A Reddit user asked the community if he was being unreasonable for asking his nephew and sister to pay him back $2,000 after the nephew lost his scooter.
A New Electric Scooter
The Original Poster (OP) purchased an EMOVE Cruiser electric scooter last year and subsequently made modifications to increase its speed, add a new handlebar, and implement other changes.
The original cost of the scooter was $1500, but with the additional modifications, the total cost exceeded $2000.
House Sitting
OP’s sister Nancy, a 43-year-old woman, and nephew Tom, a 13-year-old boy, regularly house sit for OP when they are away on business.
relies on them to care for his pets and plants, and the change of scenery is appreciated by both Nancy and Tom.
A Business Trip
During a recent week-long business trip, Nancy and Tom were asked to house sit once again.
Out of Bounds
Despite previous warnings from OP that the electric scooter is not suitable for children due to its high speed, Tom has repeatedly expressed an interest in riding it.
Nancy is aware of this and is also aware of OP’s express forbidding of such behavior.
Breaking the Rules
Upon OP’s return from their business trip, Nancy told him that Tom had taken the electric scooter out for a ride despite being forbidden to do so.
The Scooter Was Stolen
He had then left the scooter unattended, and it was stolen.
OP was understandably angry and upset by this turn of events and asked them to leave.
Demanding Money
OP informed Nancy and Tom that they would be responsible for replacing the stolen electric scooter.
Nancy pleaded with OP, stating that they could not afford it and suggesting that Tom could repay him by doing chores around the house.
Vacation Canceled
However, OP was not satisfied with this arrangement, insisting that the scooter could not be replaced in this manner.
Nancy said the only way they could pay OP back would be to dip into their vacation funds.
Insists on Compensation
OP did not feel bad for her stating this and still insisted on being paid back.
Excessive?
OP’s parents have intervened in the situation and expressed their belief that OP’s punishment for Tom’s actions is excessive.
A Suitable Punishment
While they agree that Tom should be held accountable and OP should be compensated, they believe that canceling the family vacation is excessive and cruel.
Instead, they suggested a payment plan.
Unacceptable
OP was not amenable to this suggestion, as he relies on his scooter for commuting and needs it immediately.
He reiterated that Tom had been warned not to ride the scooter due to its danger.
Having Doubts
After some time has passed and his emotions subsided, OP begins to question whether he was being unreasonable in his demands and if he was potentially punishing everyone else for the actions of their nephew.
What Readers Said
A Reddit user advised OP to consider the possibility that his sister may not be able to afford the replacement and suggests a payment plan instead, stating that canceling their family vacation is a reasonable consequence for the nephew’s actions.
Several other users agree that canceling the vacation is a good punishment for the 13-year-old, who knew not to ride the scooter. They also suggest finding new house sitters in the future and demanding that his sister fully replace the scooter, with payment plans or loans as potential solutions.
On Reflection
Many users also argue that vacations are a luxury and canceling one is not an unreasonable consequence for the nephew’s mistake.
They assert that his sister is responsible for her child’s actions and should pay for the replacement immediately and that payment plans should be in writing to avoid future problems.
Ultimately, the majority of commenters agree that OP is not in the wrong in this situation and that the nephew and sister need to learn the consequences of their actions.
More From Wealthy Living
This frustrated Army Veteran has turned to Reddit for advice after he won the lottery. He doesn’t need financial advice though, he needs family advice. Army Veteran Wins the Lottery, His Vengeful Family Threatened to Sue Him for More Than He Has
He Welcomed His New Neighbors by Being Neighborly, They Bit His Head Off. He Waited for Them to Need Him, Then Shot Them Down!
A Redditor’s post on the malicious compliance board went viral recently. In it, a man described how he got some petty revenge on a new neighbor that had shouted at him for being neighborly. He Welcomed His New Neighbors by Being Neighborly, They Bit His Head Off. He Waited for Them to Need Him, Then Shot Them Down!
The HOA Wouldn’t Let His Daughter Have Her Pet Bunny, so He Let Nature Do Its Thing!
Today’s tale of revenge is of the cute and fluffy type! A guy details his neighbor’s story of revenge on an overeager Homeowners Association (HOA) member who’d wronged him. If you’ve ever had the displeasure of falling foul of an HOA, this story will certainly resonate with you! The HOA Wouldn’t Let His Daughter Have Her Pet Bunny, so He Let Nature Do Its Thing!
She’s Pregnant and After Being Taken to the Hospital Her Husband Was Uncontactable. Now She’s Turned the Tables
This Redditor turned to the Reddit community after her husband ignored her when she was taken to the hospital with a medical emergency. She responded with a bit of cold shoulder treatment, ignoring him back. She wanted to know if she was in the wrong for ignoring him. She’s Pregnant and After Being Taken to the Hospital Her Husband Was Uncontactable. Now She’s Turned the Tables
He’d Had Enough of His Racist Dictator of a Boss, so He Decided It Was Time to Take Him Down by Reporting Him to the Department of Labor
This guy has a story about a bad boss that many of us will be able to relate to! His tale of getting one over on will surely leave a smile on your face. He’d Had Enough of His Racist Dictator of a Boss, so He Decided It Was Time to Take Him Down by Reporting Him to the Department of Labor
The post Disobedient Nephew Lost His Electric Scooter and Now the Whole Family Is Going to Miss Out on a Vacation to Pay For It – Is It Fair Punishment? first appeared on Wealthy Living.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Denis Belitsky. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Reddit