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

newkitchenfund

Yes, she's definitely trying it on - after all she is a drama student, and with the acting skills to spin a sob story like this I'm sure she'll go far! (I am not implying anything about the honesty of drama students in general by the way, I'm sure that on the whole they are just as honest as anyone else!).
You only have her word for it that it's worth £700. It's worth asking at college again just in case someone has handed it in.
But really, if you know you're going to have to take your valuable watch off for class, why wear it?

tallgirld

She's taking the mick! Don't pay her anything.

In fact she's the one who lost the watch not you!

(you only double lost it) :-)

Tiptaker

I'm intrigued as to how YOU managed to lose it! Anyhow, why on earth would she wear a £700 watch to a class that she knew she would have to take off and leave presumably in some open place (so anyone could have picked it up), let alone take it to college in the first place? If it was of such value and sentimental value why did she forget it? She is an example of why people don't do "favours" anymore - they tend to come back and bite you! I think your offer is fair, after all you could have kept quiet and she would have had to accept that she had lost it! But have you really searched everywhere and explored all lost property avenues?

Tiptaker

Just a really nasty thought . . . you are absolutely sure it was her watch and that she hasn't got her's on her wrist all along, and it was someone else's you picked up?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

davnig

I think she's being very harsh on you, doesn't sound like a friend to me.

I would offer to pay the excess

Sentimental value doesn't really enter the equation, if it meant that much why did she forget it??

As for that person who said you stole it I think they need to take a look at themselves, what a ridiculous statement!

brownm0435

My advice would be stick what you offered to do! You've been a good friend with finding it and having the intention of giving her it back in the first place! Yes you lost it but she is half to blame as she lost it herself to begin with so should take half the blame so stick to your guns and stick with paying half the access if she can claim on the insurance! I seriously feel she is trying it on and you'll soon find this out when and if she makes the insurence claim and make sure she shows you all documents as proof! If she provides you with nothing buy her a watch for £10 from Argos to replace the one that was lost and move on and find new friends!

bouncydog1

Do absolutely everything in your power to find it - get a photograph of it from her and report it to the police - get her to come with you to make the report - put posters up around the college etc. I would even place an ad in the local paper.

Do you have any idea where it could have been lost? Was it on campus, in halls, en route to your home. Really think and retrace your steps from when you picked it up to when you noticed it was lost as it might be found. Also the more publicity you give the missing item, the less likely another student is to wear it if they have picked it up.

Ask which insurer she is covered with and say it will have to be reported to them - if it really isn't worth £700 all of the above should make her have a rethink.

Wait and see what happens but stick to your guns.

VoucherMan

Never mind losing a watch.

If a 'friend' tried that with me then I'd lose the friend

bennett2kuk

You lost it you pay for it. I'd want some proof that it cost that much but if you'd left it where it was then it was her problem. As you moved it and YOU lost it then it's your responsibility.

If you don't have the £700 (I know I wouldn't be able to afford that) then you've definitely lost a friend and probably gained an enemy.

pennypinchUK

Tough. Life's not fair. She's lucky she's got insurance, that's what it's there for. If you're really feeling generous, pay the excess. If not, say sorry and lose a friend - she's trying to blackmail you using guilt.