Your teen's cellphone breaks, do you...

[lovin'fl]

pay to fix it? Let me be even more detailed. Last April your kid gets new IPhone. Dec they drop and crack screen and when you notice they tell you it's not the phone but just the screen protector thing. You are paying the monthly insurance fee for one year and then cancel it this April. Just now, a month after canceling insurance, they come to you to fess up that it was the phone's actual screen that cracked in Dec and they want to get it fixed at Apple store for $150. They ask you to pay for it. You say no, they can pay and then they say 'everyone else's parents pay to fix or replace phones...bla bla bla'. Do you pay?

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The first time my son broke his phone accidentally his father and I paid for it. The second time he took the case off and it broke. We made him pay with his Xmas money. He never broke it again.

In your case I would make him pay since he lied.

 

[design_mom]

Well, to be honest, it would depend on how it happened, etc. If it was a true accident, I would probably pay to fix it but if they didn't treat it properly (no case, etc) and it got broken, then they would have to pay or go without.

In your case, I would be unlikely to pay because you offered to pay when insurance was in effect and he told you he didn't need it. However, I probably would have insisted on a new screen protector back in December, and would have known at that time that it was broken.

 

[mjkacmom]

They pay, and have paid. Dd14's iPhone 5 was in sad shape, she got a 7, and is paying me $27 a month for the next 2 years.

 

[scrhsa]

pay to fix it? Let me be even more detailed. Last April your kid gets new IPhone. Dec they drop and crack screen and when you notice they tell you it's not the phone but just the screen cover thing. You are paying the monthly insurance fee for one year and then cancel it this April. Just now, a month after canceling insurance, they come to you to fess up that it was the phone's actual screen that cracked in Dec and they want to get it fixed at Apple store for $150. They ask you to pay for it. You say no, they can pay and then they say 'everyone else's parents pay to fix or replace phones...bla bla bla'. Do you pay?

Normally I would. But with this scenario Im not sure I would because the teen lied about it when it happened. It could have been done more cheaply when there was insurance. Yea, I've learned the hard way about insurance...I will always pay for insurance...especially on the teens phones . Now if the phone was needed by the teen, for my peace of mind needing to be able to get in touch with them, then yes I would pay for it. But they would have VERY limited access and still pay me back. I would even barter and say that sure I'll pay for it but that means no birthday and/or Christmas presents.

I had one dd that broke her phone and I paid to get it fixed and then she turned around in 3 months and broke it again. Luckily, it was cheaper to upgrade than to fix it again by that time. She was very contrite and remorseful about and though she didn't have any money she worked it off around the house.

My hackles go up when my girls act like they deserve something just because society says they should have it. I understand it's a teen thing but life is so much more than their fun and comfort.

 

[bigbabyblues]

If they lied? Heck no.

We get the glass screen protectors for our phones, and we expect him to keep it on the phone. If his phone would break with the protector on, it would depend on how it got broken.

 

[wenrob]

In the scenario you presented, nope, wouldn't pay for it. It could have been taken care of with insurance and he decided to lie instead, that's on him.

 

[lovin'fl]

It had a glass protector on it. She was at HHI (DVC) resort and got a bike rental and put it in the basket and it went flying out. She did not have a sturdy case on it like I suggested she have, like an Otterbox or whatever it's called (she wanted cutsie). I got her a new glass protector and never really paid attention since...just thought she never put it on. Not paying for the repairs.

 

[hereyago]

No, they kept the "truth" from you. Too bad, so sad.

 

[mjkacmom]

It had a glass protector on it. She was at HHI (DVC) resort and got a bike rental and put it in the basket and it went flying out. She did not have a sturdy case on it like I suggested she have, like an Otterbox or whatever it's called (she wanted cutsie). I got her a new glass protector and never really paid attention since...just thought she never put it on. Not paying for the repairs.

If my kids want to be on my plan, their phones must be in an otterbox with a glass screen protector. They don't leave the Verizon store, or our house if we order online, without the otterbox. Dd's is pretty, clear with glitter, over her rose gold phone.

 

[jt'smom]

We're the same in my house. From the time my son got a smart phone, the requirement was that it had to be in an otterbox or lifeproof case. The lifeproof case in particular is an excellent bargain, because they have a lifetime guarantee, and both my son and husband have called and had them replaced a time or two. But back to the OP's question, before I'd spend the money to replace the screen, I'd probably just go ahead and upgrade to a new phone. And I'd probably pay for it, only because our kid always dumped money into savings for college, so we always buy his phones.

 

[kimblebee]

I wouldn't, and I didn't.

I told my daughter to keep her phone in a case, and not just a cheap dollar store one. She took the case off one day and dropped it screen side down. So, off to the Apple Store to pay $90 or so to get it fixed. Now she keeps it in an Otterbox.

Sometimes it's hard, but they need to suffer the consequences of their actions every once in a while.

 

[wenrob]

We're the same in my house. From the time my son got a smart phone, the requirement was that it had to be in an otterbox or lifeproof case. The lifeproof case in particular is an excellent bargain, because they have a lifetime guarantee, and both my son and husband have called and had them replaced a time or two. But back to the OP's question, before I'd spend the money to replace the screen, I'd probably just go ahead and upgrade to a new phone. And I'd probably pay for it, only because our kid always dumped money into savings for college, so we always buy his phones.

So essentially reward him for breaking the phone. My DD also works hard and saves her money. As a new driver she backed into a tree in a parking lot and smashed out the rear and side windows of my truck. It was an accident, she's an awesome kid was thisclose to having enough money to buy her first car and I made her pay cash to fix it. I'm not lying when I say it broke my heart to do it but she has never been careless in my vehicle again.

 

[dclpluto]

Next time get a life proof case

 

[mjkacmom]

We're the same in my house. From the time my son got a smart phone, the requirement was that it had to be in an otterbox or lifeproof case. The lifeproof case in particular is an excellent bargain, because they have a lifetime guarantee, and both my son and husband have called and had them replaced a time or two. But back to the OP's question, before I'd spend the money to replace the screen, I'd probably just go ahead and upgrade to a new phone. And I'd probably pay for it, only because our kid always dumped money into savings for college, so we always buy his phones.

But it looks like this phone isn't even a year old. On my Verizon account, after two years the phone is paid off, and you can either fork over $700 after that period, or pay $27 a month for the next two years. Personally, I don't even do insurance, there are seven of us, that would be $70 a month.

 

[xlxo]

pay to fix it? Let me be even more detailed. Last April your kid gets new IPhone. Dec they drop and crack screen and when you notice they tell you it's not the phone but just the screen protector thing.

Thoughts....

• how young are the kids... are you sure you want to give them such an expensive item where they may be targeted?
• I encourage people to have screen protectors. It gives screen added strength in a fall. When the glass shatters or cracks.... the plastic film prevents the sharp glass from cutting fingers that insist on touching the screen.
• 4 months to go before the iPhone 8 release! Time to start saving.

 

[tvguy]

We paid the monthly fee phone and texting for our kids and they could pick whatever phone they wanted for free, which was of course was not a smart phone. If they broke that or it got lost, we'd pay. DD did lose a phone, cost me $30 for a replacement. When they upgraded to a smartphone, they were responsible for the data fee per month, and any damage if something happened.
And they didn't get a phone until they were 16 and driving.

 

[lovin'fl]

Thoughts....

• how young are the kids... are you sure you want to give them such an expensive item where they may be targeted?
• I encourage people to have screen protectors. It gives screen added strength in a fall. When the glass shatters or cracks.... the plastic film prevents the sharp glass from cutting fingers that insist on touching the screen.
• 4 months to go before the iPhone 8 release! Time to start saving.

She is 18. Had the screen protector on so she must have really let it fly out of her bike basket.

She paid the $135 to fix it and bought herself a life proof case. No new IPhone 8 for her, ha.

 

[Poohlove]

In this situation no way would I pay for it. It would be an expensive lesson in telling the truth.

 

[Elle23]

My kids just have to live with cracked screens. Oh well....