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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay £480 to fix dd's friend's phone

580 replies

FarangGirl · 19/02/2022 14:17

Dd (14 yo) was with her friends and accidentally hit a friend in the arm. He had his phone in his hand and dropped it. Apparently it will cost £480 to repair!!! His parents want us to pay this. I think this is ridiculous. First, friend dropped the phoen, it wasn't like dd was using it. Second. If you're going to give your kid a stupidly expensive phoen, you should insure it and have a bullet proof cover.
Aibu?

OP posts:
Sunseasun · 19/02/2022 17:44

Why do teenagers need mega expensive phones. Also if you can afford one then you can get a cover for it. Ridiculous

WomblingWilma · 19/02/2022 17:45

Your dd broke their ds’s phone.

Absolute balderdash!

Explain how the OPs DD ‘broke’ the phone?

supermoonrising · 19/02/2022 17:45

I’d offer a set amount, say, £100 or £200 as a good will gesture I I could afford it. But I’d make clear that it was a complete accident and the onus is really on the boy to help prevent expensive accidents by holding his extremely expensive phone more securely/put it in a better case/purchase insurance. People knock/brush into each other all the time. What if someone is holding a Rolex in their hands and you accidentally brushed into them on a busy street? Is that person owed ten grand?

AskingforaBaskin · 19/02/2022 17:47

I would straight up tell them no and that it's Nothing to do with you. Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

In this case giving a teen with weak grip an expensive phone without a solid case.

CoastalWave · 19/02/2022 17:51

Erm. That's what insurance is for.

I wouldn't even offer half! It was an accident. Tough. They shouldn't have an expensive phone without insurance.

CatNoBag · 19/02/2022 17:52

I've dropped an iPhone from a third floor window and there wasn't a scratch on it. Those things are indestructible...

If you're willing to pay anything, I'd ask to see the phone first and then offer to get it fixed at a knock off shop if it really is properly broken. The only reason to go through the (expensive) Apple shop option to fix is to protect your warranty, and they're claiming it doesn't have warranty so there's no point paying for it.

thaegumathteth · 19/02/2022 17:54

Ds (15) has quite an expensive phone and we would never have bought it if we weren't able to insure it too. I'd not be asking for any money from anyone tbh, even if it was caused by someone being silly because, well, teenagers are silly by definition.

Honeyroar · 19/02/2022 17:55

@BlanketsBanned

Where it was bought shouldnt affect the warranty, why would it. I would look up apple conditions and check for yourself.
It does. I’ve bought plenty of iPads abroad over the years - they’re much cheaper but they are often only under warranty in the country they’re purchased in. That’s the risk you take for getting them cheaper imo.

I’d buy them a shatterproof screen saver and a rubber, drop proof case like builders have as a gesture- to protect his replacement phone when he invariably drops that one.

Cognoscenti · 19/02/2022 17:56

You shouldn't be paying anything whatsoever, I'm surprised they had the brass neck to ask!
It should be insured, and if not, if you're giving your child such an expensive phone be prepared to pay out if it's damaged. 🤷‍♀️

Borderterrierpuppy · 19/02/2022 17:58

Nope, should be in a good case and insured both of which are their responsibility.

PeakyBlender · 19/02/2022 17:58

If it's got a smashed screen the warranty won't count anyway as they'll say that's what damaged the workings.

She's lying about £480 though. The 12 has been out ages and they're newer 13s out now. She probably wants it upgraded

MissMaple82 · 19/02/2022 17:58

It was an accident, she wasn't being negligent. Don't pay it, they are pulling a fast one. It should be insured, if so offer to go halves on the excess, if its not insured, tough titties!

PeakyBlender · 19/02/2022 17:59

Also even the gorilla glass screen protectors and best cases don't always save them. It depends what bit hits the floor and the angle.

StaplesCorner · 19/02/2022 18:00

@CatNoBag I've dropped an iPhone from a third floor window - did the third floor window offer to pay for any repairs...?

Howshouldibehave · 19/02/2022 18:00

£480-what bloody chancers! I wouldn’t be paying that.

What have you said to the parents?

Mirw · 19/02/2022 18:06

If it was a genuine accident, there is nothing for your family to pay. That would be saying she did it deliberately. If it is not insured, the lesson is have expensive phone, insure it, or repairs will cost a lot of money!! Apple charge just under what it costs for a new product so the customer will buy new rather than get a repair. Apple is so not green and only there for Apple! Everyone knows that!

PseudoplasticFluid · 19/02/2022 18:07

If you buy a stupidly expensive phone for your child, make sure it has a decent cover and good insurance. That's it. I wouldn't pay anything towards it.

Pr1mr0se · 19/02/2022 18:08

Are they very rich and the kind who never pay their way?

Definitely should claim on the insurance they no doubt already have. I think they might be trying it on just a tad....

gettingolderandgrumpy · 19/02/2022 18:11

No it was a accident, If you are walking along with a phone in hand then you should put it away pocket / bag . It sounds to me the person owning the phone was just as at fault as it’s his responsibility to keep it safe. I’d offer half reasonable costs of repair but £400 is cf imo .

CatNoBag · 19/02/2022 18:11

[quote StaplesCorner]**@CatNoBag* I've dropped an iPhone from a third floor window* - did the third floor window offer to pay for any repairs...?[/quote]
Not a single cent... (luckily it didn't land on anyone's head, but everyone at street level who saw it land were amazed it was still in one piece)

Schlerp · 19/02/2022 18:12

An iPhone 12 screen repair is about £260 )not
Much variation worldwide) through apple. Face recognition won’t work if done through an unauthorised third party (we were caught out that way). Sometimes when a phone requires multiple repairs they’ll offer a refurbished phone at a fixed cost (was about £250 five years ago)

It’s a hard one OP as if it was truly an accident and the boy wasn’t taking measures to protect his phone then his negligence in protecting and handling the phone caused the damage. Anyone could have easily knocked him in passing.

I think the parents have a real cheek demanding that much for an accidental knock where he was equally as careless with his phone handling

Florenz · 19/02/2022 18:14

How much does the phone cost for it to cost £480 to repair?

LemonSwan · 19/02/2022 18:19

We have had touch screen phones for the best part of a decade.

If by now they haven't figured out you need either excellent insurance and/or a sturdy case then thats their problem.

TolkiensFallow · 19/02/2022 18:19

Their son dropped it and it broke. I wouldn’t be paying.

Crimesean · 19/02/2022 18:20

@Itsalmostanaccessory

Well, she shouldn't be waving her arms around. That is silly.

Pay half.

That's ridiculous. It's a normal human action - gesticulating is part of normal conversation.

OP, it was clearly an accident. I'd offer to pay the excess on the insurance as a gesture to avoid a falling out, but if they're stupid enough to give a teenager an expensive phone without insurance they can feck off.