Other side of the Free School meal debate?

[wherethewildthingis]

Posted this in Coronavirus but no replies so I am braving AIBU for traffic.

I've seen a lot of threads on here about people entitled to Free School Meals recently and a lot of posters characterising them as entitled, feckless, wanting something for nothing and potentially looking to spend the money on themselves rather than their children. I thought it may be interesting to consider this from the opposite perspective in terms of the behaviour of the private companies who provide meals in school which are paid for by parents.
I wonder how these companies are behaving now generally?
From my perspective I paid for a term's worth of meals at 16.50 per week in January. I've requested a refund but so far only had an email back saying they are very busy and are delayed processing refund requests. So this company is essentially hanging on to parents' money for meals they haven't provided. Meanwhile I am of course paying to feed my son at home-obviously I wouldn't not, but it seems a little unfair that I've already paid to feed him once.
I would imagine parents on the borderline of FSM entitlement who have to pay but are on a low income, might struggle with this amount of delay

People are jealous of anything nowadays. I get dd fsm as im a student , single mum but spend them on food for her...
Im jealous of those with great jobs, no mh issues and their own houses but hey hum..such is life.

The private companies are scum. They should not be withholding money for meals they haven’t provided. YANBU for being angry.

YABU however for bringing people who are entitled to FSM into it. This has nothing to do with them. This is not a race to the bottom and it is not anybody else’s fault that the companies are keeping money to which they aren’t entitled other than the companies themselves. Stop trying to create division.

We have been told by school that we will be refunded for meals we have paid for but won’t use. I haven’t checked if this has happened yet.

"...a lot of posters characterising them as entitled, feckless, wanting something for nothing and potentially looking to spend the money on themselves rather than their children..."

I have honestly not seen this at all. I have seen outrage at the fat cat cronyism, but not this.

@FlibbertyGiblets

"...a lot of posters characterising them as entitled, feckless, wanting something for nothing and potentially looking to spend the money on themselves rather than their children..."

I have honestly not seen this at all. I have seen outrage at the fat cat cronyism, but not this.

There was a thread full of them a couple of weeks ago.

I agree with you @wherethewildthingis. Hanging on to your money is just plain dishonest.

I have honestly not seen this at all. I have seen outrage at the fat cat cronyism, but not this.

Where have you been then?! clearly not on the fsm threads there was 2 recently with these types of comments

Have you contacted the school OP in regards to your refund. Our payments were refunded by the school. They asked if we wanted to leave in the account for when schools re open or they could refund it back to us

@ malificent7
People are jealous of anything these days. Being able to afford to be a student whilst a single parent and getting free school meals in addition to social housing what I wouldn't give to have a free lifestyle.

But ho hum here I am working all hours in a 'great job owning my own house.

And yet somehow all my costs have all gone up and I don't get a single penny towards it but you food vouchers and food parcels so be grateful for what you have.

I also would email school and ask for a refund. Perhaps a lot of people don’t mind having a credit on the account for when schools return but if you ask for a refund it should be made.

I should imagine the catering companies aren’t having a great time at the moment really. They should clearly be refunding parents for the time that the school is closed, but they must be losing a lot of money at the moment. Their biggest costs have got to be running and staffing school kitchens, which they still have to do, but with significantly fewer children eating and paying for their food. My schools catering company sends the same number of staff whether 10 children need to be fed or 100.

Sorry I'm not intending to create division, if anything I've argued strongly that people should stop bashing anyone who gets free school meals! More I'm trying to highlight that on the other side of this, companies are not above some fairly grasping and shady practices.
@NailsNeedDoing I am sad for the company struggling but they don't get to keep my money. I need it for me and my kid!

Of course you should be refunded promptly as requested. Parents may very well need that money for costs they are incurring now, particularly with kids home all day. I don’t really think this has anything to do with FSM though.

Just to add another side to the free school meal debate.
Children who do not have a school placement are not entitled to the vouchers/laptops/remote learning at all, regardless of how poor they are or what their income is.

I meant to add that this means that many children living in poverty, some of whom have SEN are unable to access the help being offered.

I think a company holding onto your money is a separate thing. I don't see why you are mixing it with FSM. You really need to be talking to your school.