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AIBU?

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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:
Threemyopicmice · 26/07/2023 10:45

Choupette7 · 26/07/2023 10:41

Probably not the point but every gun dog I've ever met have been impeccable trained. Guns and unruly dogs don't really go together.

I wondered about that as well. 🤔

LouisCatorze · 26/07/2023 10:47

People are being very harsh on here.

Extremely difficult to get GP phone consultations nowadays (particularly in-person), so totally understand why OP took the call while working in her day job. A health-related call is somewhat different to phoning up to book a hair appointment, place an order, etc.

You'd hope that the employers may have some type of insurance to cover having a house-keeper, so it's worth asking.

Personally, if I could afford to have a house-keeper, paying circa £150 to have a phone screen replaced would be very little to pay as a one-off goodwill gesture (particularly if they value OP).

Moveoverdarlin · 26/07/2023 10:49

SIM cards, phone cases, GP appointments, gun dogs, brick paths, it’s all irrelevant. You dropped your phone. You need a new screen and have to pay for it yourself. Admittedly the dog made you drop it - but it’s A DOG! They are notoriously bad for not paying their way, said gun dog might have a few grand in his ISA but good luck getting him to withdraw any cash, he’s saving up for a big pheasant shoot all his mates are going on.

You will look ridiculous going to your employer with this.

Oceanus · 26/07/2023 10:50

Talk to the owner and ask, there's no harm in asking. Having said I'd leave the part of answering the phone out. They probably knocked it from a table?

navithefairy · 26/07/2023 10:51

I understand why you took the call OP, but it's still on you and was your decision to do so rather than try to reschedule for a time when you weren't busy at work. You absolutely cannot expect the dog owners to take any responsibility for this.

ItsNotRocketSalad · 26/07/2023 10:53

Oceanus · 26/07/2023 10:50

Talk to the owner and ask, there's no harm in asking. Having said I'd leave the part of answering the phone out. They probably knocked it from a table?

There is harm in asking. It's a completely unreasonable thing to ask and will make her look bad to her employers.

WasJuliaRight · 26/07/2023 10:53

They're gundogs and I'm not tall!

That means nothing, it could be a 13kg spaniel or a 25kg vizsla. Anyone can own a gundog, they’re no different from any other dog except if anything easier to train.

GiddyGladys · 26/07/2023 10:54

It's a shitter but I'm sorry I don't think it's up to them to pay. I'm sorry for the loss of your partner too Flowers

Grannyyaga · 26/07/2023 10:58

I am sorry this happened to you OP. But I don't think you have a foot to stand on with this one. You could appeal to their good nature and see if you could get at least a partial payment,but If it were me, it would be a firm No. You should know that dogs are unpredictable and been more careful with your personal possessions when out and about with them. Sorry.

Grannyyaga · 26/07/2023 11:01

Leg* to stand on I meant

SmileyClare · 26/07/2023 11:05

Every gun dog I’ve ever met has been impeccably trained

Well that’s not fact, just your experience.
I cleaned for a lady with 3 vislas. Every time I arrived I was barked at, they all wanted to grab my cleaning cloths and I was jumped up at and I lost count of the pairs of leggings that were ripped by their claws.
They were a pain in the arse or “exuberant” to put it kindly.

Choupette7 · 26/07/2023 11:06

WasJuliaRight · 26/07/2023 10:53

They're gundogs and I'm not tall!

That means nothing, it could be a 13kg spaniel or a 25kg vizsla. Anyone can own a gundog, they’re no different from any other dog except if anything easier to train.

I agree anyone can own a gun dog but the dogs in question appear to be working gun dogs. There's a massive difference.

Quveas · 26/07/2023 11:07

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

rookiemere · 26/07/2023 11:09

People who bother to train a dog properly would likely pay a trained professional dog walker to walk them, rather than relying on the housekeeper who doesn't seem to have much experience with dogs.

Tink1989 · 26/07/2023 11:14

if your walking as you say poorly trained large dogs, its your own fault for using your phone, its not your employers fault that the GP decided to call you at a certain time, maybe invest in some bluetooth headphones in the future.

LookingForRemoteWork · 26/07/2023 11:14

I know it's not the point of the thread, but in the UK a 3G phone will still be able to make calls on the 3G network (for at least the rest of this year, depending on which UK network you're on) and also the 2G network

Tracker1234 · 26/07/2023 11:17

I knew you were going to say the personal call was a 'medical one'. Bit like the women who nearly backed into my DS many years ago when she was using her phone whilst backing out of a parking space,. She said she was on the phone to her GP.

That's Ok then....

Strictlyfanoftenyears · 26/07/2023 11:19

Actually, none of this should be about the phone really. The question should be "should I be walking 2 large gundogs with no experience" as I am a housekeeper?

Original poster
Housekeeperbatcocoa · 26/07/2023 11:23

Choupette7 · 26/07/2023 11:06

I agree anyone can own a gun dog but the dogs in question appear to be working gun dogs. There's a massive difference.

Show quote history

They're not working gun dogs. They're pets, and spoilt ones at that!

One is a flat coated retriever and the other two are vizilas!

Not sure why people are saying I'm lying - the path runs through the lawns which are massive - it's all fenced so the dogs run off lead.

OP posts:
Crazycrazylady · 26/07/2023 11:25

No op. You can't do this. A) there is no proof other than your word as the dogs are unlikely to corroborate and b) unless they attacked you or knocked you to the ground you might have a case but a dog brushing against you
In a nutshell you dropped your phone and are looking for someone to blame and charge for it.

DontMakeMeShushYou · 26/07/2023 11:26

SmileyClare · 26/07/2023 11:05

Every gun dog I’ve ever met has been impeccably trained

Well that’s not fact, just your experience.
I cleaned for a lady with 3 vislas. Every time I arrived I was barked at, they all wanted to grab my cleaning cloths and I was jumped up at and I lost count of the pairs of leggings that were ripped by their claws.
They were a pain in the arse or “exuberant” to put it kindly.

3 vizslas who were fully trained as working gun dogs? Or 3 vizslas who, although they happen to be a gun dog breed, weren't actually fully trained as working gun dogs? There's a big difference. When people refer to a dog as a "gun dog", they tend to mean one who is fully trained as a working gun dog, not just one that happens to be one of the gun dog breeds but is just a family pet.

SunRainStorm · 26/07/2023 11:29

Maybe ask for the GP to pay for your phone?

It makes as much sense.

MatildaTheCat · 26/07/2023 11:30

Look, just tell your employer what happened and ask if they will contribute to the repair? We can’t tell whether they will agree. If this happened to my cleaner who I adore I would pay- not necessarily because I felt it was my responsibility but because I value her greatly.

KarmaStar · 26/07/2023 11:31

Hi op
based on what you write it was purely an accident.
it depends on your relationship with your employers ,if you have a fairly easy going one you could ask but to be honest it was nobody's fault,just one of those things,not your fault,not the dogs or employers either.for insurance they might need information about the phone and as,I think you said it was passed on to you,it's second hand with no proof of purchase then I doubt they would consider it,but I know very little about insurance policies so I may be completely wrong.
in your shoes I would write it off and save for a new phone and maybe invest in one of those thick rubber bouncy cases.
hope you get it sorted.

SmileyClare · 26/07/2023 11:34

DontMakeMeShushYou · 26/07/2023 11:26

3 vizslas who were fully trained as working gun dogs? Or 3 vizslas who, although they happen to be a gun dog breed, weren't actually fully trained as working gun dogs? There's a big difference. When people refer to a dog as a "gun dog", they tend to mean one who is fully trained as a working gun dog, not just one that happens to be one of the gun dog breeds but is just a family pet.

Show quote history

Yes family pets, I know very little about dogs, just that my customers described them as “gun dogs”!
It’s a broad term to describe several breeds as far as I can work out.

I just wanted to point out that op describing her clients dogs as gun dogs does not mean we can assume they’re impeccably trained.

Anyway, probably derailing the thread a bit. As you were op!