my child broke fireplace at friends house

Quackers

huckster wrote: »

I actually agree with you that the OP should make an offer of sorting out the damage, but it is not my money at stake and I don't know what their financial position is. It is therefore a bit impolite of people to tell the OP to pay up, especially in the agressive manner in which some posters have done. I view people who do so in this way, as the fish wives of Britain.

I agree too. I would offer.

But some of the comments on here are ridiculous.

It was a 2 year old who picked something up, probably out of curiousity, and it probably happened in a flash.

This doesn't make mum irresponsible for taking her eye off him for a moment - we cannot watch our children 24/7 - mum had already been reassured by the friend that her home was child friendly.

It was an accident!!

Yes, I would offer to pay. And as jackieb said, if it had happened in my house I would NOT dream of asking my friend for the repair money to fix it. It was an accident....accidents happen.

vaio

apple111 wrote: »

.......Put it like this, if it was my house and my fireplace, and you/your wife didnt offer to pay and even mentioned the "childproof" debate, I would commence small claims court proceedings as a matter of course just to teach you about responsibilities.........

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

That would cheer the court staff up no end but the only lessons learned would be

1. You can’t sue two year olds and

2. Parents are only liable for damage their children cause if you can prove negligence in the legal sense which for a two year old invited into a “child proof” house would be just about impossible.

On the original post and accident…….

My child, I’d probably offer to pay

My house, I’d be pleased if the visitor offered to pay but probably wouldn’t accept unless there was malice involved (which doesn’t seem to be the case here).

ekkygirl

I can't believe how vile people are being about a 2 year old. It is a good job he didnt break his foot he is a baby. A and E will show you how tricky it is to watch a baby and I have many scars from my toddler days.
When my grandchildren come I move stuff because they dont listen when told dont touch! because they are babies, If I left something dangerous/heavy out and it broke or something or hurt a baby I would take responsibility not pass it to the visitor. Are they even friends in the first place?

sjc80

I am a mum to 2 young boys (3 & 5) and by that standing totally accept that accidents happen when young children are around. And thats what they are - accidents. If any of my friends children broke something in my house there is no way I would ask them to pay and I would also not accept payment should they offer. If however my children broke something at my friends and I was asked to pay for it of course I would though got to admit I would find them petty. And can I just add, I love the little 'alterations' that the children have added to my house over the years - it gives it chartacter lol!

apple111

huckster wrote: »

It is up to the home owner to make sure that they have adequate Insurance to cover accidental damage in their home. This is particularly important if they have children or invite other peoples children into their home.

If you read the OP's comments, their friend said that their home was child friendly. This being the case, you would have expected any heavy ornaments to have been placed out of reach. For the home owner not to have done so is careless. What if the 2 year old had hit themself or another over the head with the ornament ? We would be talking about something more serious than a damaged fireplace.

I actually agree with you that the OP should make an offer of sorting out the damage, but it is not my money at stake and I don't know what their financial position is. It is therefore a bit impolite of people to tell the OP to pay up, especially in the agressive manner in which some posters have done. I view people who do so in this way, as the fish wives of Britain.

Does somebody's financial position affect responsibility for their child's actions?

Personally I view people with no respect of other people's property as the scumbags of Britain. So I may be a "fish wife" in your opinion, but your nonchalant attitude makes you a scumbag in my opinion, but then there you go... two different opinions for you to the same situation..............

And for what its worth, breaking a glass/plate or something trivial in somebody's house is quite different from damaging something not so easily relaceable like a fireplace.

Why not go the whole 9 yards and sue the friend via a "no win no fee" firm for claiming that the house was "childproof" and see if you can claim some damages too????

I wouldnt dream of asking someone to pay for the damage if it were my house as ther ei more to life, but I certainly would not associate with anybody who did not even have the manners to offer, and certainly not low lifes who would claim that its actually my fault for claiming that my house was childproof.

jackieb

apple111 wrote: »

Does somebody's financial position affect responsibility for their child's actions?

Personally I view people with no respect of other people's property as the scumbags of Britain. So I may be a "fish wife" in your opinion, but your nonchalant attitude makes you a scumbag in my opinion, but then there you go... two different opinions for you to the same situation..............

And for what its worth, breaking a glass/plate or something trivial in somebody's house is quite different from damaging something not so easily relaceable like a fireplace.

Why not go the whole 9 yards and sue the friend via a "no win no fee" firm for claiming that the house was "childproof" and see if you can claim some damages too????

Oh, come on! Scumbag? Really? There's no need for name calling.

apple111

jackieb wrote: »

Oh, come on! Scumbag? Really? There's no need for name calling.

And what is a "fish wife" then? A techincal term???????????

apple111

vaio wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

That would cheer the court staff up no end but the only lessons learned would be

1. You can’t sue two year olds and

2. Parents are only liable for damage their children cause if you can prove negligence in the legal sense which for a two year old invited into a “child proof” house would be just about impossible.

On the original post and accident…….

My child, I’d probably offer to pay

My house, I’d be pleased if the visitor offered to pay but probably wouldn’t accept unless there was malice involved (which doesn’t seem to be the case here).

And can you provide the LEGAL definition of a "child proof" house????? I didnt think so..................

jackieb

apple111 wrote: »

And what is a "fish wife" then? A techincal term???????????

Technically, they didn't call you a fish wife.

apple111

jackieb wrote: »

Technically, they didn't call you a fish wife.

Thank you for this helpful clarifcation which Im sure will help many moneysavers...........