Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Seddon · 26/07/2023 02:15

I'm sorry for your loss OP.

As others have said, technically you really don't have much of a claim.

Are your employers normally generous people though? You could drop what happened into conversation and see if they offer. They might if they value being able to keep in contact with you and you mention it will be awhile before you can afford a replacement.

fgsstopbs · 26/07/2023 02:16

No your can't ask your employers.

SD1978 · 26/07/2023 02:18

Sorry- this is on you. You used the phone, and then dropped it. It's annoying the screen protector didn't work, but you were using your phone for (understandably) personal reasons, but you chose to use it, it wasn't a requirement to, and you had an accident using it. The cost isn't on your employer.

lilacsinbloom · 26/07/2023 02:26

Tell them what happened. At least give them the opportunity to offer to pay for repairs/replacement.

jacckandsalllly · 26/07/2023 02:27

I wouldn't ask my employer to pay for something like this. If a person damaged it, possibly, but not a dog that I was in control of while trying to answer a call. It's unfortunate, but just because it happened in work time doesn't mean they are responsible.

Have you got home/contents insurance? Check your policy and see if you are covered for accidental damage to your mobile. If so, I would claim and just tell the insurer it happened at home and in a scenario that they wouldn't accept a claim for.

jacckandsalllly · 26/07/2023 02:28

jacckandsalllly · 26/07/2023 02:27

I wouldn't ask my employer to pay for something like this. If a person damaged it, possibly, but not a dog that I was in control of while trying to answer a call. It's unfortunate, but just because it happened in work time doesn't mean they are responsible.

Have you got home/contents insurance? Check your policy and see if you are covered for accidental damage to your mobile. If so, I would claim and just tell the insurer it happened at home and in a scenario that they wouldn't accept a claim for.

Would accept *

Imogensmumma · 26/07/2023 02:36

Sorry but I’m with everyone else. Not your employers fault, yes you can’t control when a doctor calls but you as an adult have to decide if it is an appropriate time to answer! This wasn’t as you were walking dogs you have said yourself are poorly trained. If you were inside their house making a bed then the risk of dropping the phone and damaging would have reduced however your duty of care at that exact point of time was the dogs not your personal call

Melony75 · 26/07/2023 03:09

If you search for google pixel 6 screen replacement you might be able to fix it yourself and save some money. Depending on your relationship with your employers, you could drop it into conversation and they may offer to pay. Good luck.

sykadelic · 26/07/2023 03:24

I understand you're trying to find someone else to blame/have someone else pay b/c you can't afford it, but no, you shouldn't ask.

If someone bumped into me at work while I was on my phone (texting, on a work call, whatever) and my phone dropped and broke, I would NOT ask my employer, or the person who bumped me, to pay for a new screen or a new phone. I'd be annoyed, but ultimately it was me walking while on my phone.

Honestly, I think it will impact your relationship with them b/c it's pretty unreasonable.

ItsNotRocketSalad · 26/07/2023 03:30

Very unreasonable.

Riverlee · 26/07/2023 03:35

You chose to answer your phone then, that’s not the employers (or his dog’s) fault.

WandaWonder · 26/07/2023 03:42

No same as when I am in my office and something happens to my things I don't ask for my employer to pay for it or if I drop a phone in a cinema, or on the street

Whataretheodds · 26/07/2023 03:43

I understand why you needed to answer the phone and couldn't let it go to vmail OP but I don't really see why the employer should pay. Are they very unruly dogs? Is walking them something you don't really like doing?

Even if you/they claimed on insurance the excess would likely be at least £50 for that repair.

If you are really stumped to afford the £160 then agree, are you being paid a fair rate?

pinkstripeycat · 26/07/2023 03:54

Your fault entirely. You already know the dogs are big and “poorly trained” (this is silly thing to say anyway as any large dog can bump you at any time) so sit down with your phone or go away from them to take a call.
You can always ring GP back.
I don’t think I’ve heard of anything so daft as to try and get the owners to pay.

ForeverFriendsAndPierrot · 26/07/2023 04:01

Er,no! This is on you... nobody else!

WiddlinDiddlin · 26/07/2023 04:06

I would ask if it would be covered by their insurance, but if the answers no/they don't want to claim, I'd accept that answer.

Not sure what planet some folk live on where you can call the GP back for a phone appointment - our lot ring once, miss it, tough shit. Book another appointment.

Whataretheodds · 26/07/2023 04:30

Those saying 'call the GP back' or 'let it go to voicemail' are being remarkably obtuse. That's not how it works - at ky practice you get allocated a 2 hours window for the GP to call to do a phone consultation. Sometimes they'll ring once again if you don't pick up the first time but that's your lot. If you ring back you are through to reception and have to get back in the queue for the day or try again tomorrow.

WandaWonder · 26/07/2023 04:36

Whataretheodds · 26/07/2023 04:30

Those saying 'call the GP back' or 'let it go to voicemail' are being remarkably obtuse. That's not how it works - at ky practice you get allocated a 2 hours window for the GP to call to do a phone consultation. Sometimes they'll ring once again if you don't pick up the first time but that's your lot. If you ring back you are through to reception and have to get back in the queue for the day or try again tomorrow.

It is still not the dogs fault nor the employer

SunRainStorm · 26/07/2023 04:54

Legally, they have no obligation to pay for it.

Morally, same IMO.

I wouldn't ask, it could put pressure on your relationship with your employers.

If your current wages don't meet the cost of living then you should review what the market rates are for housekeepers in your area and see if it is possible to negotiate a pay rise.

If someone who worked for me told me their phone had broken, it would honestly not even cross my mind to offer to pay for it.

pbdr · 26/07/2023 05:04

Given that you are arguing with everyone who is saying yabu then clearly you've made your mind up that yanbu, in which case why post?

I'm with everyone else. This is your responsibility. If you mention what happened to your employer there is a chance that they could take pity on you and offer to pay to help you out, but they would be under no obligation to do so.

FredaFox · 26/07/2023 05:05

Absolutely your responsibility to repair it, accidents happen and it's just one off those things

Somewhereovertherainbowweighapie · 26/07/2023 05:07

You can ask. But I wouldn’t want to walk big untrained dogs if my stuff was going to be destroyed by them.

TerfTalking · 26/07/2023 05:07

YABU 💯

Mummyoflittledragon · 26/07/2023 05:26

You can ask. But they don’t have to oblige. Can you easily find another job? If so, you could approach it that you can’t afford to have your stuff broken by their boisterous dogs?

CherryMaDeara · 26/07/2023 05:30

It can’t be a good cover, I’ve dropped my phone dozens of times on pavements and not even a crack.

I think this is on you.