Coffee spilled over my laptop, laptop now dead

[kYuZz]

Hi,

I'm contracting for a big company and this morning an employee (who also manages me) spilt coffe on my laptop, which instantly stopped working. I wasn't insured for accidental damage.

I managed to go to the store and bought a new one so I could continue work.

What I'm thinking now is whether I could ask the company for compensation and whether this would be a good move.

Opinions?

[MrButton]

How much was the laptop worth at the time, roughly?

Have you double checked your business insurance? I know mine includes equipment. Maybe ring them and ask too.

[WordIsBond]

Depends on the relationship and the person. If the manager is a decent person, ask him if their insurance covers it. If he's a decent person, he'll feel bad about it and see if he can find a way to cover it. If he's not a decent person, forget it, he'll say you bumped his arm or something, or resent you pursuing it, and you'll be gone very soon. It's probably not enough to risk the contract, unless you want out anyway.

Does your contract require you to provide a laptop, or is that voluntary on your part? If the former, your case is a lot stronger.

Your own business insurance is second-best. Getting the client to cover it through their insurance or just through their own funds is best, but only if the relationship justifies it.

[northernladuk]

If you had one of their laptops and you dropped coffee would they expect you to pay up and replace it?

I would be very surprised if their business insurance covers anything on site that the client doesn't own. I also think big corps don't bother claiming single laptops on insurance as well.

[tarbera]

Be smart man, if was £500 or so, ask boss if you can put an extra day on timesheet on your next holiday to cover the costs

Everyone a winner

[kYuZz]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

I'll check my insurance first and then I'll try and find out if they're covered for this kind of accidents.

[northernladuk]

I'd check your paperwork you signed when you started on site. I'd expect some kind of BYOD policy or wording about your stuff on site.

[aoxomoxoa]

Hi,

I'm contracting for a big company and this morning an employee (who also manages me) ......

Oh dear NLUK missed this open goal. I think he's NCOTBAC :-)

[northernladuk]

Oh dear NLUK missed this open goal. I think he's NCOTBAC :-)

Damn.. Good call!!!

[northernladuk]

FWIW I think the OP has made a mistake if his laptop isn't insured and that's his problem. I wouldn't expect the client to replace it because he's failed to insure it.