To ask them to pay to replace my phone screen?

[Housekeeperbatcocoa]

Today at work while walking the dogs, one of them knocked it out of my hand. The screen is totally smashed and my phone is unusable. (I don't normally have it out but was trying to answer a call from my GP). I'm a private Housekeeper and walking the dogs is part of my job.

It's not insured - I've never had a phone damaged and tbh since my partner passed, money has been so tight it was an expense I couldn't afford. It's going to be at least £140 to replace the screen. (Google Pixel 6) It had a good case and screen protector but landed on a brick path.

Wibu to ask the family to either pay or claim off their house insurance? I'm using an old one at the moment but it's 3g so can't make calls!

It's kinda like saying:

I work in a chip shop and a drop of oil touched me and I dropped my phone in the fryer, can I ask the owners to buy me a new one.

I'm sorry it happened, and we are often now constrained in terms of getting contact with a GP but I don't think it's your employer's responsibility. It's just an unfortunate accident.

As an aside, if people don't believe your account they do have the option of reporting. Personally I'm finding the troll hunting tedious.

It’s a pain breaking a phone, but it is your responsibility. Saying that, I wouldn’t ask them directly but perhaps mention in passing what happened and see how they respond.

A 3G phone 'in the middle of nowhere' 🤔

I expect the excess would be more than the cost to replace the screen

@Housekeeperbatcocoa
Did you even read what I wrote? It has a case and a screen protector on

Bit bloody rude!

If you are employed it could be covered by their insurance. If you are self employed you should have your own insurance. Not having any kind of insurance is pretty silly. You have no evidence the dogs knocked it so I personally wouldn’t pay you a penny!

Well this is the OP's problem isn't it. She had a perfectly good 5G(?) phone for use 'in the middle of nowhere' but the screen has now smashed. Which is why the old 3G phone she now has to use can't make calls because she's 'in the middle of nowhere'.

Rather than trying to prove the OP is lying, I think you might be better concentrating on your reading comprehension.

That said, OP: it's unfortunate but I'm afraid this is on you.

YABU. They are paying you to walk the dogs, not wander along holding/ looking at/ on your phone. At work, your phone should be in your bag turned off.

I was thinking that.

You can get a refurbished 5g smart phone for less than that on back market op. Probably not the spec you’d like, but at least it will work, and come with a years warranty.

https://www.backmarket.co.uk/en-gb/l/5g-smartphone/a0193ba4-f128-450e-96ce-fada0321b47b#sort=prod_index_backbox_price_asc_en-gb

This is CF territory OP.

@DontMakeMeShushYou yes I realise that! I read the op ya know!

But rather than brag about the bush over who should pay blah blah blah I'd just be getting the thing repaired so I didn't have to use a bloody 3G!

Makes no difference what mumsnet say!

When will people learn that not everyone works in jobs where they get treated like misbehaving 13-year-olds in a maths lesson. It is not in the slightest bit unusual for people to have and use their personal phones whilst at work.

I don't see why that's rude.

Sounds like a pure accident rather than anyone's fault.

You were in charge of the dogs at the time so can't really hold the owners accountable.

As an owner of two vizslas that are trained I know what untrained vizslas are like. I’m surprised you didn’t hold onto your phone for dear life.

Sorry but it was your misuse .

Your employer allows you to use your personal phone while working, fine, but it doesn’t lean they are liable for you choosing to answer a call while walking the dog.
Similarly, if you chose to answer the GP’s call while washing up and the phone fell in the water, wouldn’t you blame yourself? I understand that a GP call-back is very important to answer, but you are still responsible to assess the risk first and can’t blame others for your choice to answer.

Ironically, this wouldn't have happened if your employer didn't allow you to take personal calls.

It sucks, but it isn't their responsibility.

Wow talk about raking through back posts.
Firstly OP may have been planning to replace her car with a cheaper E-bike, secondly having money earmarked for a big purchase that could save a lot of money in petrol etc. is very different than having to throw away money on an unexpected expense that only gets you back to the position you used to be in.

Thirdly how do you know how her employers got their money. Most major landowners inherit.

Maybe they can take it out of the dog’s pocket money?

Stop trying to blame everyone but yourself... even the dogs!
You knew the dogs were lively and poorly trained, you were allowed to use your phone and chose to do so. It was up to you to have insurance, so you either pay for repairs or buy a new phone, when you can. Sucks, but that's all there is to it.