What would you do? Pay or not pay ...

euronorris

JodyBPM wrote: »

But surely you would have expected them to apologise and perhaps offer?

I appreciate that kids play and things get damaged. But if my child had broken something accidentally or not, I would feel responsible and offer to pay or towards the replacement or repair.

I find it sad that others don't feel this way

I wouldn't apologise, or offer.

The child wearing those glasses is responsible for ensuring they don't get damaged. I wear glasses, so I take care to ensure that they don't get damaged. If they do get damaged, accidentally, then it is my own fault for not taking the proper precautions. And a lesson learnt to be more cautious with my belongings in future. I actually feel that asking, or expecting, someone else to pay towards their repair or replacement encourages the whole 'ah who cares' attitude.

I also think it's a good lesson for this boy to learn that, if he doesn't look after his stuff properly, it will get damaged and need replacing and that is NOT at the expense of someone else.

IF he had said to the other boy: 'Wait, stop, I don't want to damage my glasses again.' and the OP's son carried on, OR the OP's son had deliberately damaged them then fair enough, he should pay. But, it is my understanding that this did not happen here.

Percy1983

I would say I would pay in full for a pair of free NHS glasses.

If they contacted me before hand and we discussed and agreed to pay £x then fair enough, but to go and buy whatever you they like and try to charge me for it, the can whistle.

How do we not know they have a health plan of some short and the total is already covered?

Out of interest do the parents of said child not work, drink, smoke and take the child to school in there pyjamas?

bargainbetty

Unless an agreement was reached regarding the purchase of a replacement item prior to the purchase being made, they cannot force you to contribute, nor are you legally obliged to do so.

Personally, I would write a brief note explaining that since their son had confirmed the spectacles were both old and NHS, you would expect them to have taken advantage of the free service provided for their replacement. You did not agree, nor would you have agreed if asked, to the purchase of designer frames for a child. Your son did not break them delibarately, and is not financially liable for their choice of replacement if it was not 'new for old' at the same level.
If someone wrote off my VW Polo, I wouldn't expect them to replace it with an Audi TT.

You could also note that the elder boy's behaviour has been noted by the school, and any further threats or harassment will be reported to the authorities, and if necessary you will seek to have the Safer Neighbourhood Anti-bullying team brought in to explain to the boy that trying to obtain money with menaces is actually a criminal offence, and something he needs to stop doing before he is old enough to face a court. Perhaps the kid thinks he is being a good older brother, and doesn't realise the hurt he is causing?

Good luck

kazzah60

my son has worn specs for 10 years ( he's 19) I;ve lost count of the number of times each pair was repaired!
we started with NHS ones - and rapidly moved onto paying a bit extra for "indestructable" frames
which necessitated fewer repairs- but certainly weren't indestructable!

boys will be boys- my son and his friends were always trying out their Kung Fu moves and he frequently had his specs broken during their play and it never occurred to me to reclaim the costs of replacing specs from any parents whose child was involved

I genuinely feel this is simply an exercise in getting the OP to contribute towards the cost of a new pair of specs - what I would do is write a letter via the school to the parents sating that you are happy to pay half the cost of the spectacles which were broken - not the new ones

let them supply an invoice for the broken pair ( their opticiain should have a copy) and pay half of that - then in my opinion fairness will have been acheived
- the Op has paid a contribution towards the cost of the original set , but the childs parents have not benefitted financially from the accident- which seems fair all round

sunshinetours

JodyBPM wrote: »

But why should the other parent have to foot the entire bill for a new pair of spectacles when both children were equally responsible for breaking them?

Why should her son get away without paying towards the damage he was partially responsible for.

I know this is a money saving expert, but this kind of response just strikes me as really, really tight and not morally fair.

Surely you are (partially) responsible for breaking something, you would expect towards its repair or replacement?

Sadly not in this day and age it too often seems

MarzipanFish

peardrops wrote: »

Good evening all

Invoice states:

Scrivens single vision - Qty 2 - £82.00
Designer Frame - Qty 1 - £79.00
Savings - £39.00

Total £122.00
Voucher B Package : -£26.90
Total: £95.10

Paid to date: £40.00

Balance Outstanding: £55.10

This is the scrawled message on the envelope the invoice came in: "Please find enclosed receipts for xxxx's last set of glasses. If we could get half of the amount back it would be something - £25".

It looks like what they've paid for the glasses is £40 as the £55.10 is the value of an NHS voucher. None of the other deductions (saving/voucher) match up to NHS voucher values.
(Edit: Sorry GlasweJen, just noticed you already said this!)

Regardless of that I think bargainbetty makes good suggestions.

I think it's a shame for the 2 lads that their friendship might be wrecked by it, or if not then they'll feel awkward going to play round the other one's house.

peardrops_2

MarzipanFish wrote: »

I think it's a shame for the 2 lads that their friendship might be wrecked by it, or if not then they'll feel awkward going to play round the other one's house.

My son and the other lad are still mates (only school mates not mates out of school, never have been). They've never fallen out over this - perhaps we should learn a lesson from them ....

FATBALLZ

I wouldn't pay. If you wear glasses you look after them, that's not anyone elses job. If you choose to take part in activities that risk this sort of damage you live with the consequences.

This is a perfect example of the "I've had an accident, it's everyone elses fault" mentality.

Naf

I think they're just trying it on. They got the invoice through the post and realised it appeared that they had paid the £55.10, while actually they've paid £40. But, of course, there was no need for them to pay even that as there is a huge range of NHS glasses available. If they choose to buy designer frames, its up to them, if they don't put something in place with the child to say "if you break them, you only get the cheap ones next time", that's also their problem. I wouldn't pay a penny and would make it very clear why.

DON79

NHS optical voucher grades

Grade A: £36.20
Glasses with single vision lenses with a spherical power of no more than 6 dioptres and a cylindrical power of no more than 2 dioptres.
Grade B: £55.10
Glasses with single vision lenses:
with a spherical power more than 6 dioptres but no more than 10 dioptres, and a cylindrical power of no more than 6 dioptres
with a spherical power less than 10 dioptres and a cylindrical power more than 2 dioptres but no more than 6 dioptres
Grade C: £80.60
Glasses with single vision lenses with a spherical power of 10 or more dioptres but no more than 14 dioptres, and a cylindrical power of no more than 6 dioptres.
Grade £182.00
Glasses with single vision lenses:
with a spherical power of more than 14 dioptres with any cylindrical power
with a cylindrical power of more than 6 dioptres with any spherical power
Grade E: £62.70
Glasses with bifocal lenses with a spherical power of no more than 6 dioptres, and a cylindrical power of no more than 2 dioptres.
Grade F: £79.70
Glasses with bifocal lenses:
with a spherical power of more than 6 dioptres but no more than 10 dioptres, and a cylindrical power of no more than 6 dioptres
with a spherical power of less than 10 dioptres, and a cylindrical power of more than 2 dioptres but no more than 6 dioptres
Grade G: £103.30
Glasses with bifocal lenses with a spherical power of 10 or more dioptres but no more than 14 dioptres, and a cylindrical power of no more than 6 dioptres.
Grade H: £200.10
Glasses with prism-controlled bifocal lenses of any power or with bifocal lenses:
with a spherical power of more than 14 dioptres with any cylindrical power
with a cylindrical power of more than 6 dioptres with any spherical power
Grade I: £186.40
(HES) glasses not falling within any of the grades above for which a prescription is given after your sight is tested by an NHS trust.

They are absolutely trying it on. Sorry but I think I would refuse to pay also as they are trying to make out that they still have a balance of £55.10 to pay when the nhs voucher will be paying that £55.10.

I would write back stating that they should have come to an agreement with you prior to purchasing the new glasses regarding the costs involved. State that you note the balance outstanding is £55.10 which you are aware is the amount their child is entitled to in NHS Vouchers therefore you understand that there are no monies still due to be paid to the optician.

Say you also note that they have chosen to pay an additional £40 for a non nhs pair of glasses which means that it has not been a like for like replacement of the glasses previously broken which you would have been more than willing to contribute to had there been any cost involved. But as they have chosen to replace an NHS pair of glasses with a more expensive frame, you feel under no obligation to pay for the betterment of their circumstances.

State as well that as three months have elapsed since the incident occurred, you believed the matter was closed and that you now wish it to remain that way.

If my son had snapped them or broken them any other way, then I would pay. But the glasses leg simply came off in the owners hand and they were 2+ yrs old and previously repaired also.