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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we shouldn't have to pay for this school dinner?

119 replies

LittleMissGerardButlerfan · 13/09/2013 15:30

My son has packed lunches, and one day this week he couldn't find his lunch box so they gave him a school dinner. He put it on the rack with the others but at lunchtime the one that was left to take wasn't his.

Then the next day I sent him in a lunch, and he found his full lunch box which he brought home.

We have had a letter from school saying we owe them £1.80 for the school dinner he had!!

We will pay it, but will send in a note saying we sent him with a lunch so weren't expecting to pay for one.

So Aibu to think we shouldn't have to pay for it?

OP posts:
meboo · 13/09/2013 15:34

If you are saying that the school fed him a meal because he was unable to find his lunch then YABU. Would you rather he did not eat?

Blu · 13/09/2013 15:35

How old is he?

He couldn't find his lunchbox, so they kindly made a hot dinner available?

I wouldn't quibble, tbh.

Pancakeflipper · 13/09/2013 15:35

I think I would be happy that they catered for him when it was missing. And pay.

BarbarianMum · 13/09/2013 15:36

YABU I think. What would you have liked them to do? Ring you to check if you'd sent one? And when they couldn't find it, what? Asked you to nip in with another? Let him go hungry?

It's not something that's likely to happen often to you so you are only out of pocket by £1.80. But I bet across the whole school it happens a lot (if you include forgotten or not brought lunches). So I don't think the school should pay.

LadyintheRadiator · 13/09/2013 15:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tilly333 · 13/09/2013 15:37

YABU It was a mistake and someone took the wrong lunch. At least the school fed your son and didn't leave him to go hungry! Put it down to experience.

Sirzy · 13/09/2013 15:37

Would you have rather they let him go hungry?

Teeb · 13/09/2013 15:37

That's a good question Lady. Who should pay for your sons meal op?

ChocHobNob · 13/09/2013 15:37

As frustrating as it is, I do think YABU. He ate the meal so it needs paying for. If he couldn't find his lunch box and they didn't give him the meal, he would have gone hungry. I have paid for several dinners when my son has forgotten he was packed lunch.

MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 13/09/2013 15:38

WTAF?

They gave him a hot dinner. Of course you should pay for it. £1.80 is pretty cheap for a school lunch tooSmile

Salmotrutta · 13/09/2013 15:39

Maybe they have a slow but steady stream of pupils misplacing their lunch boxes - in which case someone has to foot the bill.

And this time it was you- I'd just be glad he'd had some lunch and pay the bill.

TiaMariaandSpringCleaning · 13/09/2013 15:40

Who do you think should pay for it?

I assume you're grateful that the school provided a meal so your DS didn't go hungry (as they should). Presumably he did in fact eat it. And it seems that he was maybe a bit careless about the lunchbox as he found it the next day (so not like anyone took it or ate his lunch).

The meal needs to be paid for by someone - I know its annoying to effectively have to pay out twice for the one meal, but it seems to me that's only fair on this occasion - hopefully Ds's lunchbox will stay put from now on! Grin

CookieB · 13/09/2013 15:41

Had a member of staff threw out the lunchbox or given it to another child I'd agree but that's obviously not what happened what with it being returned full! Why should you not pay the £1.80 if it's not the schools fault?

kali110 · 13/09/2013 15:42

Yabu

TheProsAndConsOfHitchhiking · 13/09/2013 15:43

yabu! Who do you expect to pay for his lunch?

picnicbasketcase · 13/09/2013 15:43

It's not your fault or your Ds's fault that he didn't eat the lunch he was supposed to, but they did the right thing providing him with a lunch rather than letting him go hungry all day. So I think you just have to put up with it.

FoodieToo · 13/09/2013 15:45

Why should you not pay?

You should pay and send a note saying thanks to whoever bothered to organise this for you child.

Unbelievable .

TheContrastofWhiteonWhite · 13/09/2013 15:45

Yes, as a one off you pay. But if his lunch box regularly wasn't there when he came to pick it up I'd be cross.

ShatnersBassoon · 13/09/2013 15:50

YABU. No doubt about it.

Shutupanddrive · 13/09/2013 15:50

Of course you should pay for it! Do you expect it to be free?

Makqueen2 · 13/09/2013 15:54

The same has happened to ds a couple of times.

I've paid up, tbh I was grateful they sorted him out a lunch rather than ringing me to bring another sandwich to school

nemno · 13/09/2013 15:55

Of course YABU. I'd be grateful your son was given lunch.

intitgrand · 13/09/2013 15:57

YANBU I wouldn't have paid for it.The school are in loco parentis they should make sure his lunch isn't lost.

They hadn't cooked extra food for him anyway if the loss of the lunchbox was only discovered at lunchtime.He only ate what would have otherwise gone to waste or given out as second helpings. They are just trying to make an opportunist sale!

BitOutOfPractice · 13/09/2013 15:58

How old is he?

I'd be glad they sorted him out. It's not the school's fault he lost his lunch.

I'm guessing he's only little and you are not yet use to the constant round of lost stuff / uniform / pe kit / lunches / books / bags etc etc.

My advice? Get used to it! It won't be the last time you shell out for lost stuff Grin

Petitgrain · 13/09/2013 15:58

You're seriously quibbling about retrospectively paying £1.80 for a meal for your son?? Jeez. You sound entitled I'm afraid.