PTA requesting payment for football boots that are ours.

[WineIsTheAnswer]

DD1 lost her boots just before Christmas. She asked at lost property, checked lockers, asked teachers, reception etc I also asked teacher and checked lost property. Unfortunately cleaning the mud off weekly had worn away the name on the outside and the sticker inside had almost completely come off (dark inside so the only way of marking them.) So I accepted they were gone, my mistake not re-labelling them.

The school has a history of coats etc going missing only to turn up on the back of others with the label cut out a week later. The school does nothing in these cases.

Now I find them on the PTA FB page as part of a large picture of stuff for the next sale. I messaged the PTA lady and asked to collect them or asked for them to be left at reception so I can get them back. She responds saying all lost property is given to them by school at the end of term, they were handed to them at Christmas so they are now PTA. I explain they must of been handed in on the last day as I had checked lost property in the morning. I also think it's unfair, if you forget something on the last day it's automatically PTA's on the first day of term but I haven't said that yet.

She asked for proof, I told her the size, about the faded name (now she knows the name, she should be able to still make it out) and sent the online order receipt. She's now offering to sell me them back ahead of the sale as a goodwill gesture. I've told her I expect them to be returned to school on Monday and if they aren't will presume the PTA has stolen them. I'm being told I'm BU, so am I?

[Desmondo2016]

Categorically no. Go to the head teacher. That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.

[newyearsameme80]

Did she offer to sell them “back” ie she accepted they were your boots?
I would contact the headteacher I think, and no I wouldn’t pay for them in these circumstances.

[PositivelyPERF]

That’s outrageous! I could understand that they would have to be careful in case you were trying to pull a fly one, but it sounds like you gave her enough ‘evidence’ that they belong to your daughter.

[GrannyGrissle]

YANBU. Small claims court if they aren't returned.

[WineIsTheAnswer]

Our PTA is known to be this ridiculous. Just to add they want £10 for them, if it was a couple of quid I might have paid it but £10 to get my own property back is ridiculous.

[AFingerofFudge]

YANBU - this sort of shit really gives me the rage. I'd be in the door first thing on Monday (or on the phone if you can't be there) demanding them back.
"Goodwill gesture"

[WineIsTheAnswer]

I emailed my proof across and she responded without agreeing they were mine basically responded saying - We can't be certain but as a one off we will allow you to buy them back ahead of the sale.

[Gazelda]

What?! That's crazy!
Sticks to your guns. And if she doesn't give them back with good grace, then contact the Head.
Our PTA does uniform sales with a suggested amount and purchasers leave the money in the Honesty Box. We know that some don't make any payment.
But the stock hadn't cost us anything and maybe they're truly on their uppers. We don't mind a bit. And if they're the sort who could pay but don't, well 'meh'. Life's too short to worry about their moral compass.

[titchy]

I'd be messaging back stating if they're not at school on Monday you will report her to the police for theft.

[ApacheEchidna]

Just hand over £10 and consider that to be your donation to the PTA so you can let yourself off next fundraiser where they want you to fork out for cakes, raffle tickets or whatever. It's not like they are profiteering.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Wow, I am outraged on your behalf. Absolutely no way I would pay for my own property. Can you contact the head and the governors?

Failing that I'd offer to meet her to buy them and then just walk off without paying for them. What is she going to do, snatch them off you?

[MiniMum97]

That's theft. Send her this...
www.google.co.uk/amp/www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/woman-nicole-bailey-kept-20-note-one-stop-burton-stoke-on-trent-criminal-record-staff-poketed-a7603576.html%3famp

[Cackleberry4]

That’s not a PTA it’s a PITA!

[MiniMum97]

If you know who owns property you can't take it and treat it as if it's yours regardless of the circumstances.

[MrsPeacockDidIt]

I’m chair of our PTA and would never refuse to return someone’s item like this. We take in lost property items as long as it’s not named and has been in lost property a while. People also donate old uniform. We all know what it’s like at school with misplaced items.

[falsepriest]

What a CF!

Two ways of playing it: a) kick up a stink and get what's rightfully yours, or b) pay the tenner and relieve yourself of ever contributing to them ever again.

@Cackleberry4
10/10

[ivehadtonamechangeforthis]

WOW! Absolutely do NOT pay or donate anything to have your property returned! That is outrageous!

I would send a really strongly worded email saying you are disgusted that you are being asked to 'buy' back your property when you searched for the lost item in lost property, spoke with (insert) teacher name, and you are shocked an item that is clearly NOT unclaimed or donated is being sold! This is theft and you want your property back NOW! I would copy the headmistress in too.

[Quartz2208]

It’s not theft as the property was lost and the school collected

The key is did the school follow correct procedures to ensure it found it way home. If they did then yes they can claim it as their own.

The problem is as you say the arbitrary claiming anything not claimed on the last day of term if it had just been lost that day but as the name was faded they could not give it back

It’s lost property law though not theft.

[WineIsTheAnswer]

Thanks for the replies just wanted to check there wasn't BU before I continue with her. I've now CC in deputy head (don't know heads email) and asked for his input as PTA are withholding my property.

If this was a one off donation to them I wouldn't be as annoyed but they are constantly fundraising and asking for money. So I give my fair share. And it's not a donation as they are trying to force me to pay.

[dragonwarrior]

This is actually illegal..... just because you "find" something you do not get to keep it. They are not the police, this is not a police auction.
Tell them that and have them back

[TheBrilliantMistake]

They are your property. You are entitled to them in law.
The onus is actually not on you, but her to prove they belong to her, which she cannot do.
In this instance you can demonstrate they are yours anyway, so just for them back politely or you can have the police intervene.

[roundturnandtwohalfhitches]

I'm on the PTA and was in charge of lost property on the last day of school. People came in and reclaimed stuff. No proof was needed. Everything else was donated to a local kids clothes charity who would reuse it or ragbag it. Charging you for anything if awful.

[TheBrilliantMistake]

This is similar to the situation where somebody legitimately buys something off somebody and it later proves to have been stolen. The goods remain the property of the original owner and all those down the line to innocently purchased stolen items lose their money.

[Isadora2007]

If the school had rag bagged all the lost property on the last day at school you wouldn’t have the option to buy back the boots as they’d be gone. So really the issue is more with the school lost property policy than the over zealous PTA.
The PTA money actually benefits the whole school so personally I think you’re overreacting a bit. I can see why you’re annoyed, but the school are at fault rather than the PTA. And it’s a good cause.
You would have been surely needing to buy new boots so what’s a tenner?

[ivehadtonamechangeforthis]

Quartz the PTA are withholding property that the owner, a parent at the school, has asked to be given back! Who the hell do the PTA think they are? I don't care for this 'finders keepers after a certain date' nonsense! That item is not lost or donated, the owner has been searching for it, of course it should be returned without asking for payment!