36

To cover the Father's Day present aspect, stuff a pair of socks in the new glass. In reality, there's no way I'd replace it. It was an accident.

I'd be loathe to eat, drink and have a young child over at their house from now on, and I'd be quite happy to say that.

LizB62A · 03/05/2018 18:36

re: the porridge bowl, he'd only recently admitted to knocking the toothpaste out of the bathroom window after denying it for weeks, I'd simply had enough Smile

(plus he lives near Ikea and I don't)

Rednailsandnaeknickers · 03/05/2018 18:37

You hold the power, OP, you're having their grandchild. Point out you won't be visiting ever in case of further breakages and bills. Wait for the backpedal.

Gwenhwyfar · 03/05/2018 18:38

"We broke an expensive decanter once and replaced it, it's what you should do I think."

I completely disagree with that. Most people don't have hundreds to spend on unexpected expenses. If people expect that from their guests they should be warned in advance so they can take their own glasses.

GymBot · 03/05/2018 18:39

Get him a 156 one and a pound shop one for father's day

PleaseAndThanks · 03/05/2018 18:39

How crappy of FIL

FeckinCrunchiesInTheCar · 03/05/2018 18:39

Everyone dissing Waterford Crystal should feck off.
I'm from Waterford.
Grin
Shock

Hygge · 03/05/2018 18:39

I started the thread feeling quite shocked that they would send you an invoice for a wine glass, but now I think I can see why they would want it replacing.

It's such a lot of money for a wine glass, but if you'd broken something else of a similar value, maybe a phone or a tablet or an antique of some sort, I think people would be telling you that you should replace it or pay the cost. Would you mind so much if you'd been asked to replace something like that if you'd broken it?

I do think your FIL has gone about this the wrong way, and I know it was an accident, but you broke a valuable thing and he wants it replacing. I think you're going to have to replace it as and when you can afford too, but it probably would colour my view of FIL in the future all the same, just for the way he's gone about it.

Lonesurvivor · 03/05/2018 18:40

Don't engage with fil further, leave it to dh. I'd make sure though to drop it into conversation with mil.

Bubblysqueak · 03/05/2018 18:40

If you can't get hold of Fil try ringing mil and apologise that you've upset them by breaking the glass but there is just no way you can afford to replace it. You'll then find out who is pushing this and also will probably get fil in trouble!

Vangoghsear · 03/05/2018 18:41

Suggest they claim on their accidental damage insurance, and tell them you cannot afford it because of impending maternity leave and expenses associated with baby.
I never understand why people buy very expensive glasses - sooner or later they will get broken if they are used.

expatinscotland · 03/05/2018 18:41

I'd give them back all their baby stuff and tell them to use that to buy the wine glass. Seriously.

Oldraver · 03/05/2018 18:41

Maybe you should return the Egg pushchair...tell them you are afraid of breaking it and getting the bill

FASH84 · 03/05/2018 18:42

@icantcopeanymore I'm on a few Cath kidston FB groups, I've put wishlist discontinued items on there and have been very lucky with people having them to sell, at first I thought they'd be selling already if they want to, but summer people have vast collections. It's worth a go, was it the floral or Christmas ones?

Banana8080 · 03/05/2018 18:43

Reply saying you'll transfer, but copy in DH and MIL. Should embarrass him. Should at least...

Swipe left for the next trending thread