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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to send this email to the school

30 replies

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow · 08/12/2011 17:15

this one here

"Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I have today received a letter from XXXXXXXXXXXXX requesting a voluntary payment of £12 for Product Design.

Unfortunately my current financial situation does not allow me to make any voluntary payments at this time, nor can I see this situation changing in the near future. Although I am not on any means tested benefits, I am on minimum wage and I am sure that you will appreciate how difficult it is for many parents to continue to make voluntary payments in the days of rising prices.

I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Regards"

the above is true by the way, do you think this is ok to send? We can't just not pay, we have to contact the finance office so i thought i'd send this.

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 08/12/2011 17:17

Who says you have to contact them? They will likely bully you into a pound a week or something

GypsyMoth · 08/12/2011 17:18

Maybe they expect us to use our child benefit for things like this.... To 'benefit' our children. We get them too, never for more than a fiver tho

Original poster
NotSuchASmugMarriedNow · 08/12/2011 17:18

It says on the letter to contact them if we can't afford to pay. Plus i've been late paying before and they keep asking the kids if they don't have a written response or the money

OP posts:
MabelLucyAttwell · 08/12/2011 17:20

Tour letter doesn't sound unreasonable at all but could you please tell us what Product Design is? Is it a lesson? If so, no charge shold be made for it. I suspect that the charge will be for materials but it would be a voluntary charge so you do not have to pay it anyway.

Hmmm I've been thinking as I type and I think that because it is a voluntary charge, you do not have to raise a reason for not paying it. Just do not pay it but keep yourletter on file for adjusting appropriately if you are asked why you have not paid.

AnotherMincepie · 08/12/2011 17:20

It's a bit long-winded. You don't need to give any explanation or all that information about yourself. Why not just say

Dear XXXX

Thank you for your letter requesting £12 voluntary payment for Product Design. Unfortunately we will not be able to make such a payment.

Regards

HappyMummyOfOne · 08/12/2011 17:20

I'd offer instalments rather than an "im not paying" - presumably you get child benefit and tax credits that are meant to assist with a childs expenses.

GypsyMoth · 08/12/2011 17:20

How old are your dc?

TestAnswers · 08/12/2011 17:21

I think that is absolutely fine - I would go ahead and send it.

MabelLucyAttwell · 08/12/2011 17:21

Well, havng seen the post asking for a written reason for not paying, send your letter but the first paragraph should ask why they need a reason for your not paying a voluntary cxharge. If we do not give to a charity box, we are not asked why, are we?

Original poster
NotSuchASmugMarriedNow · 08/12/2011 17:23

thank you another mincepie, i have changed the email to what you suggested and i've now sent it.

OP posts:
molepomandmistletoe · 08/12/2011 17:26

Cant you ask to pay so much a week?

Our school has only recently introduced this but it's been a life saver for loads of parents.

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 08/12/2011 17:32

I think it's cheeky that the school say you have to contact them if you can't afford it. Why should you have to discuss your financial situation with the school? I would just not send it in and see what happens

HoudiniHissy · 08/12/2011 17:48

This is one of my favourite things to rant about, the 'voluntary' contribution. Our school did this, then sent a fecking reminder!!!

I was livid!

I also questioned the need for these optional things when the financial climate is so scary for so many at the moment.

Op, if you can't pay it, you can't pay it. There is nothing wrong with this at all. This time of year is hard enough without begging letters being sent home. Worse when they ask the kids.

Hope the school is understanding.

vixsatis · 08/12/2011 17:50

What on earth is "product design" in this contexr?
YANBU

Deliaskis · 08/12/2011 17:50

HappyMummy I'm pretty sure tax credits and CB are meant to help pay for things like food, clothes (including school uniform) and necessary utility bills, not for a state education.

D

GypsyMoth · 08/12/2011 17:53

Yes happymummyofone it's supposed to be a free education! Unless this is a private school?

lifechanger · 08/12/2011 17:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 08/12/2011 17:54

I think they're being very cheeky asking for £12 in the first place, let alone this near to Xmas. And I agree with Deliaskis, TC and CB are there for food clothes and bills, not for education.

ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 08/12/2011 17:58

I can't believe they're asking for money in the first place. I've never heard of having to pay for this, my sister is high school age and she's never been asked.

GypsyMoth · 08/12/2011 18:10

They are asked in our upper school. It's £5

Op, is this year 9?

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 08/12/2011 18:11

I'm lucky that my DCs schools don't ask for money constantly, however DD1 originally went to a different primary school and we were asked for money on a daily basis. £1 for a violin player to play in assembly. £1 towards a leaving present for a teacher. £2 for a pritt stick which all children had to have and which had to be purchased from the school office. They went missing fairly often hence 2 or 3 pritt sticks had to be bought each term. The list was endless.

noblegiraffe · 08/12/2011 18:44

Schools are skint at the moment. I suspect that without voluntary contributions a lot of things couldn't happen.

HoudiniHissy · 08/12/2011 19:13

I don't doubt schools are skint at the moment. So are many people.

Perhaps a theatre group coming in to present Nursery Rhymes at a cost of £500 is not the best of ideas, perhaps it could be done better in-house?

perhaps a trip to a zoo, involving coaches etc is not needed, not when you have a mobile farm that will come to YOU for a couple of hundred pounds or perhaps even a smaller donation.

These are tough times. There are very few homes that will not be cutting back, or being slightly more thoughtful before spending money. why can a school not think before it commits to ideas that will need funding by the parents in order to go ahead?

In our case we get a little scrap of paper 3-4 days ahead of said event, with the 'without your contributions, this may not be able to take place'

What utter bunkum! The event is BOOKED, the cost is CONFIRMED. Even if the event is cancelled there will be a fee, so pack it in with the emotional black mail.

Consult with the parents at the beginning of term, pitch the ideas and FUND RAISE FOR THEM.

noblegiraffe · 08/12/2011 19:35

Needing materials for Product Design to make products with is hardly a thoughtless extravagance.

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 08/12/2011 19:39

The materials for product design isn't a thoughtless extravagence but surely it isn't needed right now, in the second to last week of term, when most schools are doing fun, christmassy things anyway? And £12 is a big amount, for many people. My eldest DD is at secondary school and has to pay for materials for her DT work and sewing, but this is only 50p or £1, maybe £2 at the very very most. For a school to ask for £12, let alone right before Xmas is very unfair IMO.