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

Bambywamby

Personally I would pay the £25 and explain to my child that when you act silly there can sometimes be consequences and in this case a pair of glasses were broken and you will be £25 out of pocket. I think it is more important to include my child in life's lessons rather than feel indignant that this other boys family want a contribution towards the glasses.

Mojisola

Bambywamby wrote: »

Personally I would pay the £25 and explain to my child that when you act silly there can sometimes be consequences and in this case a pair of glasses were broken and you will be £25 out of pocket. I think it is more important to include my child in life's lessons rather than feel indignant that this other boys family want a contribution towards the glasses.

Aren't you missing the point that the parents could have replaced the broken NHS glasses with new NHS glasses for free?

Bambywamby

Nimeth wrote: »

You mean that wasn't you in the pic?:D Seriously though, they ARE gorgeous girls. They shouldn't think they're ugly because they are far from it.

I agree, they are incredibly cute girls.

Bambywamby

Mojisola wrote: »

Aren't you missing the point that the parents could have replaced the broken NHS glasses with new NHS glasses for free?

No I didn't miss the point - I never miss any points.
For me teaching my child responsibility is more important than worrying about a quite reasonable £25 replacement cost. If the parents were asking for a larger amount then I would question their honesty and refuse to pay and then offer an apology for the original incident and an amount of money I felt reasonable and fair.

Mojisola

Bambywamby wrote: »

No I didn't miss the point - I never miss any points.
For me teaching my child responsibility is more important than worrying about a quite reasonable £25 replacement cost. If the parents were asking for a larger amount then I would question their honesty and refuse to pay and then offer an apology for the original incident and an amount of money I felt reasonable and fair.

Would the same apply if you had an car accident that involved an old, small car and your insurance paid out on a claim for a new, big car?

jetta_wales

Bambywamby wrote: »

No I didn't miss the point - I never miss any points.
For me teaching my child responsibility is more important than worrying about a quite reasonable £25 replacement cost. If the parents were asking for a larger amount then I would question their honesty and refuse to pay and then offer an apology for the original incident and an amount of money I felt reasonable and fair.

I'd want to teach my kids not to get taken for a ride tbh.

They were both equally responsible but what was broken had no monetary value to them and would cost no money to replace.

Bambywamby

Mojisola wrote: »

Would the same apply if you had an car accident that involved an old, small car and your insurance paid out on a claim for a new, big car?

We aren't talking about insurance, we are talking about two children play fighting and a pair of glasses get broken.
If both children are play fighting both parents should expect financial liability.

People are implying that NHS glasses are free - they are not. Every person that pays NI contributions is paying for the glasses.

However, that is not my point. I said "For me teaching my child responsibility is more important" and that still stands.

Mojisola

peardrops wrote: »

My son and other lad had their play fight - the glasses broke in the other lads hand, they weren't dropped, kicked, knocked whilst on is head or anything like that. They play fighted, the glasses slipped off owners head and the arm fell off whilst in the owners hand - witnesses have confirmed this.

The owner of the glasses laughed the incident off and stated that it "doesn't really matter as they are only NHS freebies anyway" also witnessed by others.

Now 3 months later I get a bill for a pair of designer glasses with a snotty note. When I spoke to the school today about it, they were surprised that it had taken them so long to get the student another pair as he has been without glasses for weeks now. They were also surprised that there was a cost implication due to the other pair being NHS freebies.

Bambywamby wrote: »

We aren't talking about insurance, we are talking about two children play fighting and a pair of glasses get broken.

If both children are play fighting both parents should expect financial liability.

People are implying that NHS glasses are free - they are not. Every person that pays NI contributions is paying for the glasses.

However, that is not my point. I said "For me teaching my child responsibility is more important" and that still stands.

There would not have been any financial liability if the parents had replaced like with like. It was their choice to upgrade to designer frames.

property.advert

Just put it in the bin and forget about it. If this bully comes on again, report him to the head, inform the police and let this stupid greedy family sweat that one out.

bestpud

DON79 wrote: »

also off topic and sorry OP! when should you take your child for their first eye test?

Mine went from 9 months old as I have a squint and astigmatism and wanted any problems picked up asap.

As for the OP's question:

Is it definite they do not have to pay the remaining £55, as if so, I'd be inclined to point that out to the school tbh. Otherwise, you end up looking the bad guy when they are clearly scamming you!

Half of £40 is NOT £25!! :cool:

Either way, I would not pay it.

My older children had glasses from around 7 years old. My son was always breaking his so had NHS glasses until he was pretty much school leaving age.

They were always repaired for free and he had many pairs over the years. He could not have gone 3 months without them, so I'd have had them replaced within the week.

Most of his were broken while playing football and it didn't occur to me to charge other parents - it's just how it is! Neither did I charge other parents for his torn trousers, scuffed shoes and ripped blazers encountered while playing football or play fighting!

DD was more careful with hers, so she was allowed to pick whatever she wanted. Most of the time, she chose free ones, but we never paid a lot when she didn't.

Tell them to jog on, OP!

Sounds like they were well overdue anyway - your son hasn't caused them that expense!