broken window and school insurance

withabix

The excess on the school's insurance will probably be very high for damage.

£5-£10,000 maybe.

Pay up. It wasn't accidental damage, it was your boy deliberately throwing stones at a building.

Sell his Xbox and games to pay for it.

Owain_Moneysaver

While I agree with all the previous posts, you could return the invoice to the school pointing out that they were in loco parentis at the time and so any parental responsibility for damage caused by the child rests with them.

You do not wish to set a precedent for admitting liability in case future malfeasances are of the burning-down-the-science-wing variety.

LandyAndy

When I was 12 (1969) I kicked a rugby ball in a classroom and smashed a flourescent. I had to repay the cost (£1) at 5/- a week. Never occurred to me or my parents that it was someone else's responsibility.

littlerat

Hmmm, I have to say I'm going to come down on the opposite side to this - if it was a neighbour's window, the OP would've presumably been responsible for the child at the time, but unless the school is very different to mine was, parents aren't allowed in to keep an eye on their kids.

Yes children should never throw stones... but 95% do at some point.

My brother once put a tennis ball through a window playing "rounders" at primary school - it was in PE, he was facing the window, and everyone (including him) just underestimated his power hitting it. But yes, he put it through while hitting it towards it. My parents didn't pay - it was during a lesson and the teachers set it up that they'd hit in that direction.

There was another incident with a football while I was there too - which at one point when the lad hadn't owned up, we were told if nobody did the bill would be split between us :eek: Not sure if his parents paid, I know they were asked and were arguing - it was during a breaktime footy game.

That's the thing - the OP's son wasn't aiming at the window, it was bad luck where one stone went. If it's been throwing a tennis ball around I doubt anyone would think they should pay - well unfortunately, kids tend to throw/play with whatever is to hand.




Edit: I have to add, I find it amusing everyone assumes the son has an allowance it can be paid out of, or an xbox that can be sold. He may have, but not all kids do.

luxor4t

Caroline_a wrote: »

...... it might be an accident that the stone hit the window, but it certainly wasn't an accident that your son threw the stone.

Also, one afternoon hardly sounds fitting punishment for stone throwing - it's two days' exclusion in the local school.

marleyboy

OP - Accidents do happen its true, but the accident occurred as a result of a deliberate act. Your going to have to cough up, but I am sure if you explain any financial difficulties, the school will have no problem in allowing you to pay instalments until the debt is cleared.

cutestkids

I think it is only right that you should pay then your son should pay you back.

If nothing else it will teach him that there are consequences for his actions, I am sure he knew that he should not have been throwing stones in the first place so perhaps if he has to pay for it he will think twice.

kitschkitty

How old is he, becuase I think my response would be different depending on if he was 5 or 15.

pug_in_a_bed

withabix wrote: »

The excess on the school's insurance will probably be very high for damage.

£5-£10,000 maybe.

Pay up. It wasn't accidental damage, it was your boy deliberately throwing stones at a building.

Sell his Xbox and games to pay for it.

The excess won't be anywhere near this, likely in the hundreds mark. My works yearly premium is only £18,000 and covers almost 200 buildings across the UK, so a single school will be less.

I'd say pay up and let the lad pay out gradually

the_cat

An accident? No it wasn't!

Whilst he did not intend to do damage, he chose to throw the stones (which in itself would be a punishable offense imo) and must accept that this choice has consequences.

What difference does it make that the school has insurance? Why should they have to pay for your son's mistake? You have a good opportunity to drum home the message that dim behaviour = bad things for him

Cough up and recoup the money from his pocket money/treats etc and think yourself damn lucky that he learns his lesson over a broken window and not a broken school friend!