Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

17 year old spilled water on Host family Laptop

500 replies

Mrsg26 · 01/04/2025 23:46

Wonder if someone can offer advice on what to do in this situation. My daughter is 17 and is auditioning for drama schools at present. As she is under 18 and visiting schools in London ( we live in Scotland) She has had to stay with a host family on her visits. Last night the Host offered my daughter some water but placed the glass on the kitchen table next to her laptop. My daughter picked up the glass but it slipped and some water went on the host’s laptop. The lady told my daughter last night not to worry and she dried it, she said she had a new laptop which was there in the kitchen however today The lady called me whilst my daughter was in her audition and told me it will cost £200 to repair the laptop and the expectation is for me to pay for it to be repaired.

Whilst i totally am sympathetic and sorry for what happened, as is my daughter, she didn't do it intentionally or with any malice and it was a complete accident. Part of me thinks why would she place a glass of water next to expensive equipment, as spillages often happen in kitchens. As an experienced host with lots of children in her home regularly she should be aware of these hazards. This is her business and therefore she should insure against these things.

Whilst I am not against contributing towards the repairs, I just feel that I shouldn’t have to pay for it all as they were both negligent. Any advice from other parents of teens? Thanks

OP posts:
Pollensa76 · 02/04/2025 07:06

Mrsg26 · 02/04/2025 00:08

She placed a glass of water next to her computer on a kitchen table. Spillages happen regularly in kitchens and its easy cleaned up. But if expensive equipment is there then that should have been considered. If the host had spilled water on my daughter’s ipad, I wouldnt expect her to pay as my daughter would know not to have expensive equipment where food and drink are consumed. That is where I feel the Host also has to take some responsibility

Show quote history

TBH I cannot believe you re even thinking about not paying, your DD was kindly offered a glass of water, which i assumed she asked for? not that it matters.

She then spilled it on the Hosts Laptop.

Would you be happy if someone clipped your vehicle parked in a carpark but then offered just 50%? their argument being "Well you shouldn't have parked it here, you share some responsibility, why don't you claim on YOUR insurance?" both are accidents but i bet you'd expect 100% payment?

Any insurance will carry an excess & a claim would affect future premiums.

AngelicKaty · 02/04/2025 07:14

livealittlex · 02/04/2025 07:03

Why is no one talking about the fact that you can’t repair something like a laptop or phone that’s been water damaged?

Because that's not true.

MellowCritic · 02/04/2025 07:15

Mrsg26 · 02/04/2025 00:16

just to add, i am happy to pay half, but just dont feel i should pay all of the repair costs. As the host placed the glass of water next to her own computer, which i would not have done knowing the risks.

Op just message her and explain your position. Remind her you booked the other visits outside of the agency agreement (which maybe now you know wasn't a good idea) and that you are not responsible for her personal items( you are not) , she is responsible for her laptop, but in the interest of being fair you can offer half and see what she says.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 02/04/2025 07:15

If the OP's dd was staying with a family friend or similar, I would say that the OP should pay. No question.

However, she wasn't a house guest in a normal home, she was a paying customer in a business.

I think that changes things, personally. Businesses come with risks and costs, and business owners need to factor these things into their business model. There was no contract that said customers had to pay for any accidental damage. So I'm not sure that the OP should have to pay anything.

Edited to add that the host could potentially take the OP to court and win. Whether she would bother for £200 is a different question.

Americanlaw · 02/04/2025 07:17

Hmm, yes well. The host is already wriggling out of paying the company that put her in touch with you and arranged the initial stay - so she’s making a profit there, and that leaves you both without any protection the company offered.

I am super cynical, and would want to see an estimate from a company - and may even call them myself if there’s no estimate to see- before I paid up anything.

BillyBoe46 · 02/04/2025 07:17

Have you seen the repair bill?

B1indEye · 02/04/2025 07:18

MadinMarch · 02/04/2025 04:31

Most house insurances will have an excess to pay, making a claim like this not worth it, even if it was insured under the policy.
OP needs to pay, imo

Show quote history

I've been reading the thread wondering where everyone is buying insurance policies that would pay out anything more than a few ££ for this if it was even covered. How do you find affordable policies with no excesses not to mention the effect on future premiums

And where do you all work that no one drinks next to their computers 😁

LillyPJ · 02/04/2025 07:18

Just pay up. The host family were being kind to take your daughter in. You agree you should pay something and it's not worth quibbling about how much you should pay.

Americanlaw · 02/04/2025 07:19

And as above, no contract was signed, and she should have insurance/ damage in her business plan.
I would say you don’t have to pay anything, whether you would feel better if you did. you could ask citizens advice.

Pricelessadvice · 02/04/2025 07:21

Your daughter spilled the drink and damaged the laptop, she pays.

If you parked your car on a street and someone scuffed it with their car, would you let them off paying because you “should have parked it on a drive or somewhere safer”?
Thought not.

typhon · 02/04/2025 07:21

You should pay, but make sure to see an invoice for the repair first.

StMarie4me · 02/04/2025 07:21

BoredZelda · 02/04/2025 00:05

Any adult should know not to place liquids near their electrical devices. If the child had got the water and put it near the laptop then knocked it over, the woman would have a point. Teenagers are clumsy. If mine has liquids anywhere near electrical gadgets or the edge of a table, I move it because I know accidents can happen. She’s not a toddler but neither is she a fully functional adult. The host can claim off her insurance.

There’s only the daughter’s word for it being ‘placed’ near the laptop (such a strange turn of phrase) and she’s not a child she’s a young adult. She or Mum should pay.

Kisskiss · 02/04/2025 07:23

Your daughter damaged the laptop and you should pay. Accidents happen but it was her accident, not the host’s

GauntJudy · 02/04/2025 07:24

I think you should pay it, your daughter spilled the water.

Also the host was quite kind to not stress your daughter about it and kept the issue between you and her.

nomas · 02/04/2025 07:24

StMarie4me · 02/04/2025 07:21

There’s only the daughter’s word for it being ‘placed’ near the laptop (such a strange turn of phrase) and she’s not a child she’s a young adult. She or Mum should pay.

Show quote history

Would you let a teen you barely know use your laptop holding a glass of water? I know I wouldn’t.

The hosts are taking chances. They’re lucky it was just a laptop. They should go via the agency and have proper insurance instead of trying to cut costs.

LillyPJ · 02/04/2025 07:25

1SillySossij · 02/04/2025 00:47

Come on virtually everyone has a coffee, glass of water or beverage of their choice whilst on their computer.

Yes! The idea that nobody should put drinks or food next to a laptop is just cloud cuckoo land.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 02/04/2025 07:25

LillyPJ · 02/04/2025 07:18

Just pay up. The host family were being kind to take your daughter in. You agree you should pay something and it's not worth quibbling about how much you should pay.

They weren't being kind to take the OP's dd in... they are running a hosting business!

lazycats · 02/04/2025 07:25

Bite the bullet and pay. Saying you shouldn’t have liquids near a laptop is a reach

rwalker · 02/04/2025 07:25

The key thing for me is she’s 17 and responsible for her own actions so yes pay

at 17 she’s practically an adult it wouldn’t even cross my mind to give the level of supervision as in putting a drink where she couldn’t spill it

SallyWD · 02/04/2025 07:26

livealittlex · 02/04/2025 07:03

Why is no one talking about the fact that you can’t repair something like a laptop or phone that’s been water damaged?

You can. My work laptop was repaired.

RoundRedRobin · 02/04/2025 07:27

Normally I’d say pay, however as this woman is already undercutting the agency, your daughter wouldn’t have had the protection that the agency offers. So let her insurance cover it as a business issue.

i wouldn’t pay and if she kicks off, let the agency know she’s offering her home outside of them. There’s no way they’ll use her again.

SemperIdem · 02/04/2025 07:28

It being an accident doesn’t make the laptop any less broken.

Not covering the cost to repair on the basis “it was an accident” is a really poor attitude, in my opinion.

juicylipbalm · 02/04/2025 07:29

I’d always pay if it was me who damaged someone else’s property. And the idea that it’s the hosts fault because it’s apparently not normal to have a glass of water next to a laptop? Come on.

Gcsunnyside23 · 02/04/2025 07:30

Mrsg26 · 02/04/2025 01:13

My daughter wasn't using the hosts laptop. The host had left her laptop opened on the kitchen table and put a glass of water down beside it, When my daughter reached for the water it slipped. The host could easily have put the glass of water at the opposite end of the table away from her device and this would not have happened.

What is strange is the host already purchased a new laptop prior to my daughter’s arrival and it was the old one sitting on the kitchen table which the water was spilled over which she now wants the costs to repair

Show quote history

I was just going to point that out. How very convenient that she has a new one sitting ready to go and the old one gets broken.

StartAnew · 02/04/2025 07:31

Mrsg26 · 02/04/2025 00:16

just to add, i am happy to pay half, but just dont feel i should pay all of the repair costs. As the host placed the glass of water next to her own computer, which i would not have done knowing the risks.

I agree with you. Putting a laptop near water is daft. Also I’m suspicious. A slosh is water immediately cleared up is most unlikely to cause expensive damage. Ask to see the quote for repairr.