Real life MMD:Should I pay for the £700 watch my friend forgot?

Former_MSE_Penelope

Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay for the £700 watch my friend forgot?

At drama college we always have to remove jewellery and watches for classes, so most don’t wear anything. I was last to leave the classroom the other day and saw my classmate forgot her watch. I took it to give to her in the next class but lost it on the way. I felt awful, I bought her some flowers and said I'd pay half the insurance excess. But she says it was worth £700, had sentimental value and that I have to fully reimburse her. We're students and this is a huge amount of money!

Click reply to have your say

Previous MMDs: View All


[threadbanner] box [/threadbanner]

redkids1972

Yes defo u should pay her u lost it

ironlady2022

Well done for wanting to return it! Someone in the next class could have quite easily have taken it! To be honest had you not have owned up she would have been none the wiser. I think you should contribute something to the watch value but definitely not 100%. It WAS worth £700 but in what context? Was it an antique? Or was the cost £700? If so, you can factor in depreciation. Also you can't put a cost on sentimental value. And you have done your apologies already.

gerturdeanna

No - you did her a favour by picking it up! She left it behind - her issue! Get her to claim on home insurance and if the excess is not too high, either pay that in full or go halves??

telsco

You admit you knowingly took something which didn't belong to you!

Just be thankful she's not called the police.

How does she know you've not taken it to sell on ebay?

Get her to prove its value and pay up before the situation gets messy.

tobiascurious

telsco wrote: »

You admit you knowingly took something which didn't belong to you!

Just be thankful she's not called the police.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/crossheading/definition-of-theft

Basic definition of theft.

(1)A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it; and “thief” and “steal” shall be construed accordingly.

whitewing

Why is your friend removing a valuable item for class and not placing it under lock and key?

She has been more careless than you imho because she knows the watch's true value.

Has it been reported to college as lost? it would be worth reporting as there are a lot of honest people around. (And a lot of dishonest).

You should look thoroughly thro your stuff again. Perhaps you will find it. Sometimes panic makes stuff invisible when it is right under your nose.

stars_bright

I think your friend is "trying it on". If the watch was so valuable and had sentimmental value she would not have worn it when she knew she would have to take it off and then forget it. You tried to help and if you hadn't she would have lost it anyway so she is actually better off as you have offered to pay half the excess. I think your offer is fair, no amount of money will make up for sentimental value anyway.

SazzSelby

What a shame she can't see you were only trying to help. If you hadn't picked it up there was no guarantee it would have been handed into lost property, someone could have easily stolen it. She should have been more careful with it in the first place by stashing it in a bag or pocket. I think you are being generous by offering to pay towards the excess, she will have to write the rest off as a bad life experience and hopefully it will teach her to be more careful in the future.

jamespir

why would they wear a 700 pounds watch to uni or college sorry but its their fault for being a tool

jax1305

she should claim on her insurance. you didn't steal it - she lost it (then you lost it again). she should've taken more care if it was worth that much. make sure you haven't still got it, check lost property at college. don't pay - you've offered to cover half the excess. if you'd left it behind and it went missing, she would still have to claim on the insurance and pay the full excess herself. if she hasn't got insurance, more fool her. you've been no more careless than she has, you've offered to make amends, there's no reason why you should end up out of pocket.