17 year old spilled water on Host family Laptop

[Mrsg26]

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

I think you’re being rather silly about where the water was placed @Mrsg26 - I bet your daughter has a glass of water or coffee next to her own laptop all the time, as do you, and you’re making her sound like a toddler.

However, the host is running a business (so not “being kind enough to host your daughter” as several posters have said) and so should have insurance.

I think you’re right to meet her halfway, and don’t use her again.

Of course you should be prepared to pay. Your daughter's accident broke something which needs to be repaired, so you should pay for the repairs - it's the decent thing to do. If you don't have the cash immediately available, you could explain your situation and make arrangements to pay in installments.

You or your daughter should pay for this, she's near enough an adult. I'd stop trying to wriggle out of this as I'd be embarrassed. Teach your daughter to take responsibility for her actions. Yes it was a mistake, but it doesn't mean we don't pay for them.

I'd pay full stop because it's the right thing to do, but, your argument that the glass was placed near the laptop and therefore not your daughter's fault is no different to me driving my car into the back of someone else's car because they slammed their brakes on - i should have been far enough away to stop safely, and your daughter should have been more careful when picking the glass up. There's excess to pay too!

Based on how you feel about it, why not offer to pay half?

I think you have an obligation to pay for any repair but I would get sight of the repair quote first to ensure all above board.

I agree that if it's going to be fixed then you should pay. But I would also query the repair cost for an old laptop that probably isn't worth that
I would be tempted to ask what her insurance excess is and offer to pay that?

You pay it.

I think she was being incredibly kind to not make a fuss of it in front of your daughter.

I didn't read as the daughter was using the laptop, just that it was there

What do you mean by lucky it was a laptop, what would be a worse scenario involving a water spill - gremlins?

I think I would expect to pay in this situation. I could understand your reluctance if you were struggling but you say you can afford to pay so I think you should.

Very good idea.

Actually I would put someone else’s drink next to my laptop.
Op daughter wasn’t using the laptop.
Whole thing sounds odd and if it’s an old laptop is it worth £200 repair and can you repair water damage?

I agree, £200 sounds a lot for a little bit of water which sounds like most of it was mopped up anyway.

Given that the child is 17, I think she is old enough not to be spilling glasses of water as a habit. I get that accidents happen but for me, it wouldn’t be a case of should’ve known better. I have a cup of tea next to my laptop all the time and don’t expect that it would get spilled.

You need to pay the damage really. The hosts reasons for asking and your judgements of whether she needs the laptop or not aren’t really relevant.

It’s tricky because we’ve hosted teenage Norwegians in our home when we were kids and my parents would never have asked BUT they had 3 children and lots of nieces and nephews and if it wasn’t them, it could easily be one of us had an accident.

I think the point “it’s an old laptop” is redundant as plenty of people keep a good but older second laptop as a spare or for family use. It’s clearly used as it was out being used !

There is no wrong answer, but I think if you break something (even if an accident) and it’s not completely unaffordable without insurance (£1000+) you should offer to pay. I’d definitely ask for a copy of the repair bill but possibly question first if she has gadget insurance which would be less deductible I think. I’d possibly suggest given your daughter had an accident, but she’d also left a laptop in a kitchen near a glass they BOTH pay “idiot tax” and go half.

It’s a tricky one!

If this was dd around a friends house then yes of course I’d offer to pay. But this situation isn’t the same imo, you are paying for her to be there and surely they are insured for things like this. It was an accident.

This. I'd pay after seeing a detailed receipt.

I would ask the contact details of the repair shop and would be wanting a direct quote. I would also pay the repairers directly. No way would I send her £200. Tbh it sounds a bit fishy with her having a brand new one already on standby.

That is what insurance is for and as long as the insurance company knows that the host is hosting - it shouldn't be an issue to claim.

Leaving water next to a laptop in a kitchen when there are teens coming and going is negligent. We always try to place liquids away from electronics when we are not actively sitting next to them, particularly in the kitchen - enough water has been spilled in our house to know it can happen.

The teen had the accident but the placement of the laptop and glass contributed to the laptop being damaged. I would email and ask to see the quote from the repair shop and say that placement of the laptop in a kitchen next to liquids was contributory negligence but you also recognise the role your teen had in the damage and as such you are happy to split the cost of the repair 50/50.

My guess would be that the lady said it didnt matter before realising that she had some important files/photos/etc. to access on the old one. And/or she'd like to ensure that she has a back up computer/wants to pass it on to someone else. I don't think it's unreasonable for her to change her mind or want her belongings restored to the condition they were in before the visit.

I think I'd probably pay half or suggest that she claims on her insurance (if no business insurance, then household insurance).

Be aware that as she's asked for the full amount to be paid, the hosting relationship will almost certainly sour if the request isn't honoured, so you'll probably need to find a new host (with this in mind, you may feel paying the full amount is worth it to avoid the hassle).

The host is responsible for putting a glass of water unnecessarily close to her lap top.

I would be suspicious actually.
Where is the full service report for the cost of repairs?

I would want to see that first and then I would make my decision.
I think she may be pulling a fast one.

Her property, she should have been more careful.

Who has drinks around lap tops?

OMG this!
You’re right, noone can ‘make’ you pay, but you should. It was not the host’s fault. They have a broken laptop. Just because your daughter didn’t mean to do it doesn’t mean someone else should pay for something she caused.

At 17, I'd expect DD to understand that she damaged someone else's property, that it is her responsibility to make that right, and to already be taking whatever steps are necessary to ensure her host is reimbursed in a timely and graceful way. I would not expect to be involved at all, or only in an advisory capacity, if requested.

It's a test of adulthood, which she is being excused from, and you have clearly failed to prepare her for. Seventeen! FFS.

If she is charging for hosting your child she is running a business and should be insured against this sort of thing.

I disagree with the majority of posters here as it wasn’t a play date but an occasional business arrangement.

If you were staying in a BnB, you would expect the owner to have insurance to cover any accidental damages caused by paying guests. The fact that she’s cut out the agency makes me wonder about whether she’s even declaring her earnings. She sounds quite dodgy to me.

I think it’s reasonable for you to be sent a copy of the repair bill if she’s expecting you to pay for the repair and then negotiate with her.