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

[Slipperyslopin]

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 ) 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?

[CheeseandPickledOnion]

I presume she would have been charging his phone while he was out so that he could call her on that?

YANBU. Phone 101 and report as theft.

[MyHeadWasInTheSandNowNot]

I would have called the police, from the school. Fucking ridiculous idiots.

[flaggybannel]

my friend had a similar situation (but wasnt a work phone) they refused to budge on the issue. They confiscated on the friday and the policy was two whole school days so she didnt see her phone again until the following tuesday. I personally thought it was theft.

My ds had his phone confiscated in year 10, same school, phone came back 2 days later with no credit and call logs deleted. Also some music deleted. We couldnt prove it but it certainly seemed to have been tampered with- and used! I really dont know what we would of done if it had been returned damaged/broken. How could we of proved it was in working order before confiscation?
Shudder.

[Goldmandra]

I would just tell them to hand over your property or you will call the police right there and then.

Two weeks?

Megalomaniacs!

I can see that they need to stop pupils using them in lessons but this is well beyond reason.

[MrsTomHardy]

My sons school always give the phones back at end of the day....

[SauvignonBlanche]

I think the police need to be involved.

[Passmethecrisps]

For the record I despise phones going off in class and confiscate readily.
I am not sure how the phone tuned itself on either - mine has never done this.

Anyhoo.

They were 100% correct to confiscate but the time span is completely daft.

I also didn't think of the employer's response - bad idea of mine to involve employer. Ignore that.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Was this policy made clear to you and your child?

If so, you shouldn't have loaned him the phone.

[Bunbaker]

I'm also confused at how easily phones get switched on accidentally.

Surely the way to get round this is to:
a) Have the data connection switched off until you need to use it
b) Have the sound switched off.

[Bearbehind]

That is terrible, who do they think they are?

Trouble is, won't the school be closed now for half term so you're screwed for a week anyway?

[Wolfiefan]

I have an iPhone. It has NEVER turned itself on.
They are not allowed phones but you gave him a phone and told him to take it in? Really.

[sweetestB]

Op, you knew school's policy is not to have phone in school even if it's turned off, so even if your son or his friend were taking their own phones to school, they would be doing the wrong thing.
It was also very irresponsible of you to give your work phone to him regardless the circumstances
He could have left his phone charging at home during school and come collect it before cinema
What kind of cinema or movie is this that you can't find info online?
Your son can go to a cinema with a friend but can't use a public phone?

[CloudsAndTrees]

They shouldn't have kept the phone, and I 100% agree they need to give it back.

But you shouldn't be giving you child a phone that has confidential stuff about other people on it, and I have no idea how an iPhone would turn itself on in a pocket

[stoatie]

flaggybannel

If I thought credit had been used I would have contacted phone company - they can track when phone used etc and if it was after the phone had been confiscated then school would have had a lot of questions to answer.

When DD1 had her first phone (and stolen off her at school - hence one reason why schools ban them) I was able to contact phone company to a) put stop on phone B) say when she last legitimately use phone so she wasn't charged (it was contract with small call allowance) . It turned out the little treasure that stole it (she knew who but wouldn't go to police because DD feared the bullying that would follow!) had certainly been active on phone!!

[CabbageLeaves]

I think confiscating and making a parent one in to grovel collect it is making their point. To refuse to hand over is wrong. (Unless your son is a repeat offender in which case they should stamp on it )

[Dawndonna]

It is not legal for them to keep your property.

[sweetestB]

I say - Fishy.....
....

[GloriaPritchett]

I'd be delighted if the school kept my DC's phone for two weeks. It'd be bliss

[ByTheWay1]

School policy is no phones at all, yet you told him to take a phone and gave yours to him.....?!? I take it you did not know the policy? Or did you deliberately make your child break the rules??

School is wrong to keep the phone that long... but you are wrong too..

[Bearbehind]

I-phones are a nightmare for turning back on if you are not used to them. You can press the on/ off button for a short time and screen goes black and it looks like its off but the damn things springs back into life after a while. This has happened to me on a flight before.

To actually switch it off you have to hold the top button until the swipe thing comes up on the screen then switch it off with that.

[TheFallenNinja]

Did you speak to one of the grown ups there or just the numpty on the reception?

[TheNebulousBoojum]

The school are being unnecessarily strict and should return the phone.
But you gave your son a work phone with confidential stuff on it? That was wrong of you in so many ways. It would be a disciplinary matter in most circumstances.

[Slipperyslopin]

I don't know why it turned on, may have been DS playing with it and left it on then lying to me. But I gave it to him because the area we're in can be a bit iffy and I was worried about him, it was also morning and I was rushing so just handed to him without thinking it through really.

[DinglebertWangledack]

2 weeks is silly even if it was your son's phone. I hope you've marched back up there to demand the return of your property especially as their reasoning for keeping it is pure bollocks. Policy? Please. They are being unreasonable.