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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask them to pay to replace my phone screen?

357 replies

Housekeeperbatcocoa · 26/07/2023 01:08

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!

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 26/07/2023 19:19

I think given that you were using your phone while you were working, you should pay for the repair yourself. With all my kids, I have found that a new screen is around £30.

Bluevelvetsofa · 26/07/2023 19:23

You could try asking your employer. Do you have a work phone as well as a personal one?

Would it have been possible to take the dogs out at a time when you weren’t expecting a call from the GP. I know that they can’t be precise about times, but it might have been wise to be at home during the time frame of the call.

JenWillsiam · 26/07/2023 19:41

Housekeeperbatcocoa · 26/07/2023 16:29

I think all I've done is explain what happened. Maybe I'm just fed up of people inventing their own narrative and assuming that everything is the same everywhere?

Show quote history

That isn’t what’s happening though.

you were working. Your employers let you use the phone for personal reasons. Your phone got broken. How is that their fault? If you were using it for work and some negligence on their behalf led to the damage sure. But none of that applies. If you had been in full control of the dogs and not using your phone whilst working it would not have happened. These were all your choices. It’s your responsibility. It’s weird you think anything else.

Nomorechipsforme · 26/07/2023 19:42

If you have a good relationship with your employers and you explain what happened they may offer to fund it, especially if they know your circumstances financially. If they do not offer. I think you should do what HumourReplacementTherapy suggests. They won't want to claim on insurance as it would be more than the excess.

2jacqi · 26/07/2023 19:47

to be honest, you should never have a phone in your hand if you are walking dogs!! definitely not the employers fault so cant expect them to claim on their house insurance. where do you go for phone repairs at those prices?? much cheaper than that

Wobbly99 · 26/07/2023 19:50

You could explain what happened to them and see what they say, if they are incredibly generous they may offer to help... however to be completely honest I do agree with what most people are saying here I absolutely wouldn't ask your employees to replace the phone.

roarrfeckingroar · 26/07/2023 20:06

I can't believe you think the family is in any way liable

cabbageking · 26/07/2023 20:13

I would ask the person who had or did not have control of the dogs when the accident happened. I think that was you.

Kteeb1 · 26/07/2023 20:29

I really feel for you. To be without a phone and not be able to replace it is awful. You will be able to pick up a cheaper refurbished one or maybe even one of your friends has an old phone you could use? Your employer isn't liable though. As some has suggested your best bet it to mention it and see if they offer. I would stop short of requesting as its really not that reasonable and you may find relations with your employer sour and you don't need that.

Bangolads · 26/07/2023 20:31

If they give you permission to be on your phone that doesn’t then make them liable for your phone. You are still liable for the risk whether it’s their dogs or something else on their premises. No you shouldn’t ask them to contribute. We all have to field Doctor’s stuff around work. That’s life not an excuse. I’m sorry you’re having a hard time.

Echio · 26/07/2023 20:33

People have been quite mean to you here OP.

In the circumstances you've described where you were at work, at part of your job is taking the dogs out, and you have agreed personal / medical calls on a walk are fine, you wouldn't be unreasonable to ask your employer, saying the dog jumped up and caused the breakage.

You'd need to do this promptly as there would be trust involved about the cause in the absence of them witnessing it directly- the longer you leave it the less they'll readily believe that was the cause.

They almost certainly wouldn't want to claim on their insurance as the cost of the repair is way lower than the no-claims bonus they would otherwise benefit from, and in any case there's likely an excess that would be over the cost of repair too. So there would almost certainly be a real cost to them that they can't just 'claim' for, and because of this I think your chances of success are slim.

I realise it's probably not relevant but most conventional employment contracts include things about personal property being at your own risk etc - so if I had my phone stolen from the office for example, they have no obligation to replace it. Assuming your contract is just verbal, there would be an implied 'conventional' approach to matters like this and the most normal is personal property is not covered by the employer.

But, you can ask, and they might meet you half way or something. It's just it may sour the relationship going forward so I'd be weighing that up as a 'cost'.

It's rotten luck but it might be more prudent just to put it down to 'one of those things'.

CaroleSinger · 26/07/2023 20:34

This is a real stretch. Asking them to pay to replace the screen? You can get a generic replacement screen for well under £100. One thing I never do is take calls while I'm trying to hold onto the dog. It's guaranteed to end badly.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 26/07/2023 20:39

I work with dogs and by law, the person in charge of the dogs at the time of an incident is the person responsible for any damage or injury - even on private land.

If you were walking with the owners at the time, it would be different but as you were the sole adult in charge, it's up to you to have control of the dogs.

londonrach · 26/07/2023 20:41

Yabu. If at work phone away...your choice to have it out on a dog walk

Blossomkitty40 · 26/07/2023 20:57

Not that this is going to be much help now, but maybe it would have been better to say to your employers "I'm sorry but I'm not going to be able to take the dogs out this morning as I'm waiting for an important phone call today." I'm with whoever it was that said 'mention it to them and see if they offer to help out with the cost of it'. But really don't think they should be held accountable for it. YOU were in charge of the dogs at the time, the dog bumped your hand and YOU dropped your phone. Sorry, definitely think YABU.

IntheJingelyJangelyJungle · 26/07/2023 21:00

We have a nanny 3 days a week because we work 12 hour days in healthcare. We aren’t wealthy as in landed wealthy but we are comfortable as long as we manage our budget carefully.

Our nanny walks our dog around school run time.

If she mentioned that my dog had bumped her so she dropped her phone and broke it I’d instantly offer to pay or at least 50%… because I value her day to day so much and it would be a way to show her this.

If she came to me and said ‘your dog broke my phone, you have to pay for it’ (which she would never do because, actually, I don’t have to pay for it and most people would appear to agree on this thread) I might feel different.

If you proceed with this think carefully about how you approach it.

Echio · 26/07/2023 21:04

@IntheJingelyJangelyJungle A really helpful perspective!

xyz111 · 26/07/2023 21:29

Unfortunately, it's just one of those unfortunate accidents. You can't ask them to pay for it as it fell out of your hand. There's very sturdy cases and screen protectors you can get to stop it smashing.

Lostthewilltolive1970 · 26/07/2023 21:32

You've asked the question and been given many answers, most of which say yes YABU. You clearly don't like this answer, so why ask the question?

Tinktravels · 26/07/2023 21:38

You are being a CF. Doesn't matter that you claim people are making stuff up. You broke your phone, you pay.

Snugglemonkey · 26/07/2023 21:59

NailTapBucket · 26/07/2023 01:21

I disagree with everyone else - sounds like they should be paying because their dogs should be better behaved - you did what you could to "look after 🙄" your phone!

This is mad. The phone is the op's responsibility.

Pugdogmom · 26/07/2023 22:09

Snugglemonkey · 26/07/2023 21:59

This is mad. The phone is the op's responsibility.

Show quote history

Absolutely this. If I drop my phone, it's my responsibility.

PollyPut · 26/07/2023 22:13

@Housekeeperbatcocoa some people have their phones on lanyards around their necks (like people used to put cameras on in the past). It sounds like that is what you need here (when it is finally fixed).

I wouldn't ask them to replace the screen, no.

Katey83 · 26/07/2023 23:58

I agree with everyone else, if your phone is knocked out of your hand by a dog you are supervising then this is a you problem.

IntheJingelyJangelyJungle · 27/07/2023 00:09

I’d suggest people now stop jumping in with the CF comments. They aren’t helpful for her or anyone at this point..

OP has had a tough time, is bereaved, in financial very tight times (or so I assume from reading posts) and those people leaping in to stick the boot in are just here to be cruel.