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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

well i'm not but I don't know how to proceed?

66 replies

olduninBoden · 04/02/2011 19:10

DS1 who is 15 has intrumental lessons from a teacher organised by the head of music.I gave DS a cheque to pay for his lessons on Tuesday.
When i check my bank online yesterday I see the cheque has cleared but is for nearly twice as much!It transpires that the music teacher told DS to alter the amount on the cheque to include the bill for the following half term's fees as well.I had already emailed the music teacher querying this because it included some lessons where the teacher had been ill
DS1 is quite compliant and acted under duress, but I am totally shocked that a teacher would abuse his position of authority to pressure a minor to do something illegal like this.I don't know what to do next without implicating DS

OP posts:
catinthehat2 · 04/02/2011 20:24

I'm trying to put my lower jaw back into position.

What on earth was the teacher thinking? THat was a crazy/desperate thing to do.

I would be opening up a world of bank/school governor trouble here

cumfy · 04/02/2011 20:28

The teacher has been very clever in making your son changed the cheque details. I wouldnt bother contacting the bank, as I said it was your son that tampered with the cheque.

No.

He's been verrr stupid and has dug himself a very big hole.:o
He's not Professor Moriarty, DC Plod will run rings round him.
I do wonder if he's done this to others. Bit of an MO.

GloriaSmut · 04/02/2011 20:30

I'm astonished that someone in such a position of responsibility should encourage your ds to commit a crime. Because that's what it is.

You must stop the cheque immediately. Also I wouldn't assume that the bank will notice the amendments since I've recently been told that the volume of business they do really doesn't permit this sort of close examination of individual cheques. This information being imparted after I discovered that, despite being told otherwise, I am was a signatory on a charitable bank account. An account for which I've signed at least three cheques for over £2000 each - all of which cleared!

You must take action over this atrocious behaviour and do so immediately. Your son is a victim of this teacher, not a willing accomplice and the police will take this into account.

Eglu · 04/02/2011 20:31

Definitely speak to the bank and the HT. I would be wanting my money back.

cumfy · 04/02/2011 20:41

DS has committed no crime as there is no plausible mens rea on his part.

verytellytubby · 04/02/2011 20:46

Bloody hell.

TheMonster · 04/02/2011 20:49

How strange. Contact a senior member of staff at the school for advice.

eagerbeagle · 04/02/2011 20:56

For fraud offences, dishonesty is usually a key component of the crime. You need to have the dishonest intent for the act to be criminal. It seems to me that your son did not have any dishonest intent as he was manipulated or coerced into changing the check. Not an expert in this area but I doubt your son has done anything wrong in the eyes of the law and you should throw the book at this teacher.

BlueCat2010 · 04/02/2011 21:50

Unbeliveable that a teacher who is in a position of trust should encourage a minor to commit fraud, so you are definately NBU, so I would contact the bank and the head of department asap.

If that happened to me then I would be stuck as my finances are very tight and it would cause all sorts of problems, even if it was only for £5.

cumfy · 04/02/2011 22:04

Did your DS say why he didn't mention it at the time ?

Pixieonthemoor · 04/02/2011 22:06

Its fraud. Go to the head.

cumfy · 06/02/2011 13:25

What happened ? :)

Flisspaps · 08/02/2011 07:56

Did you speak to the head OP?

MsKLo · 08/02/2011 08:04

Do not let the teacher get away with this . Contact the school and complain, how they can even think of charging for lessons when teacher was ill is beyond me

FreudianSlippery · 08/02/2011 08:10

OMG! That is awful. Your poor child being put in that position! Angry

Myleetlepony · 08/02/2011 08:31

Don't panic about your son, just write to the Head now explaining what has happened, or arrange to meet the Head at school.

valiumredhead · 08/02/2011 08:36

Oh my! That is wrong on SO many levels, I would contact the school asap.

BuntyPenfold · 08/02/2011 10:00

Gobsmacked.

Coercing a minor into fraud?

Please tell what happened.

FindingStuffToChuckOut · 08/02/2011 10:07

Like so many others I'm gobsmacked.

cornsilk · 08/02/2011 10:13

wow - that's a crazy thing to do

kepler10b · 08/02/2011 10:18

outrageous to do this without even informing you.

Adair · 08/02/2011 10:22

Hmmm, I wonder whether the teacher doesn't realise how serious and wrong it is (in the same way that your son didn't realise). Def a meeting with the Head is in order.

SenoritaViva · 08/02/2011 10:30

Adair - how could an adult not realise??? This is shocking IMO.

valiumredhead · 08/02/2011 10:43

Adair - only an adult who had never written a cheque in his entire life would not realise how serious this is.

Adair · 08/02/2011 11:30

You are prob right. And actually, surely then he would have said 'oh btw I changed the cheque cos it was for the wrong amount' and not neglected to mention...

There are some stupid people out there though. It is outrageous I agree. Stupid or deceitful, still needs a very serious word with the head. Serious misconduct, surely?

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