to think that i should not have to pay for the school's mistake?

[Kitsmummy]

This year the children at school have each done a Christmas card design and parents were able to buy the cards at 6 per pack.

So I duly bought my two packs (one pack per child) and a couple of week's later they were sent home. I noticed they'd sent two packs of my son's cards, I gave it about 2 seconds thought, figured I must have ordered the wrong amount of cards (the form was quite complicated) and thought nothing more of it. I certainly didn't think that someone else might have ordered my son's cards. My children wrote all their cards straight away (I am right in the middle of a divorce/house move and want to get things crossed off the list straight away at the moment).

Then yesterday the school emails everyone asking if anyone has been sent extra packs of cards as they were ordered by and paid for by the teachers. I immediately replied, explained I assumed i'd ordered in error, the cards have already been written but I think there are a few spare ones at home that I can send back in and a few spare cards of my daughters that I can send too (knowing that obviously they haven't been bought by a parent so I thought my daughter's might be an appropriate substitute).

School have replied saying it's the Headmistresses cards and she wants to be re-imbursed for them, as she bought packs of my son's and daughter's cards.

Now firstly, I only received one pack of my daughter's cards so I'm not reimbursing the headmistress for an extra pack that I never received, but AIBU to think it's a bit off to demand payment for their mistake and they should just take it out of the profit for the cards? I know my kids wrote on them but I didn't give it any thought other than initially assuming I ordered an extra pack by mistake. I should also mention that I support the school in lots of other ways, attending functions, sending in stuff for school fayres blah blah blah.

Now i am going to pay, I don't want a falling out with the Headmistress, but I'm pissed off because I think it's a bloody cheek and the school should be covering this error. And also perhaps the fact that I straight away offered (before being asked for payment) to send the few spare cards that I have left back in should be enough.

[eosmum]

Surely you knew you'd only paid for two packs, who did you think was going to pay for the extra one?

[Savvyblonde]

So you received a pack of cards you didn't pay for, you used them and are now cross that you have to pay for them? Whilst someone else has paid for a pack of cards they have not received and would like compensation? How would you feel if it was the other way round?

[SCurryMovie]

You shouldn't have to pay for the extra pack you never received.

You absolutely should pay the extra pack you did receive, and use.

I'm amazed you didn't raise the fact you got an extra pack as soon as you were aware of the error.

[SaucyJack]

YANBU if you mean that they were the ones your son had drawn.

How on Earth were you supposed to guess that some creepy freak the Head had bought your child's work?

I'd be pissed off enough about that actually. Wouldn't that contravene the Data Protection Act if she's using stuff with your son's full name on to send to her friends?

[addictedtobass]

To be fair OP, Yes, it was their mistake to give them both to you and you probably can argue that but the cards have still been used. I am confused though, if you paid for two packs why did you assume you'd made a mistake on the forms ordering? Surely paying £12, you would have realised you only paid for 2 and either the third was a mistake by them or someone elses?

And if you paid later, wouldn't you be paying the £18 for them anyway since you thought it your mistake?

YANBU regarding your daughters cards- you received no extra and shouldn't pay. YABU to not pay for the extra cards you used. If someone had taken your daughter's cards by mistake and you'd ended up with just one set for your sons, would you be happy with someone saying 'sorry I didn't realise' and still having to pay for them if they'd used them and just offered a few back?

[Jenny70]

Anyone else find it creepy the head ordered both her childrens' cards - I would have thought maybe two random children... but putting that aside, I would have assumed a printing/company error (not thinking anyone would want my child's creation).

I would ask to pay the cost (minus the fundraising part), which essentially covers the costs, but not the profit, as I hadn't ordered them.

[CocktailQueen]

It's got nothing to do with how much you help at the school! It's to do with you receiving something that you didn't pay for. You should have returned them, straight away.

Saucy Jack, don't be daft. How can using a card with a child's artwork and name on it be contravening the Data Protection Act? A child's name is not confidential information!

[CocktailQueen]

YABU re your dd's cards - if you only received what you ordered, you shouldn't have to pay for them.

Am confused as to why you got the HT's order too. Surely she filled in a separate form herself? So there was no reason for her cards to get mixed up with yours. Bit odd that she ordered both your dc's cards as well.

[Wailywailywaily]

I think its a bit odd that the head has ordered your childs Christmas cards, did she ask? I am not going through divorce and house move and I would not have been able to remember if I had ordered one or two sets of cards so I don't think you are unreasonable in that regard.

[SaucyJack]

Of course the child's full name and school attended should be confidential.

Do you want your child's name broadcast to all your Headteacher's random friends and relatives. I bloody well don't without my permission.

[Got99problems]

Well, as you didn't think any more of it when you thought you'd ordered three packs of cards in error (so must have thought you'd been charged £18?) I don't see why you won't pay the correct amount for them. You're not being charged for the school's error, you're being charged for the cards which you have used (knowing full well that the cost of the cards was £6 per pack)

[iwaly]

Really you should only pay "cost" which is about half of it since it was a genuine mistake - but for the sake of goodwill I would just pay for the extra pack you did receive. I wouldn't of course pay for a pack you didn't receive. Next time you are asked for raffle money or something you can feel free not to contribute since you have already added to their funds through this mix up.

[Hoppinggreen]

I don't think that the fact that the Head ordered cards or that OP helps at school is relevant.
OP paid for 2 packs but got 3 - she needs to pay for the 3rd pack, same as if she bought anything and was given an extra by mistake.

[Kitsmummy]

Thanks all

When paying for them there was confusion over how much, as it's 6 per pack, or two packs for 10 but those 2 packs had to be the same design, so 1 pack per child couldn't be added up to two packs at 10 etc etc, and then there were two seperate forms with lots of options to tick, I was in a rush, the hall was crazily busy etc etc and I have an awful lot on my mind at the moment, so the idea that I'd got the order wrong somehow was perfectly feasible.

And yes, I didn't think anyone else would be buying my son's cards!!! 100% I assumed it was genuine error on my part.

We paid for the cards at the time of ordering, so a few weeks ago and I just paid the amount I was told, as I say, the ordering process was a bit of a fiasco. If I was being asked to pay for the cards on collection, I obviously would have queried it then, but there was about 2.5 weeks between paying and collecting, so in my world at the moment a lot happens in 2.5 weeks and I don't have much headspace to be wondering about christmas cards.

[Letthemtalk]

Sorry but you should pay for what you've received.

[youareallbonkers]

data protection act - snigger

[MortaIWombat]

Is this stealth boast about how brilliant your kids' artwork is, op?

[WeAreEternal]

Since you used them then yes you should pay for them.

[JohnCusacksWife]

So you ordered & paid for 2 packs of cards, but accepted and used 3 sets. Is that right? If so you owe them for a pack of cards so I'd pay up and forget about it.

And perhaps the HT bought a selection of the best cards by her pupils to send on behalf of the school, rather than in a personal capacity? Nothing "creepy" in that.

[Purpleroxy]

Weird and creepy for the head to buy your child's cards.
They do this at my school and you have the option to buy your own child's cards only. Therefore I would assume (like you probably assumed) that the cards that came printed with your child's design (and their name printed on the back as the designer) could only possibly belong to you as nobody else should have the right to order them. I don't know if all the above posters are familiar with this particular card scheme but I would be taken aback if anyone else bought my child's cards. Yanbu. The school messed up (and did something creepy). You shouldn't pay for what you received, you should pay for what you ordered and agreed to pay for, which you have done.

[Showy]

Our school do this scheme. I ordered and paid weeks ago following wrangling over grandparents wanting packs and shall we get a teatowel and would granny like a mug. I genuinely can't remember what I ordered and trust the school to get it right. I think I ordered 2 packs of cards. Am about 80% sure. If 3 arrived I don't know what I'd think. Perhaps that there's no point returning them given that they have zero resale value.

Of course you have to pay but I can understand exactly why you are miffed. If you wanted to be ridiculous about it, it's technically theft. Pay, have a cuppa, enjoy Christmas. You've got enough on. Let it go.

[SomethingSuitablyWitty]

I don't find it 'creepy' that the head ordered cards - it's kind of flattering really. I presume it was indeed for the school and it seems appropriate to me. Seeing as you are able to make use of the extra cards, I think it's fine to pay the bit extra back. To be fair though, you should only have to reimburse £4, as that's what actually ordering two packets of his cards in the first place would have cost you. I think I would just hand over the £4, for the sake of peace. Your mistake was very understandable though.

[Icimoi]

For goodness sake, what is all this about the head being weird and creepy? I suspect she's just picked out a few nice designs from the cards done by the children to send out in her official capacity- OP's children's probably aren't the only ones. It's a perfectly normal thing to do, and it will probably benefit the school if they can put in a bigger order.

[Fallingovercliffs]

Why is it weird and creepy for the Head to buy some cards designed by her pupils in support of either the school or a worthy charity? I have a friend who's a school principal and I wouldn't find it a bit strange if she sent me a card created by one of her pupils. I'd actually think it quite sweet.

[TheJiminyConjecture]

I sincerely doubt that the head is using them for personal cards. More likely as an official school card to governors, regular visitors and other local schools. Not creepy at all in my opinion.