Opinions please...

[flower2222]

Hello all,

Just curious how some might handle this situation. My DS had his iphone in school and let another kid use it to listen to music. Of course the other kid dropped it and shattered the screen.

The phone still works but all smashed up. Repair cost is $150.00. Other kid feels bad but says his Dad wont pay to fix it. My DS wants me to call the parents and ask them to pay.

Although I am mad about situation, I think my son should have not let anyone else use his phone and he is responsible. I refuse to pay to fix it.

The kids in his school are allowed to use their phones for study period/flex time so he wasnt doing anything he wasnt supposed to in school.
DS is mad, said it could be a Christmas present but no way. His presents are all bought.
WWYD?

R-

 

[Tinijocaro]

My dd dropped her iPod Touch and the screen shattered. Apple replaced it for free.

I also had a thread this past summer on a damaged cell phone and how to handle it. I'll see if I can find it.

Here it is. It's a long one.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2748805&highlight=cell+phone+in+pool

 

[CurlyGirl]

Not sure how old your son is?

If your son thinks the parents of the kid who dropped the phone should pay for the damages then your son should be the one to call them and discuss it with them. It's his phone, his friend, his deal.

 

[JessicaR]

Return some presents - fix his phone and buy him an OtterBox.

I have 2 boys and they know the hard way if something gets broken or stolen while at school I will not do a thing about it. The school has a strict policy anyway. We just had an incident on the bus where a kid broke my sons ear buds - sorry.

These electronics are way to expensive to not have insurance and protective cases.

It's terrible but I guess it can be a lesson learned, sometimes. No way would I call a kids parents over something like this situation.

Maybe Tinijocaro will have some helpful info on getting it replaced!

 

[101DalmFan]

I'm just curious....are we talking teenagers here, or younger?

This is an unfortunate accident. I don't think the boy's parents should pay, I think the boy should---but I understand that he certainly wouldn't have the $$. Perhaps you could contact his parents, explain the situation, and come up with something the boy could do for you that would make up for the cost of the repairs.......such as shovel your driveway all winter or something similar.

Just a thought

 

[flower2222]

Not sure how old your son is?

If your son thinks the parents of the kid who dropped the phone should pay for the damages then your son should be the one to call them and discuss it with them. It's his phone, his friend, his deal.

Son is 14. He is generally very careful and responsible for his stuff. I feel bad, but not $150. dollars bad. haha.

What is Otterbox?

 

[Tink888]

I have a 16 year old with a smart phone so if it was my son, my attitude is this.......

DS wanted an expensive phone and he saved his money and paid for it. If he wants to take it to school, lend it out, etc., he's on the hook if anything happens to it and no one else.

I would not pay for the repair and I would not call the other kid's parents and ask them to pay for a repair.

 

[castmember19]

Although I am mad about situation, I think my son should have not let anyone else use his phone and he is responsible. I refuse to pay to fix it.

This. I don't think he should ask the other kid or his parents to pay. He did give consent to use the iPhone, after all. Stuff happens when you let other people handle your things. It's part of the deal. I'm betting that after this he won't let anyone else borrow his stuff again, at least.

If you don't want to return some presents and fix the phone as a present, then have him work off the amount to fix the phone by doing jobs around the house (assuming he's not old enough/doesn't have a paying job) or for other people (babysitting, yardwork, etc.)

 

[Minnie]

DS is mad, said it could be a Christmas present but no way. His presents are all bought.
WWYD?

I would add a couple hundred to his Christmas total and have the phone repaired and buy a great case.

Or if this is not possible I would discuss with DS and ask him to choose between having the phone fixed and other items he had on his list.

 

[Coconut36]

Absolutely no way should the other kid/his parents be asked to pay. I might feel differently if the other kid was being malicious or the breaking was deliberate but for an accident no. As you (OP) said your son should not have let anyone else use his phone and this was a prime example of the consequences that occur when you do.

I would investigate avenues for repair..see if you can get it done through Apple free, different repair shops, replacing it yourself (my friend did that with his although he is pretty talented in regards to electronics and such) and so on. I don't blame you for not running out and fixing it because of the actions that led to the break (him lending it to someone) but I would set up a means for my child to "earn" the money either through household activities/acts, charitable acts or if he has a job by giving so much of his paycheck towards repair (as again I am assuming a 14+ year old here). If you want to offer to do it up front and he has to pay you back that could work too. You are not out of line in asking him to be responsible in some manner for the repairs.

 

[flower2222]

I would add a couple hundred to his Christmas total and have the phone repaired and buy a great case.

Or if this is not possible I would discuss with DS and ask him to choose between having the phone fixed and other items he had on his list.

Minnie~ If my son saw this, he would want you to adopt him!
I could repair it but I think he should learn a lesson here, but I like the good case idea.

 

[Jennasis]

Not a chance in hades that the other kid's dad should have to pay. Tell son to start saving his pennies for a new screen....and not to lend his stuff out in the future.

 

[JessicaR]

Son is 14. He is generally very careful and responsible for his stuff. I feel bad, but not $150. dollars bad. haha.

What is Otterbox?

They make great protective cases. We get our on Amazon but here is the website for OtterBox.

http://www.otterbox.com

 

[CowboyCO]

Replace the iPhone with a good DROID. Mine is a Samsung Fascinate and it is indestructible. Made from gorilla glass. I dropped my iPhone from a height of 18 inches and it shattered. I've accidentally dropped my Droid from a height of 5 feet onto concrete. The back flew off, the battery flew out, but I put it all back together in 5 seconds, powered it on and I was back in business.

 

[bellebud]

What a shame. your ds was "sharing" (isn't that what we drilled into our toddlers heads for years???), and yes it was an accident on the other kids part. BUT, if I were the other kids parents, I'd absolutely insist on paying for it (then I'd probably have my kid work off 1/2 the money or something). What a shame that other parent isn't taking responsibility for his kid, and teaching his kid a lesson.

As for your child OP, I'm torn. If you had told him "don't let others use this", and he did, then I'd leave it broken. But I don't know, if he was never told that, and just being a good friend... that's hard. I guess I'd end up being a softie and get it fixed, but maybe have him work off 1/2 the money.

And I'd definitely not ask the other parents.

 

[dislaney]

I wouldn't ask the other parent to pay for it. I'm probably in the minority. but I would probably pay to get it fixed and let him earn it back somehow. I also would make sure and get the Otterbox. They are really good protection.

 

[HunnyPots]

What I would do is say, "Sorry but that is the risk you take when you lend your phone to someone else. Accidents happen, things get broken." He won't like it but there's a chance he won't let it happen again.

 

[castmember19]

What a shame. your ds was "sharing" (isn't that what we drilled into our toddlers heads for years???), and yes it was an accident on the other kids part. BUT, if I were the other kids parents, I'd absolutely insist on paying for it (then I'd probably have my kid work off 1/2 the money or something). What a shame that other parent isn't taking responsibility for his kid, and teaching his kid a lesson.

As for your child OP, I'm torn. If you had told him "don't let others use this", and he did, then I'd leave it broken. But I don't know, if he was never told that, and just being a good friend... that's hard. I guess I'd end up being a softie and get it fixed, but maybe have him work off 1/2 the money.

And I'd definitely not ask the other parents.

I know what you mean about the "sharing" but there are just some things kids shouldn't share (expensive or valuable things, especially if Mom or Dad pays for them) just because you can't always trust another kid.

My sister had a ring in high school that she took off because someone just wanted to see it... then the person sitting next to that person wanted to see it... etc, and she never got it back because someone took it.

And even then, as kids get older- I'd never "share" my laptop, or my car, or something like that- no way!

 

[*JoGo*]

He didn't have it in a case?

I'd tell him sorry, Charlie, replace it yourself. That's a risk you take when letting anyone use your belongings, especially expensive ones. My son has wanted to let friends take home his PSP or DS and I've told him flat out if something happened to it, I'm not buying a new one and the friend's parents aren't either.

Dh and I both have Otterboxes from Amazon. You don't have to get the most expensive option or prettiest color, mine was around $10 because the color isn't very attractive, but I don't care. I've dropped it several times and it's fine. We also have screen protectors to prevent scratches. My kitten has scratched the protector trying to answer the phone (he's a nut) but the screen is scratch free.

 

[mamacatnv]

No way would I contact the parents. Accidents happen. Lesson learned, contact Apple about replacing, work out a payment plan with your DS, add insurance and get an OtterBox.