Ethics Question, what should I do?
Question by David W:
A friend borrows my truck while I am on vacation, and the key breaks off in the ignition. I have an extra key, and it’s easy to get they key out. Nevertheless, my friend calls a locksmith, rather than me. It costs $50 to remove the broken key from the lock and make a copy. If he had called me, I could have gotten the extra key to him from the person who is watching my pets. Now my friend wants me to pay for all, or part of the bill from the locksmith.
A friend borrows my truck while I am on vacation, and the key breaks off in the ignition. I have an extra key, and it’s easy to get they key out. Nevertheless, my friend calls a locksmith, rather than me. It costs $50 to remove the broken key from the lock and make a copy. If he had called me, I could have gotten the extra key to him from the person who is watching my pets. Now my friend wants me to pay for all, or part of the bill from the locksmith.
How much if any should I pay, and why?
More questions & answers:
- What do you do when your car key breaks off in the ignition?
- A friend made me pay part of a bill to have a lock repaired in her home?
- My boyfriend wont let me into my place of residence 2 get my stuff out. Threatens to sue me if I go to our apt
- can he do this?
- Am I wrong? I rent a house out to an elderly lady who has the support of a close family. She’s a good tenant
By . Comment.
Comments on Ethics Question, what should I do? »
uh…he borrowed, he broke, he contracted for service…..
pretty simple; his bad unless you feel charitable and want to pay part
What’s the friendship worth?
I would say nothing but I would think your “friend” , knowing that they broke the key would not even ask you for the money.
1.) you didn’t have to let them borrow the truck
2.) they were the one who broke the key off. if you didn’t have an extra key or a way to get the broken one out, would they have stuck you with the bill?
3.) they should have called you first and let you make the decision of what to do with your piece of property.
In my opinion you shouldn’t have to pay for any of it. You were nice enough to loan them the vehicle, they broke the key while they were using it….then I say that they are responsible.
If it is a friendship that you would rather keep then I would not offer any more than half.
First of all, I doubt that it’s easy to get the key out if it broke off in the ignition. He probably tried to get it out himself before he called the locksmith. So I don’t think it was unreasonable for him to call the locksmith.
And most of the $50 is probably just for the locksmith coming out to get the key out of the ignition. Once the locksmith is already there, it shouldn’t cost much to have him make another key. And it’s good that you still have an extra key. So I don’t think it was unreasonable for him to have the locksmith make an extra key.
But I don’t see why you should have to pay for any of it. He was the one who was using the truck when it happened, and he was the one who broke the key.
First off, don’t EVER let anybody ‘borrow’ your stuff! Second off, if you DO let a close friend or family member borrow your stuff you should know that THEY know THEY are liable if THEY mess anything up. Pay the locksmith?lol You should pay the locksmith absolutely nothing and you should tell your ‘friend’ how it is: if they are worth having around, they will understand. If not, kick them to the curb!