PTA requesting payment for football boots that are ours.

[WineIsTheAnswer]

DD1 lost her boots just before Christmas. She asked at lost property, checked lockers, asked teachers, reception etc I also asked teacher and checked lost property. Unfortunately cleaning the mud off weekly had worn away the name on the outside and the sticker inside had almost completely come off (dark inside so the only way of marking them.) So I accepted they were gone, my mistake not re-labelling them.

The school has a history of coats etc going missing only to turn up on the back of others with the label cut out a week later. The school does nothing in these cases.

Now I find them on the PTA FB page as part of a large picture of stuff for the next sale. I messaged the PTA lady and asked to collect them or asked for them to be left at reception so I can get them back. She responds saying all lost property is given to them by school at the end of term, they were handed to them at Christmas so they are now PTA. I explain they must of been handed in on the last day as I had checked lost property in the morning. I also think it's unfair, if you forget something on the last day it's automatically PTA's on the first day of term but I haven't said that yet.

She asked for proof, I told her the size, about the faded name (now she knows the name, she should be able to still make it out) and sent the online order receipt. She's now offering to sell me them back ahead of the sale as a goodwill gesture. I've told her I expect them to be returned to school on Monday and if they aren't will presume the PTA has stolen them. I'm being told I'm BU, so am I?

Following for outcome

It's stealing. Larceny by finding to be exact. The Law states that a person must take "reasonable steps" to return to rightful owner. You have proof of order. She hasn't taken reasonable steps. You quoted size, vanishing name written in and have proof as to ownership. She's chosen to ignore you and to attempt to resale the trainers. (Cow!) This is also where a criminal charge could be levied. The police step in when stolen items are sold on for profit. Theft Act 1968 which provides that a person is guilty of theft if they dishonestly appropriate property belonging to another with the intention to permanently deprive the other of it.

I'd threaten the police and small claims courts. PTA lose she'd also face your legal costs and added court costs. What an utter power mad nutjob!

Sounds like my sons previously primary- I had to complain about refusal of PTA mafia on a power trip refusing to give my sons named brand new jumper bk as it was sorted to b sold.

I'd call the Head. In my experience (usually but not always) are slightly more sane. Weirdo helicopter parents gravitate to the PTAs in my experience.

YANBU!! That's utterly ridiculous.

Weirdo helicopter parents gravitate to the PTAs in my experience.

Jesus wept. The cheekyfuckeryness is astounding to say the least.

How much was the PTS intending to sell the boots for if they are being "generous asking only £10 from you.The PTS is basically selling stolen goods having acknowledged they are probably yours. Contact Head refusing to pay what is basically extortion.

You are definitely NBU. Whilst at my son's secondary school Christmas fair we found his missing outdoor PE top hung up on the 2nd hand uniform stall still with his name sewn in. We just quietly mentioned it was his top, the lady apologised, said the school were supposed to check property before handing to the PTA & handed it to us free & didn't even ask for any identification. I then happily continued round the fair spending a lot more money, which is how it should be.

Agree to buy them. Turn up, then take them and run off without paying

🚴🏻‍♀️🏇🏻🚗

Crying at this.

Shimmer... in a decade yet to meet a sane individual on PTA...

I concur.the desire to be on PTA should disbar one from being on PTA
It’s the smuggery & fuckery of the PTA their habitually martyred we do everything for the school stance
No. You undersell cakes,hector parents,coerce,cajole by email.and shamelessly promote your precocious children for roles in plays etc

I don't see why you should have to pay a tenner to get your own boots back, lost property should be put out for children/parents to reclaim without being charged again when you've already paid for it. There's enough to pay out when your kids are at school, when mine were are primary hardly a week went by without being asked to pay oh sorry that should say make a donation for something or other that benefits the whole school, yeah right, just the chosen few!! CFs the PTA do get high and mighty with ideas above their station, just go and get what belongs to you. With the PTA it's all take, take, take.

Sounds like my sons previously primary- I had to complain about refusal of PTA mafia on a power trip refusing to give my sons named brand new jumper bk as it was sorted to b sold.
We had similar, except school saidbthey no longer kept any lost property when I asked to look for missing named jumper. Then they had a fundraiser, and sold lost property there, including our jumper, with name still in it!
I think they get a bit over zealous about raising funds, and forget about tricky concepts like... LYING and STEALING

School usually does an end-of-term table in the playground of all lost and unnamed property, maybe over two days. We are given advance warning. Then if anything is unclaimed (actual school uniform stuff), it is sold as secondhand during the year by the school. All non-school uniform clothing is recycled or given to charity.

If they attempted this sort of shit OP, there would be rucks in the playground. Some very feisty parents.

Desperate for you to get those boots OP. That PTA lady has lost the plot.

TBH I'm very grateful to any one else who is willing to do the PTA so I don't have to. But this one has lost it.

Oh, and our PTA is run by seemingly normal people. I'm actually slightly disappointed.

Who the fuck can be arsed giving themselves this much grief in their life which is easily avoidable, just give you them back and everyone’s happy instead of which PTA CF is annoyed, you’re annoyed and all of MN are annoyed ...it really rips my knitting...not a chance in hell I’d be giving any money to get them back on the sheer principal of their CFness.

rips ma knitting Love that expression

I think the same as the other 99% on this post so no need to repeat, but felt the need to comment in the hope of an update

Oooh annoying, hope you get the boots back satisfactorily.

My dd had a jumper go missing which was returned to her on the first day of the following term. Her coat has gone missing twice. The second time, it was found two weeks later, covered in mud and bird poo near the leisure centre. Weirdly not only does no one know how it got there, but it still had two pounds and a watch in the pocket. Now, the school could have thrown it in the bin but they knew we'd been checking lost property daily for it. In your circumstances, you've obviously been looking for days so I'm shocked the PTA have been given them. Especially as items frequently turn up on the last minute of the last day of term when people are tidying or checking PE bags (a sock given up for lost turned up just before half term in someone else's bag). I'd talk to the Head or Office and explain that the Chair has agreed they're your missing boots but is asking you to pay for your own property.£10 for second hand boots is crazy too. My dd ones cost about £4. It's also suspicious as this is money outside of a sale. I've been in schools with this policy and they don't take money like that and more importantly would return an item which clearly belonged to someone.

I'm not placemarking honest...

FFS MadRainbow you could just put it on your watch list! sets down place mark and wanders away innocently 😇