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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not pay for friend to get her phone fixed after I smashed it?

507 replies

katie3347 · 16/09/2018 11:17

Friday night me and my friend went out for drinks.
We were stood at the bar and I turned around quick and knocked my friends phone out of her hand,it hit the floor and smashed the screen.
It's still working but the screen is totally cracked.

She was a bit upset saying she didn't have insurance and couldn't afford to get it fixed.
I can't afford it either and shouldn't she have had insurance on such a expensive phone?
Anyway I haven't mentioned it since ..aibu to just not mention it again?
I know she probably expected me to pay to get it fixed but it was a accident and she was the one who let go once I hit her arm.

OP posts:
Rememberfluffthecat · 17/09/2018 23:33

Of course you should pay. You broke it!!

2senoughforme · 17/09/2018 23:39

Yes you are being unreasonable.

tiredtiredtiredtired · 17/09/2018 23:47

Where's OP gone?

smotheroffive · 17/09/2018 23:54

I've had wine glasses broken, red wine spilt on ivory damask sofa, and so on...would never expect someone to pay, but did loan very expensive camera with large detachable flash which they broke and I think they should have replaced that, as was worth £200 ish just for flash.
I would offer though, and £80 isn't massive cost to offer something towards, like others said pay a bit at a time cos paying half wouldn't break your bank, it is only a night out?

Sb74 · 17/09/2018 23:57

Well, if someone did that to you, how would you feel? The decent thing to do is offer to pay, friend or not. People have different morals so you will get different answers but the right thing to do is pay her. I teach my kids to say sorry if they hurt someone whether they meant it or not. Intent is not the issue, the consequence of your actions is. Lots of people don’t insure their phones. That’s not the point though. It was your fault albeit unintentionally. If you damage someone’s property you should pay, especially if it’s s friend. Maybe you should buy her a bunch of flowers too to make up for the upset it has caused her and your lack of consideration shown so far.

Bashun · 18/09/2018 00:00

If I were your friend, something expensive of yours would have an accident since accidents happen, right? ( Shrug)

1forAll74 · 18/09/2018 03:05

Yes. you really should pay, or at least pay something, You need to speak to your friend and discuss a possible outcome, or a way to pay etc.

TheDowagerCuntess · 18/09/2018 03:27

This has 'reverse' written all over it, as no-one would be so daft as to think they weren't liable. Of course your friend should pay you for breaking your phone.

On the off chance it's not a reverse, no wonder you haven't come back to the thread.

Ethsmum · 18/09/2018 06:28

You could afford to go out drinking? I agree with blondebakingmumma, you should offer to pay something.
Spin it around, if she broke your phone would you like help to repair yours? I think you would!!!

Benjaminbuttonschild · 18/09/2018 06:56

I love how the first few responses are "don't pay, it was an accident" then the rest of the thread is "pay, you CF" 

Does make me wonder if this is a reverse since op has vanished.

Come on, @katie3347 what was the outcome?

Underappreciatedtococreator · 18/09/2018 07:26

Sorry it’s her own fault for not having insurance. She wouldn’t drive without insurance so why leave the house with an expensive item with out it. I don’t understand why people are saying op should pay. It’s not ops fault her friend is an idiot for not having insurance.

CantankerousCamel · 18/09/2018 07:27

Ben I thought it might be a reverse

MaisyPops · 18/09/2018 07:33

CantankerousCamel
If it is a reverse then I hope the friend realsied how careless they were having an expensive device, no insurance, no screen protector and no case only to get said device out in a busy place where it's common to be knocked.
What would they do if some random person bumped them in a bar? Hunt down a stranger and demand payment?

(I'd offer something towards it by the way as it's a friend but a unprotected phone being damaged when the owner opts to get it out in a crowded place having taken zero responsibility to protect it is the owner's problem to me.)

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 18/09/2018 07:36

To use the insurance analogy, if you cause an accident, it is your own insurance which pays. Not the other party's.
People need to take responsibility for their oen actions, instead of passing the buck and putting blame on the person who was minding her own business, when the OP knocked into her.

MumsTheWordYouKnow · 18/09/2018 07:37

I would offer some money towards it. As someone said if you can afford drinks out you can afford to give her some money. She may well appreciate the offer but turn it down. At least you’d be showing you were a decent considerate friend.

bartnike · 18/09/2018 07:41

I think you should pay for the phone replacement or at least contribute. Ad if you could go out and could afford drinks you probably could afford to at least pay half. Just dont go out few times. She doesn't need to have insurance, it is her choice, but you are the one who knocked the phone out, i get it is accident, but sometimes we need to pay for the accidents.

MaisyPops · 18/09/2018 07:42

I leave an iPad without a case on the edge of my table and have tile flooring. Friend comes through and their bag clips the edge of my iPad and it hits the floor.
Yes my friend was clumsy but it's my responsibility for putting my iPad somewhere safe and my responsibility for putting a protective case on it.

So my friend may offer something towards it, but the scale of the damage is really my fault because I opted to put an unprotected device somewhere it might get knocked.

PolarBearkshire · 18/09/2018 07:46

What a friend you are?? YOU broke it. YOU pay it.
And if you can drink - you definitely can pay for the repairs.
Zero morals...

PolarBearkshire · 18/09/2018 07:50

If it was a stranger then yes friend would regret not having an insurance. But you are “a friend” so, should not feel so self entitled with zero remorse causing that damage?!! As a friend you should pay or at least discuss and pay halves- thats the very minimum...

JollyAndBright · 18/09/2018 07:53

If not for your actions your friends phone would still be in perfect condition.

Why shouldn’t you pay for it?accident or not you caused the damage.

This thread is ridiculous, I can’t believe there are no many selfish CFs that would refuse to pay for something they caused.

ferrier · 18/09/2018 07:58

Nope. You didn't break it. Friend should have been looking after it better. Busy bar - hold onto it tight or put it away.

DistanceCall · 18/09/2018 08:01

If you have an expensive phone, you get insurance. Or at least a screen protector.

No, you shouldn't pay. You didn't break it - you weren't using it and dropped it, or were negligent. It was an accidental move by both of you.

DontBoreMe · 18/09/2018 08:08

She can be like everyone else & use her phone with a cracked screen.

When did people become such chancers? You drop it, tough shit - and I'd class that as an "assisted drop". If you'd slapped it out of her hand deliberately she'd have a case....

DontBoreMe · 18/09/2018 08:09

I can’t believe there are no many selfish CFs that would refuse to pay for something they caused.

So what happens if it's a stranger that turns round (as they're entitled to do in a bar) and someone who's not holding on to their phone properly drops it??

You going to start trying to tell a stranger they owe you money because you can't keep hold of your stuff?? You know how that'd end....

As I said above, when did people become such chancers???

Annette69 · 18/09/2018 08:20

Boreme, you are the chancer! Devoid of morals and

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