£1670 for exploding shower door at pool- please help

[Showerexplosion]

My children attended a hotel swimming pool with my mum where they all have membership. A few weeks ago a shower door exploded while they were in the changing rooms. My mother maintains that my children did not touch the door and that it simply exploded.

Neither of my children were hit by the broken glass despite both being in only swimming costumes.

Today she received an email stating:

At approximately 16:10, the glass shower door in the ladies’ changing room was found shattered. Photographic evidence is attached. You reported the damage to Reception at that time, but no explanation was provided. Given the seriousness of the situation and the safety risks posed to other guests, we immediately initiated a full and detailed investigation.

As part of this investigation, we commissioned an independent professional specialising in glass safety and installation to assess the damaged door. Their expert conclusion was clear: the door did not fail due to a defect or spontaneous breakage. The shattering was consistent with improper handling or misuse, and not with normal or appropriate use of the facility.

We also reviewed our CCTV footage covering the Spa and Wellness area. The footage confirms that only yourself, xxxxxx and xxxxxx were present in the changing facilities during the time the damage occurred. No other individuals entered the area before or during the incident. This evidence, combined with the professional assessment, leaves no doubt that the door was broken due to inappropriate use while your grandsons were in the changing room.

The cost of replacing the door is £1,674.00. A detailed breakdown of the replacement cost is attached for your review and we request that you notify your insurers of this cost as we are seeking reimbursement of the replacement of this shower door caused by your actions.

In addition, due to the seriousness of the incident, the safety implications, and the behaviour that led to the damage, we have taken the decision to cancel both xxxxx and xxxxx memberships with immediate effect.

Are we liable for this cost? Are we entitled to a refund for the cancelled memberships - we have only used one month of a 3 month membership for both of them.

I include the pictures they sent me. Any help with how to respond greatly appreciated.

I'd email back and tell them that my mother insists the damage was not caused by herself or the children and that given the leisure centre has no proof to the contrary you obviously will not be paying the bill for the repair. Further you expect a full and prompt refund of the remaining membership fees or they can expect a solicitor's letter in 7 days. And mean it.

Yes I posted on Reddit too. I am worried and want as much advice as possible. I am a long term poster. All the way back to the odd Korean lady, penis beaker, cancel the cheque and nerf gun party.

She was elderly, not odd!

This framing by the hotel is remarkably childish. Maybe the glass ruptured spontaneously or maybe it was misused, but unless they are conducting microscopic safety inspections between guests, they can't tell when any damage occurred. The shattering, wrenching of hinges etc will have been the end stage. And how would your mother have had any responsibility for explaining the problem?

If I were your mother, I would reply to say that I had fulfilled my responsibility by reporting the safety hazard and the apparently spontaneous collapse of the door; that the cause of the collapse was for the hotel to investigate and explain; and that nothing in their letter suggested that anyone present in the changing room had damaged the door in any way, or that there was a fixed time when any such damage must have been sustained. I'd reiterate that no-one had mishandled the door in any way, and would request pro rata refund of subscriptions and confirmation that the matter was now closed within x days, failing which I would communicate through a legal representative.

I would probably give them about 20 working days to reply on the assumption that that delay would give time for the matter to be escalated and meet someone with a bit of sense somewhere up the chain.

I wouldn't get distracted by hinges, type of glass, spontaneous vs damaged, chasing examples for them. Just point out they haven't a leg to stand on and tell them to back off.

I had a drinking glass explode once - I had just set the table, and a few minutes later tge thing exploded into hundreds of tiny bits. Luckily didn't hit anyone, but an explosion is the only way to describe it.

I really hope you can get this sorted OP - and definitely don't accept liability or pay their ridiculous invoice. As others have said, it's entirely feasible that it simply exploded - and if by some fluke your six year old did knock into it then it should have been able to withstand that.

I would do the same.

My glass bathroom scales did. I had my back to them, cleaning the bath. Got quite a shock! You can imagine the sarky comments from family.

Google it. There's tons of results on glass shower doors shattering without being touched.

They have no proof that your family members were responsible. It can and does spontaneously happen. If you can afford it, I'd consult a lawyer. The company are at it. And very fortunate they're not liable for any injuries. I'm curious to know why this isn't covered by their insurance btw. 🤔

Same thing happened in my office.

Yep, this!!!

And am I just a suspicious, negative nancy, or is anyone else thinking these fuckers have issued damage control??

They KNOW that they could be in trouble for this shit, and that 2 little kiddies could have got hurt (BADLY!) so they've kind of 'got in first...' They're hoping you will be all 'oooh no, please don't be cross with us, and I can't afford £1670, please have pity on us...' Then they'll be like, 'well we may consider waiving the charge, or cap it at £500 or something, but you have to sign a waiver, saying you will not pursue any action..' BAM! They're not liable for anything.

Fuck them @Showerexplosion You contact a solicitor tomorrow, and say YOU want to take action against THEM, for (as many posters have said,)

Absolute c*nts they are. GOOD LUCK!!!

I’ve had a glass table explode. Nobody was near, it was a set of 3 the other two were fine.
think you could argue this. They have no proof or they could show co you this.

Yes this has happened to two different people I know. It absolutely can and does happen! Scary too when it does go.

'You can imagine the sarky comments from family.'

Why don't MN have a laughter reaction emoji.

😂😂

We had a glass outdoor table. Hole in the middle for an umbrella/parasol.

V slightly gusty night. We got up to find no table top and glass everywhere.

We stayed at a rental cottage. BIL closed glass lid on hob, which wasn't on. (They have a lever that puts the gas off when it's closed.) It'd been on some time before but toughened glass can take a reasonable thermal shock. Little bit later a bang and glass bits everywhere.

The glass has broken as it should ie no large shards - but it may have been the wrong type to have in such an area? Maybe laminated would have been better than toughened?

I think you need to push for actual evidence - their report......
"Their expert conclusion was clear: the door did not fail due to a defect or spontaneous breakage. "

There was no door to examine, so they don't know, nor can they know, if there was a defect.

It is possible that it had been installed wrongly - screws making contact with glass - but this wouldn't be obvious after the breakage.

The door should have had bumpers so that if slammed there was no hard collision between the door and its frame.

I'm not sure if you can fight the ban - but you can't see you having to pay for it. May be mention H+S issues at the gym?

I would ask to see the report and check the credentials of the person who conducted it. They can't say it was definitely you. It could be due to deterioration due to use after use or as others have said due to change of temperature. I would not pay !! Look up the science on it and send them that as an attachment to the response and ask if they can confirm this was not the case ? Also for they even ask after your wellbeing after the event ???

Oh come on! Even if your boys caused it. (And I don't believe that) A child should not be able to shatter a shower door! That in itself would be a problem. If that was the case these doors would getting shattered by children all the time. A shower door in a public facility should be able to withstand robust use or it is a danger to the public.

They are completely trying it on. It would cost them more than the cost of the door to sue you FFS.

I would have thought the same but the glass in my shower at home did in the middle of the night. It was cold and there was a shower caddy hanging on the glass and I think the pressure over time plus cold made the glass shatter

Then they are absolutely having you on.

Your children and mum were using the facilities they've paid for. The gym have not alleged any inappropriate behaviour beyond "being in the area".

The door shattered. A dangerous incident that could have seriously injured your children. Fortunately they were alright. You mum helpfully reported it.

And instead of being grateful you prevented anyone else getting injured on broken class they've terminated your membership, billed you and asked you to accept the bill on their promise that their expert says it can't be there fault? How is it an independent expert? Who did they get for that because id argue neither they, nor their suppliers, nor their insurers would be independent?

For my amusement i might say my insurers need to review your report and verify the credentials of the assessor...

But ultimately Id be getting chatGPT to help me draft a response that more eloquently says "fuck off"

You probs cant get your fees back, but id feed your contract into chatGPT too and say is there anything in there about termination without repayment. Because if it isnt in the contract id pursue that too just because of the sheer cheek of these people who are lucky your family wasnt hurt, scared or scarred

It really does. We had glass in a rooflight spontaneously shatter. Nothing hit it (it was double glazed and it was the inner pane). Glazier told me that there can be tiny imperfections in heat treated safety glass that can just go at any time.

eff that OP. No way ironically could kids or your mum have done this without something like a crow bar. They are having you on.

OP this is ridiculous. Not only have they not spoken to an expert they haven’t even done a Google. Glass doors absolutely can and do spontaneously explode, it happens all the time. It’s caused by either a manufacturing defect or improper installation. It happened in my bathroom a few months ago and in the office I work in 10 years ago, where panel after panel shattered over the course of a year. An actual real expert told us that the only way to break safety glass deliberately is to hit with a hammer at the apex of the corner. Anyway here’s a picture of my shower door from earlier this year. I was downstairs when it happened, it sounded like a bomb going off.

Yep happened to my sister's shower door.

The manager of the gym must be an absolute arse or their manager is. Microscopic impurities in glass can cause panels to explode. Wear to the hinges over time - and glass is heavy - could well have damaged the glass too. I'd ask them for a copy of the so-called expert's report. I'll bet it notes a few things which could have caused the door to explode without anything conclusive. If it even exists. The gym have chosen to pin it on your family because it's expensive to replace. Write to their head office complaining that instead of being concerned about the potential injury to two small children and customer safety they've behaved appallingly, blaming your family. The way they've handled the whole thing is ridiculous. Tell them you'll see them in court if they pursue this.

It can.

We had a glass topped dining table.

During a heatwave, it shattered while no one was anywhere near it.

I think you should reply saying thst yiu are going to contact the local health and safety council department. Their fixtures should be fit for purpose and you could have got seriously injured.

WOW @Squidgoals that's savage! (on your pic on your post at 21.20...) I hope no-one was hurt!