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AIBU?

To think it is ridiculous that the school have confiscated MY phone????

380 replies

Slipperyslopin · 15/02/2013 16:27

DS (14) was going out last night with a friend to see a movie after school. He didn't know when it ended and then we couldn't find it on the website so I told him to take his phone so he could call me afterwards and I could collect him. He told me his phone wasn't charged, so I gave him my one. He is very trustworthy and careful and I knew he wouldn't lose it, besides I'm not on call at the moment so I wouldn't need it during the day, and I'd rather he had a way to contact me if needed. During school the phone turned on in his pocket (Iphones Angry ) and an alert went off for an update or something. His teacher heard it and confiscated the phone as they are not allowed in school, even if off. DS then had to call me from the office to say he would use his friends phone instead. All fine, fair enough I thought. However I then found out that the school policy is to keep the phone for a fortnight. I have unpredictable shift patterns and I actually do need that phone back, it has important work contacts on and is the number I am generally contacted on by whole family as we don't have a landline atm. So I went in and explained the situation and they REFUSED to return it! They've said they're keeping it for the full 2 weeks. I told them, it's a work phone, it has confidential stuff on it, it has all my work contacts and is an emergency number for DH on his passport, and as he is in France at the moment I needed that phone back. They just kept repeating that it is policy and they can't return it, I even had the head teacher tell me this! Surely it's against the law! I need that phone and they WILL NOT return it to me! What should I do? Can I get some form of legal action done here? This feels a hell of a lot like theft to me. I'm so beyond angry at them, any advice?

OP posts:
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KatoPotato · 15/02/2013 16:28

wtf? YANBU!

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sneezingwakesthebaby · 15/02/2013 16:30

WTAF?! No advice sorry but they are taking that way too far! I know some parents would lie to get their kids phone back but surely they could have let you prove it? I'm shocked.

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Annunziata · 15/02/2013 16:31

YANBU, but I bet every second parent turns up and claims it is their work phone and they desperately need it back.

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rotavirusrita · 15/02/2013 16:31

I would refuse to leave the office until they gave it to me. Needs to be escalated quickly to head/ chair of governers etc

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Bejeena · 15/02/2013 16:31

I am sure you have enough proff that the phone is yours, receipt, serial number etc. I would speak to the head again and tell him that you will be talking to the police, and if he still refuses to budge call the police and see if they can help.

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Cortana · 15/02/2013 16:31

YANBU.

They can't keep your property. I can understand some parents might use excuses like this to swing the lead in regard to school rules, but surely if they gave the the phone you could show the contacts and prove it is a work phone.

Could you ring non emergency police line for some advice? Would that be silly?

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Petsinmypudenda · 15/02/2013 16:31

Storm the heads office and demand it back.

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Bejeena · 15/02/2013 16:31

proff? I mean proof!

Otherwise could your work help in any way?

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SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 15/02/2013 16:31

Have you tried the non-emergency police line?

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DieDeutschLehrerin · 15/02/2013 16:32

Disclaimer this is just what I was told but at my school we were told we had to return the phones at the end of the day because it WAS classed as theft to keep it any longer so you may have some recourse to the law.

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StarNoodle · 15/02/2013 16:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Icantstopeatinglol · 15/02/2013 16:32

Yanbu! That's ridiculous! I'd phone the police and report it as theft! School policy isn't actually a law! Jeez they need to get over themselves, I'd be fuming!
Hope you get it sorted asap.

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DesiderataHollow · 15/02/2013 16:32

YANBU.
If they refuse to give your property back you must next involve the police.

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Bejeena · 15/02/2013 16:32

I don't think calling the police (obviously not 999) is silly in this case.

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BramblyHedge · 15/02/2013 16:32

Could you offer to swap it for your sons phone?

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Purple2012 · 15/02/2013 16:32

It is not theft. The definition of theft is the intention to permanently deprive. They are returning it in 2 weeks so there is no theft.

I don't know what else you can do. I'm sure loads of parents will try and get phones back saying it's theirs.

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EchoBitch · 15/02/2013 16:33

What rota said.
I'd just sit down and wait till they gave me it.

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Cassarick · 15/02/2013 16:33

So what would you be doing now re work, DH, etc. etc. if your son had lost it or had it stolen.

You knew the school rules, and you broke them.

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BackforGood · 15/02/2013 16:33

I think you were wrong to lend your work phone to your ds in the first place. To quote your own OP it's a work phone, it has confidential stuff on it, it has all my work contacts and is an emergency number for DH on his passport, and as he is in France at the moment. So why would you think it OK to lend it to anyone else ? Confused

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sparkle12mar08 · 15/02/2013 16:33

I wouldn't have left the office until it was returned, and I would have called the police if they continued to refuse...

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lalabaloo · 15/02/2013 16:33

That is absolutely ridiculous, I don't think they are even allowed to keep it for a fortnight if it is a child's, I would refuse to leave without it and if necessary call the police

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OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly · 15/02/2013 16:33

Bring along his phone and ask tell them to swap it for yours?

After all confiscation is supposed to be a punishment for the child not the parent!

If no joy, then I'd be calling the non emergency number for advice.

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mumblechum1 · 15/02/2013 16:33

I'd tell them that unless it is returned immediately you are reporting the head personally to the police.

Is it half term next week where you are?

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notapizzaeater · 15/02/2013 16:33

No sure of legalities of them keeping it but a mum near us actually phoned the non emergency police number to report her daughters phone being stolen by the school, the school gave it her back ...

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Lulabellarama · 15/02/2013 16:33

How was your son going to call you if he had your phone and you have no landline?

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