Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay to replace the sink I damaged?

jack61616

Let’s be honest.. You shouldn’t be messing about if your a DIYer and then going to moan if you cause damage? You thought you’d give it the big un and went and broke the sink. At least you didn’t flood her house!! Obviously you pay for the sink
 ‘you dropped it’.  Makes me laugh that you’d even put this on here! Anyone doing a job like that would be fully accountable if the ceiling comes down and would have to take responsibility. 

sheath12

Definitely you should offer to pay or your friendship wont last it will always be the elephant in the room.

Littlefoot20

Peter_Griffin said:

It feels like a very British answer but ..... my expectation is that you should offer to pay and apologise profusely, they should politely decline your offer, so you ask again and they decline trying to show as much as grace as possible and hide the fact that they are clearly livid and actually want you to pay but can’t say that.  This should continue for some time ....

I love this 😂 and agree totally!

CanAmSteve

I had a similar experience, except it was bathroom shelving and my drill slipped and cracked the toilet lid. I offered to replace the lid but my friend graciously declined. It was a Council flat and he managed to have it replaced when some upgrading was done a little later. I think there are several considerations here - "we" are not hiring ourselves out - we are doing a favour. No degree of professionalism is implied. Also, a chipped sink or cracked toilet lid are cosmetic - the devices still work as designed and in the end, the original case and mine the recipient had an improved situation. Even at £70 for a new basin, compare to the cost of a plumber for an hour...

Itsonlyme2

Yep, pay up and be big, but control your future urges to help in future.

podgy

Tell him to take it out of your wages!

REJP

Nobody has mentioned that your friend should have household insurance to claim for the damage.
If a claim is made which involves payment of an excess, then pay that.   You admit you broke it, the decent thing to do is pay if your friend does not have insurance.  I am not a lawyer but I think there is a clause in my own household insurance policy covering me for accidental damage to property not in my own home.  Under the "Public liability" section.
There are people on here who will no doubt know the answer to that point better than I do.
Honestly, why is this even a dilemma?  If you replace the sink at your expense and your friend can claim on insurance then you get your money back.
I tend to agree with those who have said you offered to do the work, therefore you are liable for damage.  Hopefully your plumbing does not spring a leak causing expensive damage.  You don't say if you are a professional plumber in your question.  If you are, then you should be insured for damage.

REJP

Sorry, I have just read that you offered your "amateur assistance" therefore my comment about asking if you are a professional plumber is out of order.

MalMonroe

I agree with REJP - I was also wondering why nobody mentioned insurance. 

It's always difficult when you've offered your assistance to a friend and it's not something I'd do but given that it's been done, with damage, if there was no insurance to cover the replacement, I'd have to buy a brand new basin. This isn't something to feel resentful about. You should pay it, yes.

I also have to say that I'd not be happy about 'amateur plumbing' since there are rules and regs about that kind of thing.  

MalMonroe

--Tony-- said:

The first action of any decent person would be to offer to pay for the damage done, anyone wondering if the "should" pay speaks volumes.
Additionally most real and decent friends would not accept the payment anyway.

Exactly this.