College roommate accidentally spills soda on your child's laptop...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It should be covered under your current homeowners insurance policy

I am not sure insurance covers negligence issues. Anyone could just dump water on their keyboard when they wanted a replacement.

https://www.allstate.com/tr/renters-insurance/renters-cover-computer.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Laptop was on DS's desk.

At the time DS thought perhaps laptop could be fixed as still under warranty so didn't press the issue with roommate...this happened just before returning home for Thanksgiving. DS used loaner laptop until returning home Friday. Yesterday we found out it's not repairable

I am FB friends with roommate's mom and we've been messaging last few months so I felt comfortable approaching her about the issue.

I think it should be the roommates responsibility to replace.

However, if that family is not well off and you are then I would bite the bullet and just replace it myself. If neither of you are well off then I would do a 50-50.

[Anonymous]

At this point your kid is already partially at fault for letting it sit for so long without being repaired - it might have been repaired if addressed right away. Get another laptop with insurance - either from the vendor, dorm insurance, or by putting a rider on your homeowners policy. I don’t get the sense that it’s a financial hardship for you, just that you are pissed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Laptop was on DS's desk.

At the time DS thought perhaps laptop could be fixed as still under warranty so didn't press the issue with roommate...this happened just before returning home for Thanksgiving. DS used loaner laptop until returning home Friday. Yesterday we found out it's not repairable

I am FB friends with roommate's mom and we've been messaging last few months so I felt comfortable approaching her about the issue.

Laptop was open on the desk? I think your kid shares part of the blame here. I know it’s annoying but I think you pay and chalk it up to lessons learned. It would be nice if the roommate offered to contribute, but it’s not his fault you aren’t insured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Laptop was on DS's desk.

At the time DS thought perhaps laptop could be fixed as still under warranty so didn't press the issue with roommate...this happened just before returning home for Thanksgiving. DS used loaner laptop until returning home Friday. Yesterday we found out it's not repairable

I am FB friends with roommate's mom and we've been messaging last few months so I felt comfortable approaching her about the issue.

Laptop was open on the desk? I think your kid shares part of the blame here. I know it’s annoying but I think you pay and chalk it up to lessons learned. It would be nice if the roommate offered to contribute, but it’s not his fault you aren’t insured.

Where else is the laptop supposed to be if not in a desk? Come on now!

[Anonymous]

I think that your kid can only expect them to pay if they offer. You shouldn’t get involved.

If you or your kid asks them to pay then it could ruin the friendship. If they don’t offer it could ruin the friendship.

[Anonymous]

I agree with not getting involved even though it is likely your money being spent to replace the laptop.

Your young adult could be lying about WHO spilled the laptop.

[Anonymous]

*soda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At this point your kid is already partially at fault for letting it sit for so long without being repaired - it might have been repaired if addressed right away. Get another laptop with insurance - either from the vendor, dorm insurance, or by putting a rider on your homeowners policy. I don’t get the sense that it’s a financial hardship for you, just that you are pissed.

+1000

The number one rule for when electronics get wet is to take care of it immediately. This was likely very fixable at the time.

[Anonymous]

Just an fyi, kids lie...

My son claimed his laptop screen randomly stopped working.

He came home with a clear black circle on the screen where he either stepped on it or elbowed it (?) while sleeping.

[Anonymous]

Long ago when I was in college, I let my roommate borrow my laptop while I was away for a week. It was stolen.

I was a very poor Pell Grant kid. It took me a long time to save up to buy that laptop. Roommate was a millionaire’s daughter. Did she offer to replace it? No. Should she have offered to replace it? I think yes.

[Anonymous]

The right thing for the roommate to do is offer to replace the laptop. But, that's unlikely.

Henceforward keep your laptop somewhere out of harm's way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It should be covered under your current homeowners insurance policy

I am not sure insurance covers negligence issues. Anyone could just dump water on their keyboard when they wanted a replacement.

https://www.allstate.com/tr/renters-insurance/renters-cover-computer.aspx

and anyone can just burn their house down too, I would hope some people are more honest than your thought process.

call your insurance company, i was on a call with ours last week and asked about theft etc from dorm room damage and we are covered under our current homeowners plus our umbrella

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Laptop was on DS's desk.

At the time DS thought perhaps laptop could be fixed as still under warranty so didn't press the issue with roommate...this happened just before returning home for Thanksgiving. DS used loaner laptop until returning home Friday. Yesterday we found out it's not repairable

I am FB friends with roommate's mom and we've been messaging last few months so I felt comfortable approaching her about the issue.

Don't approach the mom. Have your DS tell the roommate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It should be covered under your current homeowners insurance policy

I am not sure insurance covers negligence issues. Anyone could just dump water on their keyboard when they wanted a replacement.

https://www.allstate.com/tr/renters-insurance/renters-cover-computer.aspx

and anyone can just burn their house down too, I would hope some people are more honest than your thought process.

call your insurance company, i was on a call with ours last week and asked about theft etc from dorm room damage and we are covered under our current homeowners plus our umbrella

Theft is different than accidental negligence. To claim theft you likely have to submit a police report. They do not just take your word for it. If you burn your house down it is arson and insurance does not cover that either...for the same reason.