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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not have insurance for my child

87 replies

Nevermakeit · 01/12/2020 16:14

Just called up by another mum. Her DS and my DD (both aged 5) apparently bumped into each other in the playground last week, and her child knocked his tooth.

Tooth now wobbly and gum is bruised, and she has contacted her insurance for dental work - now or over the next 10 years (that is apparently the duration of the claim). I should mention, she is an expat and apparently has great insurance cover!

She is now saying her insurer needs to be put in touch with mine, as my daughter is involved in the incident. Problem is, we don't have insurance for that (I guess it would be personal liability?) - either for her or for us.
We have house insurance, health insurance (through work), and car insurance obviously.
What do others have ? Do you have insurance for yourselves or your DC, in case you accidentally hurt someone or damaged something in some way? I am suddenly wondering if we are being reckless and foolhardy not having some sort of personal liability insurance! (it's definitely not covered by our home insurance, I have just checked).

OP posts:
Nottherealslimshady · 01/12/2020 17:12

Well we'd go to the NHS wouldn't we?

Do they not have free healthcare in France? Or can they not access free healthcare here? Why would you insure your child for dental work when she gets it for free already?

I don't even know what it would be called, public liability insurance for people? I know you can get public liability insurance for dogs but I don't get what that would pay for as we dont pay for healthcare, dry cleaning, loss of wages I guess?

And why would he need dental care for a wobbly milk tooth? Surely it's not an adult tooth?

Sparklesocks · 01/12/2020 17:14

I don't think many people have liability policies on their kids!

Accidents happen, it's part of being/having children. They run, they fall, they bump into things, they haven't yet mastered motor skills and spatial awareness. You just need to explain to her that you don't have it.

Starlightstarbright1 · 01/12/2020 17:14

Just tell her you have no insurance- don't engage. 5 year olds bump into each other.

DuesToTheDirt · 01/12/2020 17:17

The kid is 5. Surely they only have baby teeth? How can there be 10 years of future dental work?

And even if there was, no chance, she's barking.

Tadpolesandfroglets · 01/12/2020 17:17

This is clearly ridiculous. It was an accident.

Clymene · 01/12/2020 17:17

That's mad. Also it's a baby tooth.

myneighboursarerude · 01/12/2020 17:18

Wtaf.

No you won’t be making your five year old available for a discussion with a stranger’s doctor.

What on earth did you say to her?! She sounds like she’s after a payout.

Original poster
Nevermakeit · 01/12/2020 17:20

They are claiming against sort of pre-emptive damage: Xrays and various other checks to check if the root of the permanent tooth has been damage, and then if there is damage to the permanent tooth, they have the next 10 years to make a claim.
I also think it is totally excessive obviously, but I think that seems to be a bit of a french thing, they are highly medicalised. But it puts me in an awkward situation as I don't want some bill landing on my doorstep in 7 years time or whatever! She is telling me her insurers are claiming they won't come after us, but I am very uncomfortable with having my DD's name on a claim like that.

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/12/2020 17:21

Did it happen at school?

yotoed · 01/12/2020 17:21

I thought it was illegal to hold insurance for a child?
Is it something similar to private dental, like Denplan?
They're minors, surely they can't be held accountable for accidental damage in a playground? I mean, how would that even stand up in small claims court!

I would assume she's bluffing Confused and wants you to settle the bill.

Original poster
Nevermakeit · 01/12/2020 17:22

I have said I will talk to the school, and try and hand the issue to them - as the collision happened at school (and first I heard of it was from the other mum, not the school), seems to me they are the ones who should be dealing with insurance etc...

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/12/2020 17:24

Absoloutley hand this over to the school.

MotherOfCrocodiles · 01/12/2020 17:25

It is standard to have this kind of insurance in other countries like (I think) Germany and the Netherlands, and people from there might be shocked that it is not in the UK and struggle to accept that you are not a crazy reckless person.

My opinion on the other hand is that obviously the rules of the country you live in apply, not the rules of the country you came from, so whilst it's understandable to be surprised she is going to have to accept that no, people here really don't have liability insurance, it's normal and it doesn't make you a bad person - or she is BU. I tend to think if you move internationally its on you to get a guide for expats or something so you are aware of this stuff.

I think, based on zero legal knowledge, that it reflects a difference in terms of whose 'problem' an accident is. In the UK if you are the victim of a 'pure' accident (no negligence or intent) it is your own problem and you yourself would need to have insurance to cover such eventualities if what you have by default (NHS etc) is not satisfactory. In some other countries, if you are the cause of a 'pure' accident you are liable and need insurance to cover eventualities.

Sweettea1 · 01/12/2020 17:27

Dental surgery for a 5 year old wobbly tooth yes it might have become wobbly a little sooner than expected but it happens tooth will fall out an new one grow no surgery needed tell her you don't have this insurance never heard of it an then don't engage with her anymore sounds bonkers.

TicTacTwo · 01/12/2020 17:27

I lived in Germany and it was normal to have that insurance there. It's used for cases like if your child damaged someone's car by riding their bicycle into it.

It's not standard in the UK (luckily). It's usually dealt as an accident and quite frankly can she even prove that your child was to blame?

WhereverIGoddamnLike · 01/12/2020 17:32

Tell her to get a grip. Just explain that it was an accident and you wint be giving her any details. If she wants to claim against you then she can take your child to court, where she will lose.

Clymene · 01/12/2020 17:35

There is zero evidence that your child was in any way responsible. I would just say that it's not usual to have insurance in the U.K. and to take it up with the school office.

Don't engage further - it's not your responsibility to talk to the school either.

GaryTheDemon · 01/12/2020 17:37

Tell her you accept no liability and won’t be engaging with this. I would put that in writing to her.

Honestly, this is insane!

AlwaysCheddar · 01/12/2020 17:39

It’s not an issue as you’re in U.K.

NoKnit · 01/12/2020 17:42

Yes in some countries it is common to have this sort of thing. However not for a case like this. As someone else says if your child smashes a window, knocks their bike into a car etc.

I am pretty certain in this case the insurers need to contact the school, or get the mother concerned to get a report from school. Your child was at school at the time so it isn't your problem.

Oh and this has happened to loads of kids, they just have a gap for longer no surgery needed (or probably recommended at that age)

BlueThursday · 01/12/2020 17:44

Tell her to get to France

formerbabe · 01/12/2020 17:52

If it were me I wouldn't engage at all with her

whataballbag · 01/12/2020 17:55

I've never heard anything quite so ridiculous

Derbee · 01/12/2020 17:56

Don’t engage. She sounds ignorant, or ridiculous, or both

DoraTheImplorer · 01/12/2020 17:56

she is now saying her insurer needs to be put in touch with mine

Her insurance just probably want to check you don't have some sort of liability insurance for your kid. They'll probably be surprised if you have. I don't know anyone who has. They're probably just asking as a formality.

Just reply with:
"Not quite sure what sort of insurance you mean. We don't have any. We'd just use the NHS if DC had an accident."

And leave it at that. Don't get involved any further. If they want to get onto the school, or try to make some sort of claim against you or the school, good luck to them. But they'll get nowhere.