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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:
Annette69 · 18/09/2018 08:24

Apologies, toddler grabbed phone. Boreme, people like you are chancers, what do you teach your children ? I split red wine down a strangers white dress about 2 years ago in a bar and I gave her £20 for the cleaning. I was taught if I break something I fix it.

Sirzy · 18/09/2018 08:27

If I knocked a strangers phone out of their hand in a bar and it smashed at the very least I would buy them a drink but even then I would consider giving some money to fix if I had enough cash!

Twinkle7 · 18/09/2018 08:34

Yes you should do the decent thing. YOU knocked it from her hand. Be a decent friend!!!

Sweetpea55 · 18/09/2018 08:47

If you cant afford all or half of the replacement cost offer her what you can afford and explain why you cant pay her anymore.

Chezza119 · 18/09/2018 09:14

Yes I agree, I’d definitely offer to pay if I broke it. Surely a friendship is more important than cash??!!

SalemBlackCat · 18/09/2018 09:46

A previous poster who mentioned swinging her head around and getting a nail in her eye is right. People bump into each other, glasses (containing drinks) slip from your hands or getting bumped or knocked. Unless she was on her phone, it should have been in a handbag or shoulder bag, why did she even have it in plain site unprotected anyway? That is what shoulder bags are for. I don't get all these people saying the OP should pay. I really don't. Accidents happen in pubs, and who holds onto their phone in a pub when they have a glass of drink and their wallet as well? She should have had in a pocket or bag. It shouldn't have been out, that is negligent and asking for trouble. The friend needs to be more careful.

Matilda190 · 18/09/2018 09:50

Crikey, I hope I don’t have any friends like you. At least offer her something towards the cost.

Vegeetas · 18/09/2018 09:53

I am struggling to believe half the replies I am reading... As a decent person if you break it you pay for it. At the very least you cough up half. Even if your friend had a case / screen protector there is a good chance it would still have broken. You knocked it out of her hand so it IS your fault accident or not.

WTF is up with the "she shouldn't have nice things so its her own fault attitude"? I would expect that from my 6 year old but a grown woman?

pumpkinyael · 18/09/2018 10:10

she shouldn't have nice things so its her own fault attitude

I agree, it has a nasty undertone. Blaming her for having a "nice" phone and going out if she can't pay 80£ for repairing it...? More of a "how dare she be so frivolous" if she's poor?

SalemBlackCat · 18/09/2018 10:28

No it's not about having nice things, it's about not being so careless with your own property. Interesting so many people are pouncing on the OP for an accident. How about the friend's responsibility over her own property? When does personal responsibility come into it? When do we stop blaming the OP for an accident and start suggesting her friend be accountable and responsible. I see two sides, but most of these posts are only one side. Well I say that a person should have personal accountability and responsibility for their possessions. Surely that is not to much to ask? Well apparently it is on here.

DistanceCall · 18/09/2018 10:30

Even if your friend had a case / screen protector there is a good chance it would still have broken.

The phone works. Its screen is cracked, but it works.

It's the owner's fault for not insuring it or buying a screen protector. Phones drop all the time.

SalemBlackCat · 18/09/2018 10:33

It's the owner's fault for not insuring it or buying a screen protector. Phones drop all the time.

Exactly, but regardless of if it had a screen protector, it should have been in a shoulder bag/handbag or in a pocket. It should not have been out the first place unless she was on a call.

AlexanderHamilton · 18/09/2018 10:36

If you break a valuable item belonging to someone else you should pay.

Phone insurance has so many exclusions its not worth paying for.

Feelthethunder · 18/09/2018 10:36

You should definitely pay, or ask if she’d like to go halves.

My partner knocked my phone out my hand a few days after I’d just got it, the screen smashed and he offered to go halves. I paid for it myself and he took me for a night out.

Accident or not you should offer to help mend it.

pumpkinyael · 18/09/2018 10:38

It should not have been out the first place unless she was on a call.

She might have been sending a message. Checking her calendar, writing an email...

Phones aren't just used to call people (nowadays...)

CrazyAllAroundMe · 18/09/2018 10:42

Of course you should pay. I don't even know why it's a question. If My child smashes a window by accident I'd pay. I hit a car by accident I'd have to pay the excess and insurance the rest. Whether I can afford any of these situations is irrelevant.

Talith · 18/09/2018 10:43

Yup. You broke it so you should pay for the screen repair.

prh47bridge · 18/09/2018 11:32

It's the owner's fault for not insuring it or buying a screen protector

Just to repeat that insurance is a red herring. If the owner had insured the screen the insurers would pay for the repair but could then come after the OP to recover their money. Insurance does not magically make the OP's liability go away.

A screen protector may be a sensible investment but that is also a red herring in terms of liability.

Legally this is not the owner's fault. If the owner took the OP to court she would be able to recover the full cost of repair from the OP.

treezylover · 18/09/2018 11:37

Eugh, this is a horrible thread. It isn’t about ‘insurance’ or ‘legal rights’, it’s about being kind and being a friend. My kids would behave better than a lot of the people on this thread.

RhythmStix · 18/09/2018 11:38

If I was the friend I would be severing ties with you, OP, seeing as you are grabby and selfish. Some friend. Hmm

DontBoreMe · 18/09/2018 11:38

Apologies, toddler grabbed phone.

Lucky for them they didn't break it eh?? Cos then you'd be selling their teddies to pay for it........ Grin

prh47bridge · 18/09/2018 11:46

It isn’t about ‘insurance’ or ‘legal rights’, it’s about being kind and being a friend

I agree, but some of those posting about insurance seem to think that the lack of insurance affects the legal position. Regardless of legalities, the OP broke it, she should pay. It really should be that simple. I am amazed that so many people try to find excuses for not paying.

Vegeetas · 18/09/2018 11:47

Was she balancing the phone on her forehead shouting "I'm a cyber-unicorn" when it happend? Nope, she was possibly texting someone.

Was she juggling with it along with a chainsaw and a hand axe? No, she might have been checking the time as a lot of people don't bother with a wristwatch now.

Whatever the reason she had her phone out is irrelevant and the decent thing to do is help with the repair costs at the very least. People need to stop fixating on the how it happened and focus on making it right. The whole attitude of "well yes the accident was caused by me but think about it, YOU are the one who is really to blame as you were there!" is redonkulous. Think about it.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 18/09/2018 11:50

Salem, the friend wasn't carrless with her own property though - she didn't break it.
It's like saying if you get mugged, it's your own fault for taking money/jewellery out in public! Phones are an essential part of life now - the friend is not unreasonable for using hers in public.

OoomPaPa · 18/09/2018 11:52

I am a financial analyst and work on "packaging" insurance and such on a daily basis. The "she should have had insurance" is erroneous. I don't insure my phone, for the simple reason that insurance on most phones does not pay - it is actually mostly worth the punt in NOT insuring the phone and paying up in the unlikely event. Actually, most insurance costs more over a 2 year period than the cost of a brand new phone, and is designed to make the insurer money, not save you it.

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