My Lost Laptop

[rainbowsandcloudyskies]

I am a teacher. In January, my laptop was either stolen or I lost it on the very short walk to my car. This is not great I know. I offered to pay for it at the time. Nobody said I had to and I was given an old laptop that was going spare to replace it. It works fine. Nearly 5 months on, I was leaving work, and the office secretary said “How would you like to pay for the laptop? Your new one has arrived”. She said this in an office full of senior leaders who kept very quiet. Would I be unreasonable to not pay for it? Don’t know if I even have a choice but at this point I can’t afford it.

Surely there is insurance?

If they did not mention a price and they just went ahead and ordered it then I wouldn't pay. You did offer but they should of checked the price with you.

Just say you don't need it because the one you have is more than adequate.

Tell them you know nothing about a new laptop as nothing was discussed. Say that perhaps they have mistaken you for someone who has already agreed on the price.

Then see what they say to that.

Surely they insure these items, particularly as they are in a school where loss or theft is a higher risk.

You shouldn't have offered to pay for it at all. And I wouldn't pay for it now.

Yes, it's unfortunate that it was lost, but sometimes that happens. Unless you were negligent, or this is the third one that you lost, then this is just an unfortunate thing that can happen.

Their alternative is to give you a desktop PC, then it can't get lost because it never leaves the office. (This is slightly facetious, as clearly that won't happen, but that is the balance - you take work with you, they take the risk of loss).

They should have insurance, of course you don't pay

We don't have insurance in our schools - the cost would be prohibitive . Did you sign a laptop agreement when you received the original laptop? That normally states what you are responsible for. We would expect any loss or damage to be paid for, but the market value of the lost one, not the new one.