Am I a total skinflint?

[toomuchtooold]

A kid in DD's class grabbed the hood of her winter jacket and ripped it - not just the seam, the hood as well. We're in Germany where the kids all (it's not obligatory but almost everyone has it) pay 1 euro for accident and liability insurance, so I went into school to see if I could claim for her jacket on our insurance or on the insurance of the kid that grabbed her jacket. The class teacher found out about this and has now contacted the mum of the boy who's phoned me up and offered to pay for the jacket. I was like, great, thanks, shall we claim on the insurance? And she was like ach no it's not worth it for a "kleinigkeit" (like, a little thing) of 25 euros. (Sorry, that was long, but that's the punchline). I feel quite stingy now, but I don't think I could let 25 euros go! Am I a skinflint? Would you write off 25 euros rather than fill in an insurance form?

The insurance has been paid and claiming doesn't incur an excess or increased premiums. Why on earth shouldn't OP or the other parents claim?

This questioning of OP on her decision to claim for €25 instead of writing it off is bizarre.

OP, I agree with you. The parents should tell their son that his violence has caused parents to pay for a replacement coat.

toomuchtooold Can I ask, is the €1 per year or per term or what? Seems a v low premium and to also not have any repercussions on making a claim too - sounds a fab plan.

Glad your faith is restored. 😀

I'd be embarrassed that my child has caused the damage and want to 'make it right' as quickly as possible. If that involved transferring the money directly to the parent then that's what I'd do.

I'm just interested in how much other people consider to be an amount small enough to write off

It's all personal and relative though, isn't it? For some people, it will be €1000, for some it will be €10. I don't think you should be concerned about it though. If someone was worried about a figure that to me is very small, I would assume they have less money and therefore I'd be more happy to help.

Meh. I'd just sew up the hood.

I wouldn’t accept the money . Kids will be kids things get ripped .

My way of thinking in these situations ironically, is that the amount is almost irrelevant, whether it’s £25 or £2500.

The fact is that coat is going to need to be replaced, and short of you claiming or taking the money the parent has offered to pay, then you have to pay the money for said replacement, and of course it begs the question, WHY should you - it’s not your fault?

You could be a millionaire, but the money you would spend on a replacement is money you could have used on something else and will never be able to.

Can I ask, is the €1 per year or per term or what?

It's per year, and it's fixed - I think it's subsidised by the state (it must be). I mean we'll see now how good it is in practice but it sounds like an awesome deal, doesn't it?

OP I have no idea who your Haftpflichtversicherung is with (liability insurance) but we pay over 100 Euro for a family of 5, and it would absolutely go up with a claim. I would use my policy if my kid accidentally damaged a car, bike, i-pad or posh phone but no way would I claim on it for a coat when I can pay you 25, done, dusted and my policy stays the same. Who are you insured with for a euro, no excess and no increase and will you PM me your broker please?!

Haftpflichtversicherung

Germans must rock at spelling bees.

Buchstabierwettbewerbe?! Ja, natürlich! nein, eigentlich nicht

Ozzy it's not a private insurance, it's a school one done by Baden-Wurttemberg: can't find an official link but this is it. I think Bayern does it as well.

You could give it all up and go and work for the Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft

Buchstabierwettbewerbe

Haha the word for spelling bees should be in the spelling bee. And so should LaDaronne's word

Ah thanks, cannot find it for Bayern. Would definitely use if had it. Although I do hate a form, has to be said

My way of thinking in these situations ironically, is that the amount is almost irrelevant, whether it’s £25 or £2500.

The fact is that coat is going to need to be replaced, and short of you claiming or taking the money the parent has offered to pay, then you have to pay the money for said replacement, and of course it begs the question, WHY should you - it’s not your fault?

You could be a millionaire, but the money you would spend on a replacement is money you could have used on something else and will never be able to
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I try not to write off anything - if there is a way to claim it I will. I am certainly not mean and try and be quite generous to family/friends but why give away money for a little effort would by my view.

What these posters said.

If someone damaged my things, it'd be up to them to replace it/be out of pocket, not me. The amount is irrelevant.