Money Moral Dilemma: Should I ask the guest to replace my broken furniture?

x40ros

My daughter had some friends round and a lad smashed one of a pair of glass light shades that were 20 years old and no longer replaceable. He offered to pay but as he was only 15, we knew he couldn't afford the £300 that it cost to replace the matching pair. We paid up and looked on it that as we had, through our daughter, invited him to our house and therefore we took the risk that something might get damaged.

sugarbaby125

I would just put it down to experience and replace the item of furniture myself and not ask the guest for any money

Augustus_the_Strong

nomadgirl wrote: »

I'm amazed at some of the responses to this dilemma. Surely anyone who has been accepted into someone else's house, whether or not it's someone known to them, would at least offer to put right any damage they caused. Whether the offer is taken up is the decision of the home-owner. I believe it's known as decency??

Yes, but... if he doesn't, what then? I don't think you can ask him to pay anything, it's a risk you take in inviting people to your house.

aquarius02

Definitely ask the person responsible, to pay for a replacement or repair. If he were a decent person he would have offered in the first place, so it's highly unlikely you will be successful. The value of the item is immaterial. To use something, not intended for that purpose, to sit on, hence damaging it, is just vandalism.

--Tony--

Stupid question...


The sort of person (billy no mates) who would ask for payment would not have guests at their party in the first place.


Host a party, expect possible damage, spilled drink, damaged cupboard or worse......


Get over it, find some friends so you don't need strangers to fill your party!

tallgirld

I wouldn't ask them to pay for it. Put it down to experience and next time if you decide to have a gathering provide plenty of seating and make it clear which items of furniture are not for the human posteriors!!

If they offer to pay for it or replace then accept their offer.

emg

Maybe ask Helen and Olly, the exact same dilemma is on the current episode of the Answer Me This podcast!

marich

It's happened , they've gone , it's history . If you think life is some kind of courtroom drama and you are going to get whatever passes for justice in your head then just grow up !

Running around trying to get folk to fork out to replace your furniture will not be a good use of your time or energy .

Get a grip and move on !

Barryfan

Isn't this what household insurance is for? However, if you don't want to use this, I agree with other posters that you should have a quiet word with your friend about the damage caused.

davidmcn

emg wrote: »

Maybe ask Helen and Olly, the exact same dilemma is on the current episode of the Answer Me This podcast!

Yes, even stranger is that another recent dilemma was also [STRIKE]ripped off[/STRIKE] coincidentally the same as a problem from the then current edition of Answer Me This...