To ask for replacement for item broken by M

[susannag1978]

I’ve been really unwell for the past few weeks and the isolation has been getting to me so my mum came round tonight for some company.

I’ve been in bed a lot as I’ve been ill and it’s where I feel most comfortable and I moved the living room tv to my room during recovery. So we decided to watch a film in my room.

My mum is a larger woman and when she came back from the bathroom she slammed down on my bed, snapping six of the wooden slats of a king size bed. She’s embarrassed and apologised and left shortly after.

The whole thing has just completely collapsed, I don’t think it’s repairable. We were both slightly shocked and not much was said.

I imagine tomorrow we’ll discuss it but how to approach it delicately? I’m a single parent and a low earner and I definitely can’t afford to replace it just now. AIBU asking her to pay for it or at least contribute?

My mum is a larger woman and when she came back from the bathroom she slammed down on my bed did she actually slam down or did she sit down

@Flocon

My mum is a larger woman and when she came back from the bathroom she slammed down on my bed did she actually slam down or did she sit down

She properly slammed down.

Some people do jump into bed. My DH does it. The springs on his side are gone.

It wouldn't just break in one go? What size are we talking? It still wouldn't be possible maybe they were old and needed replacing and a bit of force broke them?

Obviously she shouldn't pay, beds shouldn't just break and yes it's fixable, just go and get some replacement slats from ebay, amazon, b&q.

It’s difficult to break a bed, it’s meant to take significant weight!

Ask her to pay towards a new bed frame as she broke yours and you can’t afford to replace it.

So mum need to pay to fix bed

The rest of it is irrelevant

Mum broke bed. Mum pays to fix bed

@flyingdream

It wouldn't just break in one go? What size are we talking? It still wouldn't be possible maybe they were old and needed replacing and a bit of force broke them?

It’s maybe 5 years old and it was solid wood and I’ve never had an issue with it before.

Thank you to whoever suggested replacement slats- didn’t know you could buy them on their own!

You can buy either a set of slats or individual ones.

@Forrandomposts

You can buy either a set of slats or individual ones.

Thank you! I was in full panic mode thinking I needed a full new frame

Yes you can buy replacement slats. Not a problem. I think maybe 25£ should do it

If they are standard wooden slats you need 6 pine 2x4s and just cut them to size and swap for the broken ones. It's really simple I've done it plenty of times (dc were bed jumpers)

If it’s just slats you can buy them separately, if it’s the frame as well, see if you could get it repaired.

It’s just the slats- thank you all so much!

Even if it were more I always think bloody hell the stuff we broke when we were kids ! No way would I be able to ask her to pay although she might well offer. Mbrilliant there’s a cheap fix. Mid she’s likely to be worried or embarrassed herself call her and let her know it’s likely an easy fix. Poor woman coming round to help you feel better. Poor you too. Good luck with the slats.

Aww, I think your dm was embarrassed bless her, but she shouldn’t have thrown herself on the bed.
Hope you’re feeling better

YANBU to ask her to pay for this. A king-size bed should be fit for purpose, and I doubt your DM did a full smack down on it. The slats must have been a bit feeble IMO.

@HeronLanyon

Even if it were more I always think bloody hell the stuff we broke when we were kids ! No way would I be able to ask her to pay although she might well offer. Mbrilliant there’s a cheap fix. Mid she’s likely to be worried or embarrassed herself call her and let her know it’s likely an easy fix. Poor woman coming round to help you feel better. Poor you too. Good luck with the slats.

If it was the full bed I couldn’t afford to replace it at all. Slats are fine and I won’t ask for the money.

Replacement slats from IKEA. They aren't expensive

@HiJenny35

Obviously she shouldn't pay, beds shouldn't just break and yes it's fixable, just go and get some replacement slats from ebay, amazon, b&q.

Beds are rated for the maximum weight they can take. In practice heavier people are generally OK as long as they don't plop down heavily (amongst other things!)

As a holiday cottage owner I actually bought much stronger ones as our guests come in all shapes and sizes and it's not unusual for slats to be broken on inexpensive beds.

@frazzledasarock

It’s difficult to break a bed, it’s meant to take significant weight!

Ask her to pay towards a new bed frame as she broke yours and you can’t afford to replace it.

It’s genuinely not, if it’s inexpensive, my husband and I did it years ago. I was about nine stone he was about twelve. We just sat down at rhe same time and it snapped several of the slats.

@Colderthanever I didn’t realise king sized beds could break so easily.

You’d want and expect king sized beds to take a lot of strain and bed in general to last.

My sister did this to my sons bed, she is quite heavy . You can just buy new slats .

You can't ask a guest in your home to pay for an accidental breakage unless she behaved negligently. If the bed was new then you could claim under warranty, if not on house insurance.

Why not ask to borrow some money to replace the slats and she may offer to just give you the money.

I’m quite surprised you didn’t laugh about it and talk about it there and then.
You’re very close to be lying on your bed watching a film (me and my mum wouldn’t do this) but not talked about it at the time (me and my mum would have laughed and my mum would have probably said she’s so sorry she’ll pay for it and I’d might have said don’t worry about it).