Money Moral Dilemma: Who should pay for my daughter's broken phone?

MSE_Sarah

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

 I bought my 11-year-old daughter a mobile phone for £100, which I didn't get insured. She smashed the screen when she was at her dad's house. Should he pay to repair the phone, as it happened while my daughter was with him?

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tacpot12

It's probably a conversation you need to have as parents whether you will replace the phone, or let her learn that when a valuable item is broken, it can't always be replaced immediately (someone might have to save up to replace it). If you both agree it should be replaced, then perhaps both parents should contribute half the cost of replacing it.

If you feel that her dad has allowed her to do something daft like take it into the bath or play throw and catch with it, then you might ask him for more of a contribution, but otherwise 50/50, if it is to be replaced.

I don't see that where the accident happened much bearing on who should pay; I can imagine the reaction if the phone was damaged at school and you asked the school/teacher to replace the item.

MovingForwards

The dad didn't break it, so he shouldn't have to pay for it.

The daughter broke it so she needs to find a way to pay for it's repair, either by using pocket money or some other way of paying the bill off.

JamoLew

Daughter needs to learn to take care of expense items

She broke it, she pays 

Pollycat

Blame yourself for not insuring the phone.

74jax

I'm not sure why the dad should pay.. 
Was he on it at the time? You say daughter broke so I expect it wasn't anything to do with him. 
I'd let daughter do without it fix it. 
I don't think you or dad should pay. 

Bogof_OAP

Pollycat said:

Blame yourself for not insuring the phone.

Probably cost more than £100 to do that!

Pollycat

Bogof_OAP said:

Pollycat said:

Blame yourself for not insuring the phone.

Probably cost more than £100 to do that!

Lack of insurance was brought up in the original 'dilemma' so they must having been thinking about taking it out. But didn't.

Bogof_OAP

Pollycat said:

Bogof_OAP said:

Pollycat said:

Blame yourself for not insuring the phone.

Probably cost more than £100 to do that!

Lack of insurance was brought up in the original 'dilemma' so they must having been thinking about taking it out. But didn't.

Pollycat said:

Bogof_OAP said:

Pollycat said:

Blame yourself for not insuring the phone.

Probably cost more than £100 to do that!

Lack of insurance was brought up in the original 'dilemma' so they must having been thinking about taking it out. But didn't.

Yeah, not sure I'd bother for a £100 phone though.

goldfinches

I think I agree with others who say that now is the time for your daughter to experience some of the consequences of her carelessness.
I would sit her down and explain the financial realities that will result from you replacing the phone with another handset such as there will be less money available for something else, you have to save the money first and that will take x months etc. etc.
I would suggest that she be the one to research whether the screen can be replaced locally and for how much and to decide whether she will ask around to see if she might for instance be able to borrow an older handset from friends or wider family for a while and so on. 
I expect this all sounds like a lot of hard work especially at this time of the year.
Perhaps you and your former partner can agree that this is an opportunity for your daughter to learn skills that will help her to become the adult that you both hope she will grow into.
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to look back at this year and pat yourselves on the back over this.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck and merry christmas too, goldfinches.

Morrigan_2020

A sturdy case is cheaper than insurance, for the future!