Damaged property and kids responsibility to replace

Family, Education, Health and Pets
21
I started reading your post and thought "awww, come on". Then I remembered something:

I was accused and shouted at for intimidating a boy in my class, which I DID NOT DO. It happened, I know, but I was not even part of it or near by.

I was not listened to. I had to apologize to him and give him a chocolate! (The boy did not have the balls to clear it up and name the real culprits).

Amazing how I not only never forgot that but actually it still angers me remembering it

I learnt one thing though: I never, ever let anybody force me to do anything similar again.

22
If you feel that the damage claimed is a to high amount of money i see no problem with asking for some proof that the claim is correct, that's also how every insurance company works. If she refuses to proof the claim is actually correct i would not pay.

Al a bit depending on the figures, if she asks for what is a normal amount of money for a average normal bag i would just pay up. If she says it's 235,- since it was a very nice bag, i'd love to see some proof of that first.

23
Because with kids it's often 6 of one & 1/2 a dozen of the other. This time the OPs kid broke the other ones bag. Last week the other one probably slung the OPs sons bag across the room but it didn't break. The "victim" child may think it's a good way to get new stuff if he then provokes another kid or blames them for something. Whatever the history, the other kid gets a brand new bag but at least if it's the same & not "better", there won't be too much emphasis on encouraging what might have gone on before.

I am crap at explaining it but I know what I mean. Maybe someone more intelligent can verbalise what I am tryng to say.

24

Possibly.

Once my son cam back from school bleeding all over with his new shirt ripped all over and covered in blood where a few kids two years older than him and much bigger had dragged him down the street.

All the offenders parents contributed to a new shirt. I think that was quite fair and in that case at least, I can't see the ambiguity that you are suggesting seems to be the norm.

25
I am not saying it's the norm. Just that kids push & shove each other all the time. Mine ended up with a split eyebrow with blood gushing when one of his buddies tripped him up & sent him flying. Another time it was mine that hit another kid (back he said) roughly & the other kid ended up in hospital. Kids get into all sorts of scrapes.

I also had the * bullied out of me at school. The kid didn't even get punished. Life isn't fair & never will be.

My point was that in any incident the "prize" shouldn't be more than the initial coconut. Like writing off your mini & getting a Jag from the insurance. So it's good that the OP has a realistic approach & is not just going in trying to beat up someones kid.

26
You certainly (may) have a point. On the other hand it may make perfect sense to upsize, 4th grade (very soon) isn't 1st grade when he probably got the destroyed bag.

I guess it all depends.

27
Have you seen the price of those Schultek bags? I nearly fell over backwards - my son was after one that was CHF 240.- !! Jaysus.

We had a "frank exchange of views" and I bought him a cheaper version.

28
but it's a schuuuulteeeeek!

I hate my parents.

29
I am aware of the prices, and if she claims it was such a bag then the only way for her to get money from me is to cough up proof.

30
That sounds like a horrible experience. And well done for having learnt that lesson from it.

Swissmama, is your son's situation similar to Curley's experience?

I first understood you to mean that both you and your son really do think that the other boy's bag is damaged, and you and your son agree that it was he who caused the damage. No?

31
We agree that there was damage done to the bag. The point is we're questioning how much damage was done to the bag (considering it's 3 years old).

The kid's mom said she'd buy the bag and we should contribute whatever we think is suitable. (And then insinuated that my kid was responsible for her kid's lost slippers, too...).

Considering the response, I've decided the money will come out of my son's pocket money, and then I look forward to the fact that these boys won't be going to school together come August