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

youngroachie

There are some very good & brand new 'smartphones' in stock at various well-known stores for £35-£40. Additionally, if she just needs a working phone for personal safety and parental peace-of-mind, there are LOTS of basic handsets (still with colour screen, camera and 2G internet) widely available for about £10-£15. Choose one, buy it and stop bickering... imagine what you'd feel like if something happened to her and she didn't have a basic phone to call you.

csgohan4

What if the 11 year is mentally/physically challenged? I doubt you can give them life lessons anyways.  it wouldn't be the child's fault regardless, the parents should have responsibility for ensuring expensive items are protected. 

Not sure why the mother would ask for the father to pay? Were they consulted on the phone type? Insurance options? case protection?

sbellare

You bought the phone, and you did not insure it, so you should pay for the repair, and explain to your daughter the value of the things you buy her. It has nothing to do with her father! 

Hadenoughofitall

You bought an eleven year old a phone and didn't get it insured. You pay for it. Or better still tell her she can have one when she is old enough to look after it.

Speedy100

I still cannot understand why someone would buy a £100 phone for an 11 year old child. Maybe yes a second hand one £20, but as parents are we not sending out the wrong message to our kids?
Amazingly most of us grew up & went through our childhood & teens without a phone. And we survived.
I'm not saying we don't get them this sort of thing, phones/computers/etc, but should we not take responsibility for our actions, & that would include showing our children how to us & respect the item whatever given.
Or are we so pressurised in getting them things because Jimmy over the road has got one? If so,  then we need to think on.

Kagsy_le_Wagsy

That's your daughters' Christmas present sorted. You can have it repaired for her Christmas gift. Of course that means something else for her will not be being bought this year. Lifes lessons come in many forms.

Littlefishinbigpond

A couple of points;
1. Why does an 11 year old need a mobile phone? 20 years ago kids did not have mobile phones, and there are many work around in today’s society that does not necessitate having a mobile phone.  Mobile phones and the apps that you can get on them result in kids growing up too quickly. If they need a phone, just get them a very basic one, so that they can make phone calls and not download apps!  This could make them appreciate a little more the phone you had got them. 

2. It is clear that she isn’t yet responsible for a phone, if she breaks it and expects to have someone else have it fixed at their expense; that isn’t how life works. Make this an important life lesson on taking responsibility for their actions and understanding the consequences, maybe, just maybe they might start to look after their personal belongings.  

Hazeld15

I can't see what difference it makes where she was.  Your daughter broke it, your daughter pays to have it repaired. You have to teach them that they need to look after their stuff and mom/dad isn't going to replace something that they broke. It certainly isn't her dads' job to pay. Perhaps next time use a screen protector?  They are good and very cheap.

TEZZA1953

Girl pays. End of case.

roddydogs

A screen protector won't stop it breaking.