I (f, uni age) was at a gathering last night. It happened in the shared room of who we’ll call Sam (nb, uni age) and Matt (m, uni age), and involved us having drinks and playing cards. All eight of us sat in a circle around a piece of cardboard on the floor that we have always used as a table. We play all games on the "table," and poured all drinks on or over it to not get things on the rug.
Another friend, who I’ll call Jay (f, uni age) asked for a drink, and since I was near the bottles, I helped make it. I poured liquid into a 1.5oz cup, and she extended her 12oz cup towards me and over the table. I poured the 1.5 oz cup into hers, but accidentally spilled about 0.5oz onto the table, rug, and onto the back of Sam’s phone, which had it’s back facing up and a case on. Samhad placed their phone less than an inch from the table, which neither Jay or myself noticed. Sam dried off their case, took their phone out of it, and dried it off to make sure nothing got on it. Of course, I apologized for getting liquid onto their phone. Nothing happened from there, and we continued through the night and played games and drank more. The hangout stopped around 1am, and I didn’t see anyone until this morning when I woke up.
I woke up at 11am, and headed to the bathroom around 11:10. I ran into Sam, who said they wanted to talk to me, and said I would when I came back. We then went to my room, where they explained that their phone had slowly stopped working as the day went on. Sam said that their screen had stopped working slowly, coming up from the bottom. They asked me to help cover the cost of fixing it, as they think it was the liquid spilling that damaged it, and I said I would help by contributing $100. I have a summer job and have savings to spend throughout the year, where the $100 comes from. Sam asked me to ask my parents to help if they needed a new phone, and I said I’d ask. As expected, they said no, and that Sam is responsible for their own phone. I told Sam that around 4:15pm, and they stormed off.
I saw Sam next around 5:45pm, and they told me that they and their family cannot afford to cover the cost of fixing the phone. I restated that I can cover $100 of it, and they directly asked me how much money is in my bank account. I said I am not going to tell them. I do possess more $ than that, but I feel that amount is a lot. I then said what my dad suggested I say: it was their action to put their phone that close to the table, and I was not the one holding the cup. Sam didn’t tell Jay or I that their phone was close to where Jay held the cup. Sam’s phone has also been in a funky state for a while, and said during this conversation that they were told it would be fine as long as nothing damaged the screen, but the liquid went on the back. I feel as if Sam is trying to manipulate me because they know I have savings, after I offered to cover $100 of it. AITA for not paying for the entire thing?
EDIT: My friend who we’ll name Callie noted my uni has an emergency fund that covers tech such as phones in circumstances like damage or theft. My plan is to tell Matt and ask him to tell Sam, but I don’t think I should revoke my initial offer, either.
NTA. Accidents happen. I feel like they are trying to extort you for a better phone. I highly doubt their phone is even glitching to begin with.
I have seen that the phone doesn’t work, Sam showed it to me when they came over this morning.
NTA
The phone was initially fine after the incident and it is unlikely the tiny amount of liquid on the back of the phone caused the damage of the screen as it was quickly wiped off, the phone was protected by a casing and the phone appearantly had previous malfunctions.
I suggest to either find a fair solution together where all “incident contributors” (Jay, you, Sam) pay an amount (*based on an actual estimate for the repair and whether the damage was caused by liquids and not what Sam feels is an adequate amount*) or refuse payment alltogether.
Personally, I’d not pay and reconsider being friends with Sam.
Sam alleges that the very small part of the bottom stopped working last night, but they didn’t say anything then so I have no idea if they are telling the truth or not. Does that change anything?
Their phone was already broken, they’re using this opportunity to get a new phone. They’re not your friend. Nta.
NTA. Seems like their phone was already on its way out and they are using this situation to get a new phone out of you. A bit of fluid on the device will unlikely cause catastrophic failure like this.
Asking how much is in your bank account gave away the intentions and motive here.
Buy a bag of rice to dry out the phone. NTA
NTA. Offering $100 was generous. Asking how much money you have was inappropriate.
NTA, saying their phone was already on its way out, its likely most of the repair cost comes from that. 100$ is a good offer. Plus, if it’s water damage, it is typically cheaper to look for a replacement (a modest 2nd hand model sits around 100£ in my area, not sure about other countries).
As a uni student myself (a clumsy one at that) I have a replacement or coping plan for every important object in my life, ESPECIALLY when it is on its last legs, any less is just bad foresight.
NTA. it sounds like they’re trying to take advantage of you and their phone was already on the outs.
i saw your comment saying it was an iphone 12. those are old enough at this point that its not worth repairing. she could take the $100 from you and put it towards something used for sure (if you still felt it was your fault, which it’s not)
NTA
But also 0.5oz isn’t going to destroy a phone. Especially since they wiped it dry.
They are full of shit.
And if it’s an iPhone they’re even more full of shit. For at least the past 4 models, iPhones have been essentially waterproof. I didn’t notice I had pushed mine into my pool a couple of years ago and it was in the pool for over 5 mins and was perfectly fine.
Even if it was truly the water that killed it (which it’s not), it was an accident and it’s not on you to pay for it. Offering $100 is more than generous.
NTA. while it is possible that some liquid got into the phone from what happened, it seems unlikely with the case on and the phone being upside down that enough liquid go into the phone to do damage from the way you described the situation. if the liquid truly did cause the phone to stop working, i would not pay anything until i saw an itemized estimate from a repair shop saying what the damage was and what it would cost to fix. but even an iphone12 should be able to withstand the amount of liquid that was spilled on it. i agree with others that i am skeptical that this was the event that caused the phone to stop working. also any time liquid is spilled on a phone, the phone should be turned off immediately and left to dry for a minimum of 24 hours. there is also a way to eject liquid from an iphone12, which sam should also try.
NTA. I get that any amount of water getting IN the phone can damage it. But you’re saying that you spilt 0.5 oz. That’s a tablespoon worth of liquid, that went on the table, the rug and the BACK of her phone case. It seems super sketchy that a previously glitchy phone is now “not working due to water damage”. She’s using it as an excuse to get a new phone
Nta, I dropped my phone into the tub one time. It has been fine after letting it dry out. If his phone was working wonky before the spill then I highly doubt it’s from the spill. He’s just tryna get a new phone on someone else dime and saw his chance.