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

peardrops_2

Thanks everyone for your replies.

The school were involved because the incident happened on their premises - I'm quite happy for the school to be the mediators as I don't particularly want to deal with them directly.

We thought the whole incident was done and dusted weeks ago - I can't believe they are asking for money now - 3 months on ....

My two kids have got through 5 ties this year at over £5 each due to incidents involving other children but it never entered my head that I would send a bill for 50% to the other children involved! I honestly feel that they have bought him another pair of glasses that aren't under the NHS bracket as they want me to pay half as the glasses that were broken were NHS glasses (the school confirmed this to me).

Mojisola

peardrops wrote: »

I honestly feel that they have bought him another pair of glasses that aren't under the NHS bracket as they want me to pay half as the glasses that were broken were NHS glasses (the school confirmed this to me).

If nothing else, they should have got an agreement from you to pay half before they went ahead with the glasses.

I don't think I would be sharing the cost with them as it was an unnecessary purchase but I would be asking the school to keep an eye out for any bullying that might result.

pigpen

I think paying half of the cost of the broken glasses would be a far more realistic idea.. you didn't FORCE them to buy expensive new ones..

An insurance company wouldn't fork out more for a replacement item than the original cost!

pimento

Twenty five pounds is a cheap price if it stops the bullying by the older kids. I pay upwards of three hundred pounds for my glasses and wouldn't be seen dead in an NHS pair.

Pay up.

elvis86

If I had been the other parents, I can't imagine that I would have gone to the trouble of invoicing the other kid's parents £25 via the school. I'd have written it off as a necessary cost and perhaps made the son contribute from his pocket money so that he knew to be more careful with his things in future. But there's nowt as queer as folk..

However, if I was the OP, I wouldn't bother arguing over £25. If it was £100, maybe I would query it. But for the sake of £25, I couldn't be bothered writing letters and bothering the teachers at the school (who I'm sure, contrary to some parents belief, have more important things to be doing than resolving their petty disputes). I also wouldn't risk further repurcussions at school for my son for the sake of £25, his happiness would be worth a lot more (I would however, probably make him contribute and warn him to be careful around other people's stuff, especially kids who's parents are fans of issuing invoices!;)).

But then again, I'm not as militant as some of the people on here. I like an easy life.:)

Lotus-eater

I would not be paying, they were in a play fight and in a play fight things get broken. Boys play fight, therefore you should be prepared for things you give your boys to get broken. End of.
AND they were NHS glasses anyway! FGS if they choose to buy him a non NHS pair now that's their choice.

There is nothing wrong with NHS glasses for kids anyway these days, when I was at school it was a different matter, but now there is a huge choice.

I would like to blame the school, for not just saying to the other parents to grow up and realise that things get broken by accident sometimes, but I suspect they aren't allowed to do that. :rollyeyessmiley:

pulliptears

Sorry, I also would not be paying.

1. The kids were play fighting and in year 7 should be responsible for their own actions.
2. If these glasses had been repaired consistently since year 5, how is OP to know that there wasn't some kind of weakness there from past damage?
3. What has the kid been doing for 3 months if his glasses were broken? How are we to know that he didn't have them repaired and has broken them again?

jetta_wales

For all the reasons already stated by others I concure would not be paying at all.

Cheeky sods for trying though lol.

puddy

i would have said pay, until the poster reminded me that nhs glasses are free

however, are they free for all? is it dependent on prescription, does he have an extra strong prescription or thinned lenses or tinted lenses of some description

if they are free in all situations, then i would offer to pay 50% of free

write to the school, saying you're surprised at the length of time he has been without glasses (3 months) and that you're happy to contribute to the cost of nhs free glasses as is his entitlement

Zziggi

My son's NHS glasses were free. Repairs were free too on children's glasses. However, if I wanted my son to have a second pair, the cost was £30. I paid the £30 because he's always leaving his glasses at school and needs them to read at home.

Could this family have decided to purchase a second pair of glasses and decided to charge you 50%?