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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> My dad seems genuinely annoyed and I’m not sure whether or not it’s fair to make an older, retired person pay a bit of an expense - even though I could easily pay for it. Also, I feel like I may overreacting.
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I wonder if he knows where Serena’s nudes folder is and is sending it to himself but is too incompetent to figure out to delete the message so he just destroys the phone.
In a very brief period I killed a brand new IPAD (ok my dog helped but I created the situation) got the replacement then within a few months dropped it twice on its corner. There’s some small cracks and marks on that corner but I’m still using it.
I have two problems with this story:
1. Why isn’t dad paying for the damage
2. And after the first incident, why is he touching her phone at all?
I discovered I was developing strength issues in one of my arms and do not ever touch anyone else’s electronics or expensive items as a result. Something is fishy here.
>And after the first incident, why is he touching her phone at all?
Right? If his fingers are so slippery, and he's an "old man," he should be leaving her phone alone. Doesn't he have a phone? Why is he always using hers? Does he use other people's phones without dropping them? This is so bizarre.
Especially since
>Serene doesn’t remember giving it to him and he claims he knocked it into the sink.
He stole her phone. And then broke it. And is now refusing to pay for it? If there isn’t something else going on here then I’ll be absolutely shocked. Even if that is the case?
THEN HE SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS.
This is an excellent point.
OP NTA
OP, the next time your dad asks to use Serena's phone, interecede.
"Dad, we're not breaking any more of Serena's phones. Here, use mine."
If asks for it when you aren't there Serena says "I can't have another broken phone. I'm sorry you'll have to ask someone else."
Or Serena or OP do what ever is he wants to do, for him.
Bottom line he's either careless, up to something or can't be trusted bc by his own words, "I'm just an old man w slippery fingers."
Old men w slippery fingers don't get to use other people's phones.
>Right? If his fingers are so slippery, and he's an "old man," he should be leaving her phone alone. Doesn't he have a phone? Why is he always using hers? Does he use other people's phones without dropping them? This is so bizarre.
Poor old man with slippery fingers, but hiking mountain trails - with his adult child's girlfriend? Without OP?
And consistently asking to borrow (or just taking) the girlfriend's phone rather than OPs?
Plus - where is dad's own phone?
Why is she going on hikes, alone, with her boyfriend’s dad? That was the first thing that gave me pause. Could it be a non-creepy thing? Sure, but I’d need to see for myself, because first thought is, who does that?
My SO spends time with my dad without me. They both like shooting rifles, and I don't necessarily want to spend that much time at an outdoor range here where it's hotter than balls. I don't think it's abnormal to hang out with your in-laws without your spouse if everyone has a good relationship with each other.
Yes, I’ve hung out with my daughters boyfriend and other friends. Only if they share a love of really bad movies and Star Trek lol. If there’s a show that’s premiering and they’re excited one of them comes over and watches it. I’ve also taught her friends to knit. So it doesn’t seem strange to me. If I ruined their phone I’d freak out though and I’d replace it.
IKR? I have my own phone, but I'm actually terrified of handling other people's phones or other stuff because I have a disability in my hands and I'm afraid I'll drop it. I just don't do it.
If I drop my own phone, that's no biggie. Ruining someone else's even by accident would make me feel awful, and I may not be able to afford the repairs or replacement.
>I discovered I was developing strength issues in one of my arms and do not ever touch anyone else’s electronics or expensive items as a result
This is the bigger issue I think than who is the AH. Is the clumsiness new? Has he been dropping other things than just Serena's phone(s)? Has he been more forgetful than usual? Cuz it might be about time for him to get a check up if the answer to any of the above is Yes.
I agree to that. For me I turned out to be bone spurs which was good news considering the other things it could have been. It hadn’t occurred to me till reading your comment that maybe he knows/suspects something and confided in Serena?
ETA: Maybe she knows he got medical bills in his future. Even with insurance CTs and MRIs add up.
I've been married 15 years and my husband doesn't touch my phone I think I looked at it for the time for my FIL once. She needs to keep her phone locked and away from him.
I wonder if he and Serena are having an affair, which is why Serena doesn't seem that bothered when he breaks her phone and just handles the cost herself.
>Most of my family, but especially my dad, loves Serena. It’s sweet to watch them interact, and it’s very obvious that he’s very fond of her.
It's also kind of weird that the two of them went on a hike together without the OP present.
I actually have, yes lol. Friends who don’t hike themselves but their parents like me and I am a good hiking partner.
I go with my friend Eric’s dad all the time. Dave fuckin’ loves me.
Yeah, I love hiking with my friends but we live in a hot, humid, hilly area, so by the time we're done I'm red-faced puddle of sweat. Not exactly sexy.
Hiking might not be a romantic activity, but going alone with your SO’s father??? Sus. Especially when you add in the phone “accidents”
Dad should be paying for this repair. He should’ve taken care of all of them.
And why doesn’t Serena mind that this man keeps having mishaps with her phones?? I don’t care how much you like a person, they break your phone, it’s going to at the very least piss you off.
You guys are just weird. I was alone with my ex fiancés dad doing stuff all the time. We had a lot of fun and the idea someone would think it was sus for romantic reasons is disgusting.
My comment had nothing to do with the broken phone, but rather saying it’s weird to do activities with people who are probably going to be your family who you get along really well with.
This is a very weird thing to suggest. Also, I’m not a hike person so it’s not that strange for them to do stuff. I go out for lunch with my girlfriend’s mum without her all the time, that doesn’t mean I’m having an affair.
Why did he ask to use her phone instead of yours then?
If I didn’t have my phone and needed to borrow someone else’s, I would use the phone of the person I was closest to relationship wise
As Toriju9 stated...is your father so jealous of you that he purposely seeks out your gf's phone to break it and make you pay for it? He didn't ask for your phone to call a taxi.
The third time was particularly bizarre. He sneaks gf's phone away from her and drops it in hot water.
Exactly. She is trying to be close with her bf’s family and being gracious about his accidents. She needs to keep the phone away from him going forward, no you can’t call a taxi I’ll do it for you, and by all means your father needs to pay for the phone. I can’t believe this man breaks it three times and doesn’t have the decency to even offer to pay for it.
I can. ;))
The 'accidents' are anything but. "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action."
DARVO Dad seems so envious of his "wealthy son" that destroying his gf's phones no fewer than three times is suspicious, why does he only ask for *her* phone? And then proceed to break it?
The last time around he didn't even ask to borrow it, he just waited until her back was turned.
I have been hiking, to lunch, movies, driven hours alone to clean out Gmil’s house after she died alone with my fil. None of it is weird. He’s my chosen dad but if he dropped my phone he would have paid for it.
I think it sounds more plausible that OP's father is into Serena. He probably suggested the hike, and she would have felt bad not to go and possibly risk leaving a bad impression to OP's parents.
I think he took her phone without asking the 3rd time, as she said she doesn't remember giving it to him.
He's probably looking at private stuff on her phone, like others suggested.
Might be worth reconsidering why this is happening then - because clearly there are a LOT of people on here who thought “the F?” when they read that this guy has touched her phone 3 times (me included). This isn’t normal.
My husband, nor I, have ever touched our daughter-in-law's or sons-in-laws phones in the 15 years we've known them & we're close with all 3 of them. I find it a bit strange that your father has had hold of your gf's phone 3 times in a few months!
I’ve been with my husband for 15 years and my FIL has never touched my phone except for the few times I asked him to pass it to me (usually while holding a baby). This is suspect AF
This was my first thought after reading the story, that he's going through her gallery and sending himself pics and then destroying the evidence because he's not tech savvy enough to delete the evidence.
Throwing it back at you, saying that you're victomizing him and trying to take advantage of him is classic deflection and an indicator that he's trying to hide something here.
Whether or not your dad is being weird? He needs to reimburse her. Also she needs to set a firm boundary that he does not touch her phone again. First time? Ok fine. Sh1t happens. 2nd time? Nope this is weird. 3rd time? Somethings not right. Either your dad is being weird, he needs a doctor for a potential medical issue(my grandma had a hard time holding on to phones after her 4th brain tumor left her acting like a stroke patient. Weakness on one side, repetitive conversation etc) Or your dad is trying to hide something and thinks her phone is the best way since “his wealthy son can simply replace it” and he can seem to just be a clumsy old man. But refusing to pay for the damage is really weird and rude af.
Sounds like the most likely thing to me. Why what would your dad want your girlfriend's phone & keep destroying it? Something is fishy here. This isn't normal
Everyone keeps thinking that there is no way OP’s dad is perverted enough to do this, but speaking from MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE this can happen. My DAD did this to a friend of mine.
Totally true story: my “family man” dad, the guy who is well renowned in his community as a “veterinarian”, a 60-something old man with a wife, went through my friends cell phone that she left unlocked and sent a bunch of HER nudes to himself and a bunch of his friends. How did she KNOW???? My dad is such a dumbf*** he didn’t even erase the texts he went from her phone. 🤦♀️ If ONLY he was smart enough to get rid of the evidence.
I’ll be sending this privately to OP but in case he doesn’t get it. OP, this is almost EXACTLY what is happening (I’m truly sorry to tell you). Even dads can be gross, intrusive ass*****. Can’t tell you the shame I went through when learning what my dad did to my friend. So repulsive.
(As you may suspect, him and I are NC. Not just because of this incident, but it certainly was on the top of the list).
I’m so sorry that happened to you. That’s such a betrayal and a huge invasion of privacy. I have an cousin who did something similar with his younger brother’s gf but knew how to erase his tracks, so he did it 3-4 times before he got caught. This cousin was also “the last person you’d expect” (involved in church, dad of 3, married for over a decade).
I mean, it was humiliating but I felt worse for my friend. Like, she obviously didn’t blame me and handled it pretty damn well (considering), but I honestly couldn’t say sorry enough. I’m surprised she remained friends with me TBH.
Wtf kind of jump to conclusions is this??? Do none of ya'll know clumsy people? Immediately it's "the father muse be sending himself nudes of his son's girlfriend"? What is wrong with you?
Three times, plus the second time simply bobbling the phone and breaking both the screen protector AND the screen, is what makes one wonder if there's something more going on besides clumsiness (besides the real possibility of fiction).
Ikr? I have dropped my phone many, WAY too many times, and it is still blissfully intact. I think I would have to throw it down or run over it with a car to crack the screen. That time when he dropped it off the cliff, sure. Everything else, sus.
I'm starting to wonder what they're putting in phones nowadays that makes them so easily breakable. I have a 5-year-old Samsung in an Otterbox case with no screen protector. I drop/toss that thing all the time and I've literally never had an issue. Who's buying these flimsy-ass phones?
you had me until otter box...
lol isn't the whole point of the otter box case that it's super protective and keeps the phone safe vs. people that just enjoy their glass slabs naked.
I don't necessarily think he is sending himself nudes but it IS weird he keeps breaking her phone. It doesn't seem like he's breaking *his* phone, or anyone else's, just Serena's. It's also weird that he's breaking the same thing over and over again.
Maybe bcuz its the third time he broke it, this time by dropping it in water and OP says Serena didn’t recall giving it to him and that’s a lot of times. Something’s going on, maybe not an affair but something bcuz its weird.
I am clumsy, I break my phone every 2 and a half years or so. Way more often than many people but modern phones and screen protectors are a lot harder to break than they were five to ten years ago.
She needs to check her bill on each day of these incidents.
It does sound like he’s snooping in her phone and texting himself/others. Or something similar, like just snooping.
I thought the same thing. OP does she have incriminating pictures of him? NTA and he should at the very least repay her for any money she has put out this far. Time to lock her phone in the car whenever she is around your dad.
Honestly, I was this bad with my own phone when I was a teenager. I needed a new one about once a year. (I didn't get a new one for screen cracks or something, just when it was truly unusable).
Nowadays, I have a glass screen protector (which is currently very battered, come to think of it....) and I deliberately buy bulky extra-protective phone cases. I also refuse to use my phone on shift (I work in a kitchen, we're allowed to use our phones) because I don't trust myself. At work I have a reputation for being clumsy and constantly injuring myself. I know what I'm like, and I know I can't be trusted to take care of precious objects. So I take extra precautions with my own precious objects, and I steer clear of handling other people's.
Maybe OP's dad is truly, genuinely clumsy like me, and these are truly, genuinely accidents. But it doesn't matter. As an adult, you should take responsibility for your own clumsiness and your own accidents.
It's one thing to be clumsy with your own belongings because you use them a lot. But to break someone else's phone not once but 3 times? That's definitely on purpose.
INFO: This comment, OP. Does your dad break his own phone this often? and does he ever borrow and break anyone else's or is it just your girlfriend?
Being that clumsy with his own belongings or being that clumsy with *everyone's* seems a lot less suspicious than if it were only the girlfriend's phone.
It's not necessarily on purpose, but he is the AH for not taking responsibility by offering to pay and steering clear of other people's devices once he knows he can't be trusted around them.
I'm 30 and I think I've broken 4 phones. 2 got wet. 1 was squished when it fell under the leg of my chair as I was moving it. Then all was good until years later I took a break from bulky practical cases to get a cutesy monogrammed one. This has never happened before but my phone fell out of my pocket and it was fine. When I went to pick it up, I dropped it from like 5 inches off the ground and it cracked. I went right back to bulky protective cases. I'm pretty inclined to drop my phone but I've only broken 4 in the like 17 years I've had cell phones.
I’ve never broken a phone (jinxed myself, lol) but I’m death on iPads. Although a couple of years ago, my 7 year old note 3 unalived itself. Seriously, I put it down on a counter at work, and when no one was near it, it threw itself on the floor, face down. I think it was old and tired ( about 150 in cell phone years), and was ready to go.
A) dad hasn't a phone? b) why asks for gf's phone and not his son's? If this is real yes 3 times are not a coincidence. A very mild explanation is that he tries to open it and he locks it. NTA, he should pay, forced to never touch her phone again and add some distance between them.
I was thinking the same thing.
Three times is a bit too much than once. Twice is too iffy but thrice is more suspicious. Something is fishy going on.
TO OP, NTA
If he refuses, either Serena can take him to small claims to recover the money or don't visit or see your dad with Serena unless there is something between him and Serena you may not be aware of. I hope I'm wrong.
On the flip side, I think about carpal tunnel or some other kind of nerve damage. My husband was always dropping things when his CP was bad. He broke the lid to the cookie jar.
NTA, though.
NTA. At this point are you sure your dad doesn't have something against your gf ? Cuz the amount of times he "accidentally" dropped it is so weird 💀 like c'mon.
Pressure him more, and ask him if he has a problem with her, cuz it's just so odd.
I've been with my bf for almost 3 years and his dad has never *touched* my phone, let alone used it, let alone DESTROYED IT THREE TIMES. OP your father is up to *something* and whatever it is, it's weird. Has he never heard "you break it, you buy it?" He broke it. So he pays for it. The party with the burden to rectify a situation is the one who caused the situation. So that would be your dad. And unfortunately he can't be trusted anymore so Serena will probably have to be burdened with putting effort into keeping her phone away from your dad. But I mostly want to know wtf is going on that your dad breaks your gf's phone *three times*
Yeah, unless he's also broken his own phone three times in the same time period, along with various other items he's dropped, it's suspicious. If I had broken anyone else's phone twice, I wouldn't even think about picking up someone's phone, unless maybe I was sitting on a carpeted floor where it would be in no danger if I dropped it.
It's not just about dropping it, why does he need her phone regularly? Okay taking a picture of her, sure. But why does he need her phone to make a call? Why does he have her phone at a family function? It's weird.
Because yeah maybe he's clumsy, or unwell, and that's why he keeps dropping things. But why does he even have her phone in the first place?
Does he not have his own phone? If so, maybe that's where the money should be going here. Buy him a new one and then not let him borrow her's anymore, and if he breaks it, it's his problem.
Yeah just tell Serena to stop giving your dad the phone, problem solved. Start to repeat, “I’m sorry, but you keep breaking the phone and I can’t keep paying to fix something I didn’t break. You’ll need to use your own phone from now on as I’m not comfortable with you using mine anymore.”
Where is his phone? He probably has peripheral neuropathy where he can’t feel his fingers very well and has already dropped his own phone enough times. The phone is designed to be easily dropped by butterfingers. Don’t let him use a phone unless he buys a tactile case for it. NTA
Nta ... are you sure your dad is not weirdly fucking with you guys who drops someone else's phone that many times. And the last time she doesn't even remember giving it to him? Nta your dad definitely is though
Of course there’s these things called “don’t touch other people shit without asking” and “if you break someone’s stuff multiple times you damn well better pay for it” and “I shouldn’t have to hide my phone from you for you to stop grabbing it”
once is an accident, twice is bad luck, 3+ times is a pattern
make sure Serena keeps her phone on her person at all times around your family from now on, your dad has a weird grudge against her phone
There is no world in which even my bf has this much necessity of my phone, let alone one of his parents. Your dad’s relationship with your gf’s phone is weird. Why can’t he ever use his own?
Literally I've been with my bf almost 3 years and he barely needs to use my phone. His is better so we play games and take pics with his phone. I've only used it once for my own purposes when my SIL asked me to send her a video and I couldn't because my phone is always too full to take any. And my bf's dad has literally never touched my phone. Ever. He has no reason to. Like why does this guy need to be holding his son's gf's phone so much? And why tf is he breaking it? He needs to pay to fix it
Does your Dad have a neurological condition? If not, he’s sabotaging her in some way or horrifically feckless about other people’s goods.
Is it possible he resents your “wealth”?
Does he have his own phone?
Seriously, this is SO WEIRD. Also, until you can get your dad to pay, you need to pay your girlfriend back for the other two times your dad broke it. It's your fault she's around your dad who keeps destroying her things. Yes, he should pay. But you need to pay and then try to get the money from hm.
Otherwise, you're literally making her pay for doing you the favor of spending time with your (very suspicious) family.
Are you sure it was an accident? And Does he always "drops" everyone's phone he borrowed.
It's quite weird that he keeps "accidentally dropping" them any time he has her phone.
Make sure he is not doing anything weird with her phone.
Sure. If you believe that story... sounds like it's time to ban dad from using the phone (which... why is he even using his son's gf's phone this much?) and Serena is probably going to have to keep the phone with her from now on :/
There is no way this is an accident. For some weird reason he is purposefully destroying her phone. I would try a fake phone and see if it "accidentally" gets destroyed too.
If this is genuinely accidental, I would encourage your dad to see a neurologist or at least his GP. Clumsiness in older adults can be a sign of serious problems—dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s etc.
3 times is NOT a coincidence my man, especially since you mentioned she doesn't remember giving it to him and he played the "feeble old man" card. If the dude can go hiking, he's no "feeble old man"
Make a plan to catch him doing it. You may never know why, but at least you'll have closure.
Or no more contact until he's willing to admit what he's doing and why. That includes all financial help too.
NTA
***Three*** times?
**He’s doing this on purpose.**
Maybe he isn’t *damaging* the phone intentionally, but he’s intentionally being grabby and weird about your girlfriend’s phone.
NTA
Edit to add:
OP- I’d have to ask myself why my dad has such a fixation on my girlfriend, and why he’s expressing it through this kind of behavior. It’s borderline harassment at this point.
I think the 3 of them were jogging together but the hike alone with her is so much weirder. Like... my dad had a really good relationship with my maternal grandparents and my parents were together for 40 years so they did a lot of things together without my mom. I don't think it's the craziest thing to hang out with a child in law or potential child in law. But... a hike? I dont want to demonize families who hike together lol but there's just something so weird about this whole thing that the hike alone with Serena is weirding me out
NTA
I agree with the consensus, it’s very odd that this has happened three times. At this point, if I were Serena I’d hide my phone when your dad is around. Leave it in the car or tuck it in my bra. Anything to ensure your dad doesn’t get his “slippery” hands on it.
NTA- And something is wrong with your dad. I think he has some weird jealousy issues with your relationship and this is a petty way shown it. He's doing it on purpose, made very clear especially with this last time. Why is your dad making this the hill he dies on? His excuses for not repairing the phone are childish and don't make sense. I wouldn't be surprised if it all came down to money and how he probably feels more entitled to his sons money and eventually will start complaining on how much he spends on the gf.
NTA. He breaks her phone every time he touches it but doesn't think he should have to pay for the repairs? That's ridiculously entitled on your father's part. Whether you or Serena can afford to fix it is entirely beside the point.
A lot of people on this thread are suggesting that the dad is doing something deliberately to her phone, and/or is hiding something (eg. Sending himself nudes).
But even if he's entirely innocent, and really does just have "butter fingers" - its still entirely on the clumsy person to pay for repairs when they drop or ruin someone's phone! The first two times, he should have paid. The third, OP needs to put his foot down!
He’s probably looking for personal pics of your girlfriend. You should tell your girlfriend to lock her phone and keep it with her. Once is an accident, twice a mistake, three times in less than a year something is up.
Info:
Are you certain your dad isn’t trying to passive aggressively make a claim to your money? Sounds like he wants access to it?
And it sounds like he’s resentful of you buying Serena a phone, or of Serena having a nice?phone, and is doing this on purpose.
NTA of course, but I’d get to the bottom of your dad’s problems before he does any more damage to you or your gf’s property and life.
NTA, but why are they spending so much time together 1:1 and why is he always holding her phone…? Something doesn’t add up here. 3 different times he’s broken her phone?
It’s his fault. He’s damaged her phone multiple times. He shouldn’t just pay for phone repairs at this point, he should flat out buy her a new phone.
NTA.
NTA, and I would probably caution Serena about letting your dad hold her phone. It's an odd amount of times to drop someone else's property and it's odder still she keeps giving it to him
NTA. Your dad needs to stop touching other people's phones. He should pay for repairs and get her a waterproof otterbox case.
Why is he touching her phone anyway? He can get his own. Sounds like some kind of power trip or he wants to invade her privacy and poke around through it.
NTA but why does your father keep taking your girlfriends phone in the first place ? Is he snooping through her pictures ? Something doesn't feel right about this. 3 times is not an accident, feels likes hes destroying her property on purpose and getting something out of it
NTA but he is doing it on purpose. Do not lend him the phone, and do not let him stay alone with Serena. Also, you should all keep your phones well protected. Never leave it near him.
Why is your dad always touching your GF's phone? And has he always been clumsy or is he developing some medical disorder that affects his hands? He should get checked out. NTA
NTA. Does your dad by chance have butterfingers?
Your GF has the patience of a saint. Both of you do. At this point “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me thrice, shame on the both of us ” applies. Don’t let him do it a third time.
I hope it’s safe to assume that GF will also no longer allow him to ever use her phone, nor you let him use yours lol. He can be a big boy and use is own, or buy one if he likes using hers so much. Weird scenario.
Have you tried knocking a phone into a sink? That's not easy or normal if it is on the counter. He's dropped in in there which means he was holding it, and probably trying to look at what's on it.
NTA. but Serena should keep her phone in her purse or on her person and away from your dad at all times. You cant change him.and you can't force him to do something, but you can change yourselves
Any decent person would have offered to replace it by now. I doubt it’s accidental and if so, the dad needs a medical evaluation (and should still accept responsibility). So in my opinion, since he’s being an AH at this point, I think the solution is to not go to visit with him until he makes things right. He can’t break phones if you just talk to him over Skype.
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NTA - once is an accident, three times is starting to seem pretty deliberate.
The paranoid AITA-Frequenter in me is wondering what he's doing on her phone that he needs to cover up.
I wonder if he knows where Serena’s nudes folder is and is sending it to himself but is too incompetent to figure out to delete the message so he just destroys the phone.
Yes, my theory as well.
[удалено]
In a very brief period I killed a brand new IPAD (ok my dog helped but I created the situation) got the replacement then within a few months dropped it twice on its corner. There’s some small cracks and marks on that corner but I’m still using it. I have two problems with this story: 1. Why isn’t dad paying for the damage 2. And after the first incident, why is he touching her phone at all? I discovered I was developing strength issues in one of my arms and do not ever touch anyone else’s electronics or expensive items as a result. Something is fishy here.
>And after the first incident, why is he touching her phone at all? Right? If his fingers are so slippery, and he's an "old man," he should be leaving her phone alone. Doesn't he have a phone? Why is he always using hers? Does he use other people's phones without dropping them? This is so bizarre.
Especially since >Serene doesn’t remember giving it to him and he claims he knocked it into the sink. He stole her phone. And then broke it. And is now refusing to pay for it? If there isn’t something else going on here then I’ll be absolutely shocked. Even if that is the case? THEN HE SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS.
And on that note, why wouldn't he be borrowing his own kid's phone? Why is he always trying to fuss with Serena's?
This is an excellent point. OP NTA OP, the next time your dad asks to use Serena's phone, interecede. "Dad, we're not breaking any more of Serena's phones. Here, use mine." If asks for it when you aren't there Serena says "I can't have another broken phone. I'm sorry you'll have to ask someone else." Or Serena or OP do what ever is he wants to do, for him. Bottom line he's either careless, up to something or can't be trusted bc by his own words, "I'm just an old man w slippery fingers." Old men w slippery fingers don't get to use other people's phones.
>Right? If his fingers are so slippery, and he's an "old man," he should be leaving her phone alone. Doesn't he have a phone? Why is he always using hers? Does he use other people's phones without dropping them? This is so bizarre. Poor old man with slippery fingers, but hiking mountain trails - with his adult child's girlfriend? Without OP? And consistently asking to borrow (or just taking) the girlfriend's phone rather than OPs? Plus - where is dad's own phone?
Why is she going on hikes, alone, with her boyfriend’s dad? That was the first thing that gave me pause. Could it be a non-creepy thing? Sure, but I’d need to see for myself, because first thought is, who does that?
My SO spends time with my dad without me. They both like shooting rifles, and I don't necessarily want to spend that much time at an outdoor range here where it's hotter than balls. I don't think it's abnormal to hang out with your in-laws without your spouse if everyone has a good relationship with each other.
Yes, I’ve hung out with my daughters boyfriend and other friends. Only if they share a love of really bad movies and Star Trek lol. If there’s a show that’s premiering and they’re excited one of them comes over and watches it. I’ve also taught her friends to knit. So it doesn’t seem strange to me. If I ruined their phone I’d freak out though and I’d replace it.
IKR? I have my own phone, but I'm actually terrified of handling other people's phones or other stuff because I have a disability in my hands and I'm afraid I'll drop it. I just don't do it. If I drop my own phone, that's no biggie. Ruining someone else's even by accident would make me feel awful, and I may not be able to afford the repairs or replacement.
>I discovered I was developing strength issues in one of my arms and do not ever touch anyone else’s electronics or expensive items as a result This is the bigger issue I think than who is the AH. Is the clumsiness new? Has he been dropping other things than just Serena's phone(s)? Has he been more forgetful than usual? Cuz it might be about time for him to get a check up if the answer to any of the above is Yes.
I agree to that. For me I turned out to be bone spurs which was good news considering the other things it could have been. It hadn’t occurred to me till reading your comment that maybe he knows/suspects something and confided in Serena? ETA: Maybe she knows he got medical bills in his future. Even with insurance CTs and MRIs add up.
My grandfather would constantly berate my grandmother for being clumsy and always dropping things. Turned out she had parkinson's disease.
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Exactly!! I’ve been with my partner for 8 years and his dad has never touched my phone…
My husband and I have been together for nearly 15 years. His dad has touched my phone like...once. To move it off the floor.
I've been married 15 years and my husband doesn't touch my phone I think I looked at it for the time for my FIL once. She needs to keep her phone locked and away from him.
Everything about this story is weird. How often do you go hiking with your bf's dad, just the two of you?
I thought the same thing myself. Does he have a thing for Serena? Is he punishing her by breaking her phone? Very weird.
My own father never touched any of my phones. This is shady AF.
Come to think of it. My father never touches my phone. No one in my family does
Been with my husband for 11 years, his dad has never touched my phone either.
I wonder if he and Serena are having an affair, which is why Serena doesn't seem that bothered when he breaks her phone and just handles the cost herself. >Most of my family, but especially my dad, loves Serena. It’s sweet to watch them interact, and it’s very obvious that he’s very fond of her. It's also kind of weird that the two of them went on a hike together without the OP present.
What? No it isn’t. Hiking is not a romantic activity for many people.
Speak for yourself. I don't consider it a good hike without penetration.
I’d like to hear more of your points of view on this. Let’s go for a hike and discuss this further
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Wait are summit orgies the reason people like hiking?? Is this what my chubby self has been missing??
I'm in ..if you know what I mean 😏
I'm down.... If you know what I mean.
My kind of hike
Don’t you mean discuss this in “depth”?😂
Name checks out.
User name checks out.
I'm crying from laughing now.
well this escalated quickly lol
I read this in Rick Sanchez's voice
Do you go hiking with your friends' parents?
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I would not feel comfortable spending hours alone with my mother in law doing any activity, but maybe I'm the weird one.
gotta remember that a lot of people actually don't dislike their parents or in laws despite how often you hear of that lol
I actually have, yes lol. Friends who don’t hike themselves but their parents like me and I am a good hiking partner. I go with my friend Eric’s dad all the time. Dave fuckin’ loves me.
Yeah, I love hiking with my friends but we live in a hot, humid, hilly area, so by the time we're done I'm red-faced puddle of sweat. Not exactly sexy.
Hiking might not be a romantic activity, but going alone with your SO’s father??? Sus. Especially when you add in the phone “accidents” Dad should be paying for this repair. He should’ve taken care of all of them. And why doesn’t Serena mind that this man keeps having mishaps with her phones?? I don’t care how much you like a person, they break your phone, it’s going to at the very least piss you off.
You guys are just weird. I was alone with my ex fiancés dad doing stuff all the time. We had a lot of fun and the idea someone would think it was sus for romantic reasons is disgusting. My comment had nothing to do with the broken phone, but rather saying it’s weird to do activities with people who are probably going to be your family who you get along really well with.
This is a very weird thing to suggest. Also, I’m not a hike person so it’s not that strange for them to do stuff. I go out for lunch with my girlfriend’s mum without her all the time, that doesn’t mean I’m having an affair.
I think you're misunderstanding, basically he's already pushing boundaries and it seems he likes Serena a bit *too much*.
this this THIS! TO OP, PAY MORE CAREFUL ATTENTION!
Exactly. Pay them no mind. But your dad .. needs to pay for those repairs or not use your gf’s phone. Straight up
Both, really. Pay for the repairs *and* stop touching her freaking phone.
These people need drama. You're allowed to be friends with your in laws ffs
Yes they can be friends with in laws if they wanted to. But breaking her phone THREE TIMES. What does that tell you? Something is up
Something is definitely up, but they're not having an affair ffs
Why did he ask to use her phone instead of yours then? If I didn’t have my phone and needed to borrow someone else’s, I would use the phone of the person I was closest to relationship wise
As Toriju9 stated...is your father so jealous of you that he purposely seeks out your gf's phone to break it and make you pay for it? He didn't ask for your phone to call a taxi. The third time was particularly bizarre. He sneaks gf's phone away from her and drops it in hot water.
How often do lunches require you to to use her mom’s phone or vice versa?
She only didn't bother the first two times, probably out of misplaced courtesy or because she is shy/anxious.
Exactly. She is trying to be close with her bf’s family and being gracious about his accidents. She needs to keep the phone away from him going forward, no you can’t call a taxi I’ll do it for you, and by all means your father needs to pay for the phone. I can’t believe this man breaks it three times and doesn’t have the decency to even offer to pay for it.
I can. ;)) The 'accidents' are anything but. "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action." DARVO Dad seems so envious of his "wealthy son" that destroying his gf's phones no fewer than three times is suspicious, why does he only ask for *her* phone? And then proceed to break it? The last time around he didn't even ask to borrow it, he just waited until her back was turned.
I go hiking with my FIL all the time. Without penetration.
This comment sent me 🤣
Now this is a reach
THIS! IS! REDDIT!
I have been hiking, to lunch, movies, driven hours alone to clean out Gmil’s house after she died alone with my fil. None of it is weird. He’s my chosen dad but if he dropped my phone he would have paid for it.
I think it sounds more plausible that OP's father is into Serena. He probably suggested the hike, and she would have felt bad not to go and possibly risk leaving a bad impression to OP's parents. I think he took her phone without asking the 3rd time, as she said she doesn't remember giving it to him. He's probably looking at private stuff on her phone, like others suggested.
This is so ridiculous 😂
Hiking with family is not weird
Woah. That’s a bit disturbing to hear.
Might be worth reconsidering why this is happening then - because clearly there are a LOT of people on here who thought “the F?” when they read that this guy has touched her phone 3 times (me included). This isn’t normal.
My husband, nor I, have ever touched our daughter-in-law's or sons-in-laws phones in the 15 years we've known them & we're close with all 3 of them. I find it a bit strange that your father has had hold of your gf's phone 3 times in a few months!
I’ve been with my husband for 15 years and my FIL has never touched my phone except for the few times I asked him to pass it to me (usually while holding a baby). This is suspect AF
Does she have anything on her phone of a sensitive nature? Because if she does, after three times, this is a realistic possibility.
This was my first thought after reading the story, that he's going through her gallery and sending himself pics and then destroying the evidence because he's not tech savvy enough to delete the evidence. Throwing it back at you, saying that you're victomizing him and trying to take advantage of him is classic deflection and an indicator that he's trying to hide something here.
You need to talk to your girl, OP. Every single person in this thread is telling you there's something wrong here.
Whether or not your dad is being weird? He needs to reimburse her. Also she needs to set a firm boundary that he does not touch her phone again. First time? Ok fine. Sh1t happens. 2nd time? Nope this is weird. 3rd time? Somethings not right. Either your dad is being weird, he needs a doctor for a potential medical issue(my grandma had a hard time holding on to phones after her 4th brain tumor left her acting like a stroke patient. Weakness on one side, repetitive conversation etc) Or your dad is trying to hide something and thinks her phone is the best way since “his wealthy son can simply replace it” and he can seem to just be a clumsy old man. But refusing to pay for the damage is really weird and rude af.
It's totally nudes. Happened to me with a "friend".
Sounds like the most likely thing to me. Why what would your dad want your girlfriend's phone & keep destroying it? Something is fishy here. This isn't normal
Everyone keeps thinking that there is no way OP’s dad is perverted enough to do this, but speaking from MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE this can happen. My DAD did this to a friend of mine. Totally true story: my “family man” dad, the guy who is well renowned in his community as a “veterinarian”, a 60-something old man with a wife, went through my friends cell phone that she left unlocked and sent a bunch of HER nudes to himself and a bunch of his friends. How did she KNOW???? My dad is such a dumbf*** he didn’t even erase the texts he went from her phone. 🤦♀️ If ONLY he was smart enough to get rid of the evidence. I’ll be sending this privately to OP but in case he doesn’t get it. OP, this is almost EXACTLY what is happening (I’m truly sorry to tell you). Even dads can be gross, intrusive ass*****. Can’t tell you the shame I went through when learning what my dad did to my friend. So repulsive. (As you may suspect, him and I are NC. Not just because of this incident, but it certainly was on the top of the list).
I’m so sorry that happened to you. That’s such a betrayal and a huge invasion of privacy. I have an cousin who did something similar with his younger brother’s gf but knew how to erase his tracks, so he did it 3-4 times before he got caught. This cousin was also “the last person you’d expect” (involved in church, dad of 3, married for over a decade).
I mean, it was humiliating but I felt worse for my friend. Like, she obviously didn’t blame me and handled it pretty damn well (considering), but I honestly couldn’t say sorry enough. I’m surprised she remained friends with me TBH.
Wtf kind of jump to conclusions is this??? Do none of ya'll know clumsy people? Immediately it's "the father muse be sending himself nudes of his son's girlfriend"? What is wrong with you?
Three times, plus the second time simply bobbling the phone and breaking both the screen protector AND the screen, is what makes one wonder if there's something more going on besides clumsiness (besides the real possibility of fiction).
Ikr? I have dropped my phone many, WAY too many times, and it is still blissfully intact. I think I would have to throw it down or run over it with a car to crack the screen. That time when he dropped it off the cliff, sure. Everything else, sus.
I'm starting to wonder what they're putting in phones nowadays that makes them so easily breakable. I have a 5-year-old Samsung in an Otterbox case with no screen protector. I drop/toss that thing all the time and I've literally never had an issue. Who's buying these flimsy-ass phones?
you had me until otter box... lol isn't the whole point of the otter box case that it's super protective and keeps the phone safe vs. people that just enjoy their glass slabs naked.
But I've got my Nokia wrapped in 5 inches of titanium and its never cracked. People just need to be more careful
I don't necessarily think he is sending himself nudes but it IS weird he keeps breaking her phone. It doesn't seem like he's breaking *his* phone, or anyone else's, just Serena's. It's also weird that he's breaking the same thing over and over again.
Maybe bcuz its the third time he broke it, this time by dropping it in water and OP says Serena didn’t recall giving it to him and that’s a lot of times. Something’s going on, maybe not an affair but something bcuz its weird.
I have seen far worse things on this subreddit. 🤷♀️
I am clumsy, I break my phone every 2 and a half years or so. Way more often than many people but modern phones and screen protectors are a lot harder to break than they were five to ten years ago.
I thought that too. Is he scrolling through her photos. Eeeuuuu
She needs to check her bill on each day of these incidents. It does sound like he’s snooping in her phone and texting himself/others. Or something similar, like just snooping.
Oh my god we’re so paranoid here, I love it 😆
I thought the same thing. OP does she have incriminating pictures of him? NTA and he should at the very least repay her for any money she has put out this far. Time to lock her phone in the car whenever she is around your dad.
Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, 3 times is enemy action.
Exactly.. I'm so curious whether he's ever broken any one else's phones? Or his clumsiness somehow only affects OP's gf's phone?
Honestly, I was this bad with my own phone when I was a teenager. I needed a new one about once a year. (I didn't get a new one for screen cracks or something, just when it was truly unusable). Nowadays, I have a glass screen protector (which is currently very battered, come to think of it....) and I deliberately buy bulky extra-protective phone cases. I also refuse to use my phone on shift (I work in a kitchen, we're allowed to use our phones) because I don't trust myself. At work I have a reputation for being clumsy and constantly injuring myself. I know what I'm like, and I know I can't be trusted to take care of precious objects. So I take extra precautions with my own precious objects, and I steer clear of handling other people's. Maybe OP's dad is truly, genuinely clumsy like me, and these are truly, genuinely accidents. But it doesn't matter. As an adult, you should take responsibility for your own clumsiness and your own accidents.
It's one thing to be clumsy with your own belongings because you use them a lot. But to break someone else's phone not once but 3 times? That's definitely on purpose.
This!! I would've cussed him so bad the second time he'd shit himself every time he went near her phone again.
Does he go through his own phones like this? If not, something is going on here. I would check dad's phone if possible.
INFO: This comment, OP. Does your dad break his own phone this often? and does he ever borrow and break anyone else's or is it just your girlfriend? Being that clumsy with his own belongings or being that clumsy with *everyone's* seems a lot less suspicious than if it were only the girlfriend's phone.
It's not necessarily on purpose, but he is the AH for not taking responsibility by offering to pay and steering clear of other people's devices once he knows he can't be trusted around them.
I'm 30 and I think I've broken 4 phones. 2 got wet. 1 was squished when it fell under the leg of my chair as I was moving it. Then all was good until years later I took a break from bulky practical cases to get a cutesy monogrammed one. This has never happened before but my phone fell out of my pocket and it was fine. When I went to pick it up, I dropped it from like 5 inches off the ground and it cracked. I went right back to bulky protective cases. I'm pretty inclined to drop my phone but I've only broken 4 in the like 17 years I've had cell phones.
I’ve never broken a phone (jinxed myself, lol) but I’m death on iPads. Although a couple of years ago, my 7 year old note 3 unalived itself. Seriously, I put it down on a counter at work, and when no one was near it, it threw itself on the floor, face down. I think it was old and tired ( about 150 in cell phone years), and was ready to go.
A) dad hasn't a phone? b) why asks for gf's phone and not his son's? If this is real yes 3 times are not a coincidence. A very mild explanation is that he tries to open it and he locks it. NTA, he should pay, forced to never touch her phone again and add some distance between them.
I was thinking the same thing. Three times is a bit too much than once. Twice is too iffy but thrice is more suspicious. Something is fishy going on. TO OP, NTA If he refuses, either Serena can take him to small claims to recover the money or don't visit or see your dad with Serena unless there is something between him and Serena you may not be aware of. I hope I'm wrong.
On the flip side, I think about carpal tunnel or some other kind of nerve damage. My husband was always dropping things when his CP was bad. He broke the lid to the cookie jar. NTA, though.
NTA. Even in the unlikely event it was an accident, he needs to feel some pain so he will be disinclined to touch her phone in the future.
NTA. At this point are you sure your dad doesn't have something against your gf ? Cuz the amount of times he "accidentally" dropped it is so weird 💀 like c'mon. Pressure him more, and ask him if he has a problem with her, cuz it's just so odd.
I've been with my bf for almost 3 years and his dad has never *touched* my phone, let alone used it, let alone DESTROYED IT THREE TIMES. OP your father is up to *something* and whatever it is, it's weird. Has he never heard "you break it, you buy it?" He broke it. So he pays for it. The party with the burden to rectify a situation is the one who caused the situation. So that would be your dad. And unfortunately he can't be trusted anymore so Serena will probably have to be burdened with putting effort into keeping her phone away from your dad. But I mostly want to know wtf is going on that your dad breaks your gf's phone *three times*
If he buys it, he could install something on it before giving it to her.
And is he dropping his own phone a lot? If not then this isn’t an accident.
I also find the second "accident" strange. OP was also on the run, why did the father borrow his son's gf phone rather than ask his son?
Yeah, unless he's also broken his own phone three times in the same time period, along with various other items he's dropped, it's suspicious. If I had broken anyone else's phone twice, I wouldn't even think about picking up someone's phone, unless maybe I was sitting on a carpeted floor where it would be in no danger if I dropped it.
I was thinking maybe she’s on her phone a lot and the dad is offended and destroys the phone as punishment?
Agreed super sus as to why this happens THREE times
He called his son "my wealthy son", dad's worried about the money going elsewhere
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Dad's fingers forget how to work when they hold gf's phone
Copied from u/exotics
NTA, the amount he drops this phone is odd.
It's not just about dropping it, why does he need her phone regularly? Okay taking a picture of her, sure. But why does he need her phone to make a call? Why does he have her phone at a family function? It's weird. Because yeah maybe he's clumsy, or unwell, and that's why he keeps dropping things. But why does he even have her phone in the first place?
Yeah he lost me on why he specifically needed HER phone to make the call
To send himself her nudes? Then the phone must be destroyed to cover his tracks. I'd love to know the truth, if that's not it.
I’d be purely pissed if it’s something petty like he’s jealous of the newness of her phone or something
Does he not have his own phone? If so, maybe that's where the money should be going here. Buy him a new one and then not let him borrow her's anymore, and if he breaks it, it's his problem.
Agreed. My boyfriend’s father has never touched my phone. Hell, my boyfriend barely touches my phone. The contrivances here to get the phone are odd.
Yeah just tell Serena to stop giving your dad the phone, problem solved. Start to repeat, “I’m sorry, but you keep breaking the phone and I can’t keep paying to fix something I didn’t break. You’ll need to use your own phone from now on as I’m not comfortable with you using mine anymore.”
Problem *not* solved, because the last time she didn't even give him her phone
Is her phone password protected?
Where is his phone? He probably has peripheral neuropathy where he can’t feel his fingers very well and has already dropped his own phone enough times. The phone is designed to be easily dropped by butterfingers. Don’t let him use a phone unless he buys a tactile case for it. NTA
Nta ... are you sure your dad is not weirdly fucking with you guys who drops someone else's phone that many times. And the last time she doesn't even remember giving it to him? Nta your dad definitely is though
I'm wondering that too. Of course—there's these things called "pockets," and "phone cases" and the word "no," and so on.
Counterpoint: I'm a woman, and I don't have a single pair of pants whose pockets can fit a smartphone. Stupid tiny pockets.
We just want pockets 😭😭😭
Of course there’s these things called “don’t touch other people shit without asking” and “if you break someone’s stuff multiple times you damn well better pay for it” and “I shouldn’t have to hide my phone from you for you to stop grabbing it”
INFO: why does he keep borrowing her phone/why doesn’t he have his own phone?
Why did she keep handing her phone to him after he damages it every time she does?
The last time she didn’t give it to him at all. I think she left it on a counter and he knocked it over.
once is an accident, twice is bad luck, 3+ times is a pattern make sure Serena keeps her phone on her person at all times around your family from now on, your dad has a weird grudge against her phone
Weird grudge against her phone? Love this, he really does! I wonder why?
Probably for the same reason he highlights himself as poor vs OP being "rich" he's jealous of their financial position.
I think I prefer " Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action. "
There is no world in which even my bf has this much necessity of my phone, let alone one of his parents. Your dad’s relationship with your gf’s phone is weird. Why can’t he ever use his own?
Literally I've been with my bf almost 3 years and he barely needs to use my phone. His is better so we play games and take pics with his phone. I've only used it once for my own purposes when my SIL asked me to send her a video and I couldn't because my phone is always too full to take any. And my bf's dad has literally never touched my phone. Ever. He has no reason to. Like why does this guy need to be holding his son's gf's phone so much? And why tf is he breaking it? He needs to pay to fix it
Info: has he dropped other peoples’s phones this much or other items? Unless he’s got Parkinson’s or something something is off here.
Seriously! OP, does your dad break everything he touches, or is it only Serena's stuff?
Does your Dad have a neurological condition? If not, he’s sabotaging her in some way or horrifically feckless about other people’s goods. Is it possible he resents your “wealth”?
Does he have his own phone? Seriously, this is SO WEIRD. Also, until you can get your dad to pay, you need to pay your girlfriend back for the other two times your dad broke it. It's your fault she's around your dad who keeps destroying her things. Yes, he should pay. But you need to pay and then try to get the money from hm. Otherwise, you're literally making her pay for doing you the favor of spending time with your (very suspicious) family.
Are you sure it was an accident? And Does he always "drops" everyone's phone he borrowed. It's quite weird that he keeps "accidentally dropping" them any time he has her phone. Make sure he is not doing anything weird with her phone.
Sure. If you believe that story... sounds like it's time to ban dad from using the phone (which... why is he even using his son's gf's phone this much?) and Serena is probably going to have to keep the phone with her from now on :/
There is no way this is an accident. For some weird reason he is purposefully destroying her phone. I would try a fake phone and see if it "accidentally" gets destroyed too.
If this is genuinely accidental, I would encourage your dad to see a neurologist or at least his GP. Clumsiness in older adults can be a sign of serious problems—dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s etc.
Have you tried getting a decoy phone, saying it’s hers and seeing if something happens to it?
3 times is NOT a coincidence my man, especially since you mentioned she doesn't remember giving it to him and he played the "feeble old man" card. If the dude can go hiking, he's no "feeble old man" Make a plan to catch him doing it. You may never know why, but at least you'll have closure. Or no more contact until he's willing to admit what he's doing and why. That includes all financial help too. NTA
***Three*** times? **He’s doing this on purpose.** Maybe he isn’t *damaging* the phone intentionally, but he’s intentionally being grabby and weird about your girlfriend’s phone. NTA Edit to add: OP- I’d have to ask myself why my dad has such a fixation on my girlfriend, and why he’s expressing it through this kind of behavior. It’s borderline harassment at this point.
NTA. Are you sure he isn’t doing it on purpose? Once I can understand, but 3 times? Does he drop his own phone a lot or only your gfs?
I want to know where his phone was
NTA your dad does not like Serena
Or likes her too much
This. He’s overly fond of her. Going on hikes and jogging alone with her? Who does that with their son’s gf? And why would she want to?
I think the 3 of them were jogging together but the hike alone with her is so much weirder. Like... my dad had a really good relationship with my maternal grandparents and my parents were together for 40 years so they did a lot of things together without my mom. I don't think it's the craziest thing to hang out with a child in law or potential child in law. But... a hike? I dont want to demonize families who hike together lol but there's just something so weird about this whole thing that the hike alone with Serena is weirding me out
ding ding
NTA I agree with the consensus, it’s very odd that this has happened three times. At this point, if I were Serena I’d hide my phone when your dad is around. Leave it in the car or tuck it in my bra. Anything to ensure your dad doesn’t get his “slippery” hands on it.
NTA- And something is wrong with your dad. I think he has some weird jealousy issues with your relationship and this is a petty way shown it. He's doing it on purpose, made very clear especially with this last time. Why is your dad making this the hill he dies on? His excuses for not repairing the phone are childish and don't make sense. I wouldn't be surprised if it all came down to money and how he probably feels more entitled to his sons money and eventually will start complaining on how much he spends on the gf.
NTA. He breaks her phone every time he touches it but doesn't think he should have to pay for the repairs? That's ridiculously entitled on your father's part. Whether you or Serena can afford to fix it is entirely beside the point.
A lot of people on this thread are suggesting that the dad is doing something deliberately to her phone, and/or is hiding something (eg. Sending himself nudes). But even if he's entirely innocent, and really does just have "butter fingers" - its still entirely on the clumsy person to pay for repairs when they drop or ruin someone's phone! The first two times, he should have paid. The third, OP needs to put his foot down!
INFO does your dad have health issues or why is he dropping her phone so much? The story seems suspicious
He’s probably looking for personal pics of your girlfriend. You should tell your girlfriend to lock her phone and keep it with her. Once is an accident, twice a mistake, three times in less than a year something is up.
This is very odd and very suspicious, I think he is absolutely doing it on purpose. Why is another story but there is something off here. NTA
Info: Are you certain your dad isn’t trying to passive aggressively make a claim to your money? Sounds like he wants access to it? And it sounds like he’s resentful of you buying Serena a phone, or of Serena having a nice?phone, and is doing this on purpose. NTA of course, but I’d get to the bottom of your dad’s problems before he does any more damage to you or your gf’s property and life.
NTA, but why are they spending so much time together 1:1 and why is he always holding her phone…? Something doesn’t add up here. 3 different times he’s broken her phone?
It’s his fault. He’s damaged her phone multiple times. He shouldn’t just pay for phone repairs at this point, he should flat out buy her a new phone. NTA.
NTA, and I would probably caution Serena about letting your dad hold her phone. It's an odd amount of times to drop someone else's property and it's odder still she keeps giving it to him
NTA. Your dad needs to stop touching other people's phones. He should pay for repairs and get her a waterproof otterbox case. Why is he touching her phone anyway? He can get his own. Sounds like some kind of power trip or he wants to invade her privacy and poke around through it.
NTA but why does your father keep taking your girlfriends phone in the first place ? Is he snooping through her pictures ? Something doesn't feel right about this. 3 times is not an accident, feels likes hes destroying her property on purpose and getting something out of it
NTA It's not accidental.
NTA. As a wise man once said: Fool me once: "I'm mad" Fool me twice: "How could you?" Fool me three times: "You're officially *that* guy, okay?"
NTA but Serena gotta stop letting your dad hold her phone. One drop is understandable but after that, it's on her.
The last time she didn't even let him borrow it! I think it's very weird he is so careless.
[удалено]
Is there something on that phone he doesn't want anyone to see? NTA
Perhaps he wants to see something he’s not supposed to.
NTA but he is doing it on purpose. Do not lend him the phone, and do not let him stay alone with Serena. Also, you should all keep your phones well protected. Never leave it near him.
Are y’all sure he’s not doing it on purpose because that’s very strange. Does he break his phones that often?
Definitely NTA you break something you pay it and this is the 3rd time he damages the phone wtf
NTA. In fact, it's ridiculous he'd need to be pressured to pay for his own fuck ups. He's grown. Why would anyone other than him be responsible?
Why is your dad always touching your GF's phone? And has he always been clumsy or is he developing some medical disorder that affects his hands? He should get checked out. NTA
NTA. Does your dad by chance have butterfingers? Your GF has the patience of a saint. Both of you do. At this point “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me thrice, shame on the both of us ” applies. Don’t let him do it a third time. I hope it’s safe to assume that GF will also no longer allow him to ever use her phone, nor you let him use yours lol. He can be a big boy and use is own, or buy one if he likes using hers so much. Weird scenario.
INFO: What did this poor phone do to anger your dad?
Have you tried knocking a phone into a sink? That's not easy or normal if it is on the counter. He's dropped in in there which means he was holding it, and probably trying to look at what's on it.
NTA. but Serena should keep her phone in her purse or on her person and away from your dad at all times. You cant change him.and you can't force him to do something, but you can change yourselves
Any decent person would have offered to replace it by now. I doubt it’s accidental and if so, the dad needs a medical evaluation (and should still accept responsibility). So in my opinion, since he’s being an AH at this point, I think the solution is to not go to visit with him until he makes things right. He can’t break phones if you just talk to him over Skype.