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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want to pay the full amount

67 replies

Knitivity · 13/01/2015 00:13

I recently started work but before I did (some months ago) I paid for a school trip. I was on benefits back then so got a 50% discount. The trip is in March and I paid in October.

Today I got a letter from the school asking me for the balance (£62). I don't feel I should pay this as when I paid for the trip I was entitled to half off. I'm sure if I had paid the full amount and then lost my job I wouldn't get half back, so why should I pay the other half now. Has anyone else been through this?

AIBU in saying I won't pay and can they refuse my child a place on the trip?

OP posts:

fairyfuckwings · 13/01/2015 08:08

YANBU

At the point the trip was offered you qualified for the discount, and so accepted this offer.

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 13/01/2015 08:09

YANBU - you were entitled to the discount at the time the payment was due. The school cannot now claw back the difference.

Agree with the pp who said it sounds like an admin cock-up though.

Tryharder · 13/01/2015 08:14

YANBU.

You received a discount because of your circumstances at the time.

They can't start backdating charges because your circumstances have changed somewhat in the meantime.

benfoldsfive · 13/01/2015 08:20

It's a tough one. I think this is now about budgeting your self. Ask the school of you can pay in instalments.

Would you not have sent him if they hadnt offered to pay half?

You do realise that you can definitely get help with childcare? I'm also surprised that your wages are only slightly better than the benefit amount and you aren't entitled to free school dinners? Defiantly check that out.

If money is that tight, make cut backs. All our dc take packed lunches there is no way we can afford hot dinners. However we give dd in year 7 2 pound a week to spend as she wishes ie hot meal once a week or toast every day.

sanfairyanne · 13/01/2015 08:27

are you sure the la has paid half your contribution? think it just comes out of the school budget?

Yangsun · 13/01/2015 08:38

Actually pupil premium is kind of "your personal budget" and if they are choosing to us it to make trips accessible which many schools do and this school clearly is, then that rule has to apply to all pp children not just the ones whose parents don't work. The school has to use pp fundibg for the benefit of pp children.

Catsize · 13/01/2015 09:03

A compromise could be to pay in installments?

Vycount · 13/01/2015 09:07

I wouldn't worry about this at all until you've had a reply from the HT.

CSIJanner · 13/01/2015 09:16

I'm sorry - can I just ask how a PTA makes £40,000. And if they have that much in the coffers, why are the PTA not helping out with some costs? Ours helped to pay towards a mini bus to save money on day trip contributions by parents whilst also purchasing art equiptment, replacing old equiptment etc.

Ragwort · 13/01/2015 09:43

I'd also like to know how on earth the PTA made £40,000 - a lot of us on PTAs could learn something from that .

Chattymummyhere · 13/01/2015 10:37

I don't think you should be charged.

Our PTA make that type of money as well and pay for big things at the school.

notnaice · 13/01/2015 11:26

I think you signed up knowing that was all you would have to pay. If you had been in the situation you are now you would have the choice of sending him or not. You may have decided that you could not afford it. That choice has now been taken away from you. Thats not fair.

Ragwort · 13/01/2015 11:36

chatty - seriously, does your PTA make £40K in a year? Please share how you do it and what sort of school it is.
Makes our £80 or so at a jumble sale look like peanuts .

Original poster

Knitivity · 13/01/2015 16:02

Update:

I've spoken with the head today. She is speaking with the governors about it. She said this has never happened before so what they decide will set the president. She also said she is taking the pupil premium into consideration and the fact that the school will continue to get £1,300.00 a year for the the remainder of the time my daughter will be at the school due to her once being on free school dinners.

OP posts:

Original poster

Knitivity · 14/01/2015 07:35

Update: Email from head... I consulted three members of the finance committee on this and they all agreed that you should still have the 50% subsidy - so good news.

Thanks for everyone that said YANBU because I wouldn't of pushed forward for the subsidy if everyone had said I was being unreasonable. Now I have set a president and others will benefit from this.

Thanks mums (dads)

OP posts:

Notnaice · 14/01/2015 08:18

Good news op

Lottiedoubtie · 14/01/2015 11:08

Great news. And I knew it would be a mistake. It would have been very unfair to effectively punish parents for getting back into work.

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