Never seen it, not paying AIBU?

[Nojumpershere]

So a few months ago DD age 2 was allegedly sent home in some other kids jumper. I say allegedly because no one has ever seen this other jumper. FIL did pick her up that day and probably wouldn’t have noticed if she was wearing someone else’s stuff but me and MIL have searched high and low for this elusive jumper that we have never seen and have not found it.
The parents are now demanding we pay for it and the amount they want is £36. Seems like a fair bit to me considering we’ve never even set eyes on the thing.
I’ve asked for a picture and will have a final check but unless there’s a secret dungeon in my house that my DD stores stolen jumpers in there isn’t anywhere I’ve not already looked. AIBU in refusing to pay and asking MIL to do the same?

Well surely the obvious thing to ask if- if the nursery? (Presuming) knows that your dd was sent home in another child’s jumper, 1) what are they doing to locate YOUR dd’a Jumper, and 2) why did they allow her to go home in a different jumper in the first place?

Onus on nursery I think!

That’s unreasonable. Children’s things get lost. They shouldn’t send anything truly precious into nursery. Fair enough asking you to check (or even we still haven’t found it could you double check please?) but not asking you to pay. That’s bonkers.

Ha! Nice try by some CFs.

1. Dont send your kid to nursery in anything that you dont mind being trashed.
2. As far as youre concerned she never had it.

Just say no then disengage

Not your responsibility to pay. They are being chancers.

Nope. I would not pay for that. Kids things get lost. There is no way they knowingly sent her home in the wrong jumper and if it wasn’t knowingly, then why do they think you have it.

When we were in that stage, we always brought back any errant items we noticed the next day. Really nothing more you can do.

Who sends their kid to nursery in a £36 jumper?!

They shouldn’t send their child to nursery in a £36 jumper if they can’t afford it to get ruined or go missing. How do they know (or at least think they know) that your child took it?

They are trying it on.

Why do they think your child was sent home with it?

How do they know your child was sent home in it? Who is saying that? If you say no she wasn’t, we’ve never seen it and it’s not in our house then that’s that. The onus is on nursery to prove you’ve got it? They could say “your child got sent home with an iPad in their bag” it’s the same thing. Anybody could say anybody has anything. Where’s the proof?
I’m just going to knock on the next door neighbours house and say “where’s my Ferrari that I parked in your driveway last night. I want £150,000 for a replacement”

Don’t pay. They are basically accusing you of stealing their jumper. What proof have they got?

Update: MIL told the nursery we’ve not got it and we never had.
They’re now sending a letter out to all the parents to see if anyone has it.
No idea why they were so convinced we had it to be honest!
I don’t understand how anyone could send them to nursery in something they were that bothered about, DD has come home covered in paint before but they’re only 2 and that’s what happens sometimes.
@mybeebop ooh that Ferrari thing sounds like a good idea, could do with one of those

DS came home without his jumper weeks ago and I asked mums to check. All said they didn't have it.
He came home monday wearing it saying a class mates mum had found it in her house!
Things turn up. IT could have gone into anyones bag by mistake. Shouldn't have sent an expensive item to nursery. I don't think I own many £36 items never mind my toddler!

YANBU, I wouldn't pay a penny. Who said dd was sent home in it, a nursery staff member or the phantom jumper's parents?

Not your problem, it's nursery's to sort out......plus all children's clothes should be name labelled.

YANBU. If you were silly enough to buy such an expensive jumper for a 2 year old don't send it in to nursery.