Broken glasses - person refusing to pay.

Lakst35 on 06/04/2014 - 00:22

Hi I'm a first year student at Monash. And on Friday taking the bus home from university there were a couple of kids on the bus, sitting next to me. The kids were quite rowdy and because the bus was very full since it was the same time high schools usually finish I couldn't switch spots. These kids started fighting over an iPad on the bus where the person next to me ended up hitting the other while I was grabbing something from my bag. This resulting in him hitting me with his elbow and breaking my glasses. Luckily only the frame broke. And whilst he did not seem remorseful. He agreed to pay and gave me his phone number, name, his address and his mums phone number. I was able to check his phone number that it was correct by calling him.

However, since then he has not responded to my text messages, he seems to have blocked both numbers I have called him on, and I believe his mums phone number was fake, as when I called I only got a man with a very bad attitude who had no idea who or what I was talking about.

I do not know what to do, I believe he is a John Monash student due to his bag and his friends bags all having the John Monash logo. And I was able to confirm his name by asking a student. However, this student tells me he is from Melbourne University, and that he simply goes to Clayton to game at an internet cafe on Friday. I'm not sure whether I believe him as he seems to be covering for his friend as he told me that the guilty person is his friends friend, yet is unable to tell me their mutual friends name and he tells me that the person who broke my glasses does not have Facebook, yet on the bus the person told his friends to check his fb wall for him, to see if a post was deleted.

I'm not sure what else to do. Apart from call him repeatedly using a private number and look for his name in a year book at John Monash once I get my hands on one. It would be helpful if you all could guide me in my predicament as these glasses did cost a lot.

General Discussion

Comments

  • zhenjie on 06/04/2014 - 00:34
    +8

    Contact both schools you suspect him being a student of. They'll generally followup

    • Baghern on 06/04/2014 - 09:09
      +5

      I've done this. Successful result.

      Schools are more worried about their reputation especially if it reaches the media.

  • juventino on 06/04/2014 - 00:35
    +1

    Don't know what you can really do since the witnesses are basically his friends. But you can try to confront him politely, sometimes the word 'cops' might change people's behaviour drastically.

    He's most likely to be studying at Monash as well. I mean if I am a Melb Uni student, why would I travel 1.5 hours from Melb University to Monash Clayton on a Friday just to play internet game, while bringing a Monash backpack?

    In any case, you can probably still find him every Friday anyway about the same time at the bus stop.

  • juventino on 06/04/2014 - 00:38
    +2

    and oh…try searching Facebook, instagram, etc etc using his name and school he goes to.

    • plmko on 06/04/2014 - 02:28
      +2

      Yes, I believe Facebook has now made name search to be mandatory. Search and try and find a profile pic that matches your memory.

  • eatwell365 on 06/04/2014 - 00:45
    +4

    Document incident (time, bus detail, witness) and damage (glasses, injury). Provide other party with an opportunity to deal with privately and set time limit for response. Report to schools - describe events - check with school if it prefers its own investigation or to report the assault to police.

  • c64 on 06/04/2014 - 08:11

    i manage to break my glasses so much i only buy cheap ones online (~$20). then it is no major drama should i sit on them or scratch the lenses.

    anyway, mailing a letter of demand can't hurt, even if they don't reply.

  • p1 ama on 06/04/2014 - 09:09

    You can report it to the school, but they actually don't have any legal responsibility because the student was obviously not on school grounds…etc.

    Your best bet is to just go to the local police station and report it, but even then, I'm doubtful they'll actually follow it up. You might be able to get the school to pay up because they'll be afraid of bad press and stuff, but apart from that, there's not much you can do.

    • Tal_Shiar on 07/04/2014 - 03:54

      You can report it to the school, but they actually don't have any legal responsibility because the student was obviously not on school grounds…etc.

      irrelevant… you wear a uniform, you have to behave just like you would in the workplace, same expectation applies for school kids…

      • p1 ama on 12/04/2014 - 01:00

        Yes, but it doesn't change the fact that the school has no legal obligation here.

  • Ughhh on 06/04/2014 - 11:02
    +1

    Write a letter to the school about it, students have to behave like they're still on school grounds when wearing their uniform in public.

  • Davo1111 on 06/04/2014 - 12:32

    Make a police report or contact the school.

  • Almost Banned on 06/04/2014 - 16:57
    +11

    Bikies

  • Unorthodox on 06/04/2014 - 19:22

    Police report and contact school.

    Try get a photo of his ID next time too.

    Yeah…John Monash students and Wesley students always get rowdy on the bus. Luckily, I've never had to shove them out of the way etc.

  • MissLouise on 07/04/2014 - 00:26

    I work in a school. One of my colleagues had a mirror smashed off her car accidentally by a Year 8 student running past her car after school while it was parked in a nearby street. It stuffed the electronics and was going to cost about $700 to repair. He ran away, but a few people saw what happened and told her who the kid was. She spoke to the police who said it was a civil matter, and that they wouldn't investigate a kid, but her only option was to send a letter of demand to the parents to cover the cost of the repairs. The Principal caught wind of this and called her in, telling her that under no circumstances was she to give such a letter to the student, and that the school would back the student if she pursued the matter further. She ended up paying for the repairs.

    I think you might find it very difficult to pursue this as there is little support behind you, the police and the law won't be able to back you up, even though someone else is in the wrong here. However, you could email the school and describe the conduct of the students on the bus. Many students who have school iPads and Laptops will have signed contracts that these devices are not to be used on public transport as they are not covered by insurance if they are damaged, lost or stolen from these places. It is unlikely that the school will chase up on the cost of the repair for you, but it is highly likely they will speak to the student/s involved about their behaviour. The more detail you can give to the school about the kids involved, the easier it will be for them to identify who was involved and follow it up. They will not be able to confirm any student details like names due to privacy, so for your efforts, you will probably get a polite email in response saying thank you and the matter is being dealt with. It's up to you though; the worst that will really happen to them is that they will get a talking to by the principal… it won't do anything about your glasses!

    BTW: schools are on holidays now until April 22nd.

    It's not fair and it is always disappointing when people do not do the right thing, but unfortunately, it happens from time to time. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

    • eatwell365 on 07/04/2014 - 04:25

      It is sorry to hear the system has let Its people down.

    • Davo1111 on 07/04/2014 - 10:23

      The Principal caught wind of this and called her in, telling her that under no circumstances was she to give such a letter to the student, and that the school would back the student if she pursued the matter further.

      So instead of the school just mediating the issue, they suggest that they're going to commit perjury? jesus.

  • cdaddy on 07/04/2014 - 07:19
    +1

    Try calling his number from another number. It's very easy to block a number on iphones

  • crazymofo on 07/04/2014 - 07:52

    If you dial 1831 before the number you call it should block your caller is id. But it does look like even if the kid did answer it would not help you much.

  • Cheeper on 07/04/2014 - 08:34

    If you want to avoid the pain just get new frames.

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