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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Coat returned with rips

15 replies

niclw · 10/01/2026 19:24

My child’s coat was taken home accidentally by another child this week from the after school club. The child who took it is three years above my child but the family didn’t notice until a member of staff phoned them and had to persuade them that they had the wrong coat (the other child’s coat was left at the after school club so we knew who had it). So my child had to leave the after school club without a coat in heavy rain and 1 degree weather so I wasn’t impressed. When the coat was returned on Friday I took it home and didn’t check it. My child had worn a less warm coat for the day. As soon as we got home I found two rips in the arm of the coat which hadn’t been there when I took my child to school on Thursday morning. The arm with the rip also have muddy paw prints so I can only assume that a dog’s claws ripped the coat. My child has traits of autism although has not been assessed yet and is now refusing to wear the coat due to the rips so I have to buy a new one. I don’t have any contact details of the other parent. Do you think I’ve got any chance of getting money from the other parent to replace this. I’m a completely solo parent and my money is very tight particularly straight after Christmas. I know accidents happen but I feel that as they took the coat home, they should at least contribute to a new one. In case anyone was wondering, the coat is wearable but the stuffing is coming out. The material is would not be easy to repair either.

OP posts:
RessicaJabbit · 10/01/2026 19:31

Lol, not a chance.. but you can ask...

RessicaJabbit · 10/01/2026 19:31

They'd just deny it was them....and then what?

MamaMumMama · 10/01/2026 19:36

You’re not unreasonable but I don’t think you’re going to get a penny out of them. If I’d have taken the coat and something happened to it, I’d have apologised to you and have offered a solution at the time. The fact they didn’t either means they didn’t notice or have no intention of doing so.

CraftyMintHedgehog · 10/01/2026 19:38

Well you're not entitled to the cost of a new coat, so I suggest looking on vinted or ebay for another one second hand to work out the cost then ask the school to contact the parent to let them know the coat was returned ripped and needs replacing.

niclw · 10/01/2026 19:41

Thank you for the replies. I thought it was unlikely. I would feel guilty if I had done this and would definitely offer but I know that most people are not the same as me. I’m just really irritated as on Wednesday we were given compliments about how nice this ripped coat is. It’s nothing special as just from Tesco and we’ve had it over a year but it is a really warm cosy coat.

OP posts:
Georgiepud · 10/01/2026 19:43

The rips and dog paws wouldn't have happened in the playground so I'm not sure the school would want to get involved.

JulieJo · 10/01/2026 19:48

Thats awful.
Could you repair it with vinyl repair patches. They are sold for tent repairs and come in different colours. They are self adhesive sk stick on.
We've used them on waterproof jackets and they work well.
You could try and find a similar colour or use a contrasting colour and cut shapes.

Justmadesourkraut · 10/01/2026 19:49

How frustrating for you. Since they were difficult about bringing it back at all it doesn't sound as if they would be keen to help out.

Depending on where the tears are, there are some rather lovely sew on patches available on Etsy. Might your dad like to choose some, which you could sew on over the rips?

TennesseeWaterfall · 10/01/2026 19:51

had to persuade them that they had the wrong coat (the other child’s coat was left at the after school club so we knew who had it). So my child had to leave the after school club without a coat in heavy rain and 1 degree weather so I wasn’t impressed

So why didn't they wear the other coat then?

niclw · 10/01/2026 19:57

JulieJo · 10/01/2026 19:48

Thats awful.
Could you repair it with vinyl repair patches. They are sold for tent repairs and come in different colours. They are self adhesive sk stick on.
We've used them on waterproof jackets and they work well.
You could try and find a similar colour or use a contrasting colour and cut shapes.

I thought of this but I don’t think my child would wear the coat with patches. My child is like this with anything that gets broken or damaged. They refuse to play with their favourite toys if they get broken but can still be used. This is part of the possible future autism diagnosis.

OP posts:
niclw · 10/01/2026 19:58

TennesseeWaterfall · 10/01/2026 19:51

had to persuade them that they had the wrong coat (the other child’s coat was left at the after school club so we knew who had it). So my child had to leave the after school club without a coat in heavy rain and 1 degree weather so I wasn’t impressed

So why didn't they wear the other coat then?

My child won’t wear anyone else’s clothes. They also won’t eat food of other people’s plates etc. Further evidence of autism.

OP posts:
nutbrownhare15 · 10/01/2026 19:58

You should be able to find a like for like replacement cheap on vinted

IndigoIsMyFavouriteColour · 10/01/2026 20:03

I doubt you’ll get money back from the parents but I found a gorgeous coat for my kid on Vinted for just £10

tempname1234 · 10/01/2026 20:57

Have you brought to seamstress at a dry cleaners? You jay be surprised at test can be repaired (and cleaned)

incognitomummy · 10/01/2026 21:02

Sorry this happened OP. Totally shite and sadly very unlikely to get any £££ from the other family.
However. I have found favourite coats on vinted / eBay. So. Please take a look you might get lucky. My DD had the same coat for about 5 years. All for less than the price is a new one!!!

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