Page 14 | To ask them to pay to replace my phone screen?

Housekeeperbatcocoa · 2023-07-26T00:08:47+00:00

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!

CherryMaDeara · 29/07/2023 11:22

Housekeeperbatcocoa · 29/07/2023 09:49

Because she upgraded early?

The story isn't changing! My very first post says the dog knocked it out of my hand - which is what happened! How would you describe walking the dogs then?

I can’t believe you don’t have one of those rope holders for your phone. That would seem like a basic requirement when walking a dog so you can free your hands.

I think you are angry at your lack of foresight and blaming them.

RandomMess · 29/07/2023 11:31

I would say no harm in asking them but don't take it to heart if they say no.

Sorry for your loss

Original poster

Housekeeperbatcocoa · 29/07/2023 11:50

CherryMaDeara · 29/07/2023 11:22

I can’t believe you don’t have one of those rope holders for your phone. That would seem like a basic requirement when walking a dog so you can free your hands.

I think you are angry at your lack of foresight and blaming them.

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I'm not angry. Just totally and utterly fed up with everything.

OP posts:

Lottylove · 30/07/2023 08:24

YABU, by the same token you wouldn’t ask the doctor to pay because he rang you when you had your hands full. It’s your responsibility.

CherryMaDeara · 30/07/2023 08:49

Housekeeperbatcocoa · 29/07/2023 11:50

I'm not angry. Just totally and utterly fed up with everything.

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Sorry to hear you’re fed up

Amazon have a 15% off sale on electronics. You can get a refurbished iPhone 8 for £93 or an iPhone 7 for £67.99, with a 1 year guarantee.

I’ve been looking for a used phone and i think that is good value.

CherryMaDeara · 30/07/2023 08:53

Sorry just googled Google Pixel 6 (I’m not an Android user) and see they’re quite pricey so the iPhone recs probs weren’t very useful!

SkySecret · 30/07/2023 12:35

Housekeeperbatcocoa · 29/07/2023 09:49

Because she upgraded early?

The story isn't changing! My very first post says the dog knocked it out of my hand - which is what happened! How would you describe walking the dogs then?

Because the way you’re describing it is changing lol.

It all just sounds very unlikely, she must have more money that sense to be paying to upgrade early, and handing out sub-one-year-old phones for free, and if the phone was free to you then you’ve not even suffered a financial loss. You just have to buy the phone you’d have needed to buy in the first place if she’d not given it to you. And if it was THAT new then the cost of a new screen would still be less than you’d have had to pay to buy the phone.

just because your employers are happy for you to use your phone while there (which sounds perfectly reasonable given the type of work you do) it doesn’t make them liable for you damaging it when you choose to use it does it?

You lucked out having a friend that would donate a phone to you, look at the positives here instead of trying to get things from people all the time.

You fcuked up. Suck it up and move on….

LeakyTapTap · 30/07/2023 12:45

SkySecret · 30/07/2023 12:35

Because the way you’re describing it is changing lol.

It all just sounds very unlikely, she must have more money that sense to be paying to upgrade early, and handing out sub-one-year-old phones for free, and if the phone was free to you then you’ve not even suffered a financial loss. You just have to buy the phone you’d have needed to buy in the first place if she’d not given it to you. And if it was THAT new then the cost of a new screen would still be less than you’d have had to pay to buy the phone.

just because your employers are happy for you to use your phone while there (which sounds perfectly reasonable given the type of work you do) it doesn’t make them liable for you damaging it when you choose to use it does it?

You lucked out having a friend that would donate a phone to you, look at the positives here instead of trying to get things from people all the time.

You fcuked up. Suck it up and move on….

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"Suck it up" Really? What an awful thing to say to someone who sounds like they've had a fucking awful time lately.

Maybe the friend didn't care for the phone or wanted a change. It's none of our business why she gave the phone to @Housekeeperbatcocoa

I swear to god some people only post so they can put the boot in. I hope you're fucking proud of yourself for joining in the kicking.

LeakyTapTap · 30/07/2023 12:46

I also don't think the description has changed all that much, apart from Housekeeper being pushed into giving more details that they sound comfortable about.

SkySecret · 30/07/2023 12:49

LeakyTapTap · 30/07/2023 12:45

"Suck it up" Really? What an awful thing to say to someone who sounds like they've had a fucking awful time lately.

Maybe the friend didn't care for the phone or wanted a change. It's none of our business why she gave the phone to @Housekeeperbatcocoa

I swear to god some people only post so they can put the boot in. I hope you're fucking proud of yourself for joining in the kicking.

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Yes, because that’s what life does to us and sometimes we just have to take a step back, think “that was shit” and then move on.

no one on this thread has said “yes, it’s definitely something the family should be paying for” but OP just doubles down and doubles down, getting herself in more of a tizz.

So to me, the sensible thing to do here is analyse as follows:

the phone was free - count blessing and kind friend
the repair is still cheaper than having to buy the phone in the first place
the accident was down to poor judgement and bad luck, not someone else’s fault
time to sort the issue and move on

apols if you think that stressing for longer and longer, trying to justify blaming someone else, is the right way to approach this. I think it’s better for everyone to put it in perspective and move on!

LeakyTapTap · 30/07/2023 12:59

Where has the op "doubled down?" all I see is someone getting a kicking, called names (cheeky fucker is an awful thing to say to someone!) and who is being forced to explain stuff multiple times because people aren't reading her posts.

It is a shit situation but 99% of the posters here have just joined in the pile on and are making things worse.

I wouldn't blame her if she didn't come back!

BronwenFrideswide · 30/07/2023 13:00

You can ask them @Housekeeperbatcocoa they can only say 'No', they might say yes or offer to help you to fund the repair, if you don't ask you won't know.

The way you word the request is key, don't be defensive and say it was the dogs fault just explain, objectively without casting blame, what happened and how you are in a difficult position regarding getting it repaired.

To avoid a repeat of this it would be wise to invest in some kind of attachment for your phone to stop it flying out of your hand or to get those in ear thingies which allow you to answer and speak without having the phone actually in your hand.

BronwenFrideswide · 30/07/2023 13:02

On another note not having home contents insurance is not wise.

LeakyTapTap · 30/07/2023 13:05

BronwenFrideswide · 30/07/2023 13:02

On another note not having home contents insurance is not wise.

I'm guessing that she already knows that!

BronwenFrideswide · 30/07/2023 13:16

Does she though? Why wouldn't someone have contents insurance or a policy just on their expensive phone? It's like those people who go on holiday without travel insurance and then are shocked when things go wrong and they have to pay out of their own pocket and don't have the funds. It makes no sense to me, if you value your possessions insure them, accidents and worse happen all the time.

LeakyTapTap · 30/07/2023 13:24

The answer to your question has already been posted - there's no money for insurance!

Honestly it sounds like things are very tight.

Also, doesn't the phone have to have been bought within six months of getting the insurance? I remember being asked that when I insured mine!

BronwenFrideswide · 30/07/2023 13:27

The answer to your question has already been posted - there's no money for insurance!

Ass has now been proved that is false economy.

LeakyTapTap · 30/07/2023 13:35

BronwenFrideswide · 30/07/2023 13:27

The answer to your question has already been posted - there's no money for insurance!

Ass has now been proved that is false economy.

What an extremely helpful and insightful comment. 🙄🙄🙄

SkySecret · 30/07/2023 13:44

LeakyTapTap · 30/07/2023 12:59

Where has the op "doubled down?" all I see is someone getting a kicking, called names (cheeky fucker is an awful thing to say to someone!) and who is being forced to explain stuff multiple times because people aren't reading her posts.

It is a shit situation but 99% of the posters here have just joined in the pile on and are making things worse.

I wouldn't blame her if she didn't come back!

In every response she’s made….?

I’ve not noticed her say “ok, fair enough, it was my mistake and I can see now after hearing many objective views that it wouldn’t be right to expect employer to pay for it”

instead she’s seemed to constantly defend her thoughts that it’s someone else’s fault, trying to find more and more reasons. Yet no one is agreeing.

that’s doubling down.

BronwenFrideswide · 30/07/2023 14:48

LeakyTapTap · 30/07/2023 13:35

What an extremely helpful and insightful comment. 🙄🙄🙄

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Whatever.

The irony being that the OP wants to use the insurance of others to mitigate her loss, if, of course, they haven't decided not to cover their contents because it's never happened.

The average cost of Contents Insurance in the UK is £57.00 a year, a monthly cost of less than the OP is paying for her SIM card.

Maxine2023 · 30/07/2023 16:20

I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like this is the final straw and I completely understand. I had to find over 4k for a basic funeral for my husband this year and ended up selling my jewellery to feed my children. A broken phone would have tipped me over the edge. I don't think you should ask your employer to pay for it to be fixed but I hope you manage to sort something sorted soon. I hope things get better for you soon OP ❤

Lalalalala555 · 30/07/2023 19:07

It's just one of those life things.
I think its pretty expectable that an animal could do something like that.
You should have insurance.
If not then that's on you.

Plus I don't really think being on your phone whilst walking dogs is a great idea.

LeakyTapTap · 30/07/2023 19:26

Lalalalala555 · 30/07/2023 19:07

It's just one of those life things.
I think its pretty expectable that an animal could do something like that.
You should have insurance.
If not then that's on you.

Plus I don't really think being on your phone whilst walking dogs is a great idea.

It's been said. It's all been said before now.

You're just adding to the pile on.

Original poster

Housekeeperbatcocoa · 31/07/2023 21:20

It all kinda came to a head today. I arrived at work to find the homeowner very cross with me because I hadn't answered her calls. I'd had a really bad night, my illness is flaring and I broke down and it all came out.

She's paid for my screen to be replaced. We're also arranging a cheap contract for a work phone so I don't have to have mine out around the dogs. Also sorted some wage stuff out so I'm getting more per hour too.

I'm sorry if I upset anyone. I'm having a really rough time and felt very pushed to defend myself on this thread. Think it's time for me to take a break from this forum, honestly, because I'm feeling a bit raw and genuinely can't take any more people telling me I'm a shit person.

OP posts:

CashmereDarling · 31/07/2023 21:54

I'm sorry it came to a head the way it did but I'm glad that she paid for your phone screen, I do think that was the right thing for her to do.

I have no idea why you were given such a hard time on here. Really not MN at its finest. I kept checking back to see if she paid it and I'm so glad that she did.

Now go look after yourself and hide this thread 😊