Would you pay for this?

[Lockerlocker]

Received a phone call from DS16s school last week to say him and another child had been involved in an incident where they had both kicked a locker, they have viewed the CCTV to confirm it was them. He explained DS would be excluded and we would be billed for the locker as they had damaged it. As there was two boys involved they bill would be halved. Fair enough. Makes sense we are billed for the locker.

Friday, I receive an email followed by the letter in the post yesterday to say that the single locker can’t be replaced so we have to pay for the column of lockers, adding that the lockers are on show in the corridor and it ruins the atheistic and the locker is now not functional. So I’m still sort of in agreement. The cost of the four lockers is £156.06 so our bill is £79.03.

Then I open the photo they have sent me (picture 1), the bottom locker is already clearly without a door (there is no suggestion that my DS was involved in this). I show my DS the photo, he states that it doesn’t look like the picture at all and that the girl is still using the locker. He said several of lockers have dents in and they have not been replaced. He has then sent me photos of the block showing the dinted lockers and the locker now.

I think I should only be charged for the broken locker and at a push 3 out of 4 lockers.

Not to drip feed, not sure it’s relevant, it’s an alternate provision. DS has an ASD & ADHD diagnosis. However I don’t believe he was having a melt down at the time of the incident.

I think the difference is that he purposely damaged the locker so, regardless of what happened to the other lockers, paying for the damage is the consequence of his actions.

Stop making excuses and pay.

I'm not entirely sure what you're objecting too. You are being charged half the cost of replacing a column of lockers your DS deliberately damaged. You say you think that is reasonable. So what's your question?

I agree with pp, he purposefully kicked the locker and there are consequences.

He vandalised someones property so of course you need to pay for it.

If the damaged item can only be replaced as part of larger unit then that’s unfortunate for you but maybe a good lesson for your son, actions have consequences.

I'm confused, you don't think you should pay despite your son causing damage?

I think OP's irritation is that the damaged locker isn't the only damage and therefore needing to be fixed. It's just a bit more damage to an already grotty unit.

They are taking the opportunity to upgrade the lockers at OP expense.

I'm with you, OP. If the bank of lockers was knackered anyway, you should only be paying the cost of the one your son damaged.

He damaged it. You pay as you are responsible for him.

If your son gets pocket money or has savings, he should pay. If not he should do extra chores to compensate you for paying.

If there's a metalwork shop in the school, the teacher could knock that back into shape in ten minutes. You should make a contribution, obviously. I wonder if they just charge full price to all the parents, whose kids have damaged it, then never replace them?

The consequence of the damage done to one locker means that 4 need to be bought.

Why should school budgets suffer because your son vandalised them?

That money will have to come from somewhere.

He deliberately vandalised a locker ... yes you should pay but your DS needs to pay you back out of pocket money, savings, birthday money or doing chores. He needs to learn that actions have consequences.

Show me the money.

Really? Your son deliberately damaged school property and you are more concerned with the cost.

Of course you should have to pay. Your son deliberately caused damage.

I'm presuming they have tried hammering it back into shape and can't as it would be dangerous to keep it jutting out like that? If that is the case then fair enough to make you pay for the set that has to be bought. If it will reshape and can be used then maybe overkill to make you pay that.

Of course you must pay. Who else would you expect to?

It's not a lot of money anyway, is it? The school was prepared to put up with the previous damage, but the extra damage makes it unfeasible.

But I think regardless let it be a lesson for your son and don't voice if you think.the school unreasonable. Do back them up in front of him as it will teach him responsibility.

He broke the locker, of course he needs to pay!

Maybe he needs to be more careful of other peoples property if he doesn't want to be charged. 🤨

Given there is already damage, and the column needs to be replaced due to the already damaged door on the bottom, I would be offering 1/3, other parent pay 1/3 and school pay 1/3. Surely they would have been planning to replace anyway? Your son absolutely needs to take responsibility for his vandalism, but school also should be partially responsible for the whole column

I think the concept underpinning your post OP is an interesting one; does the person who caused wilfull damage to property get a say in what fair reparations amounts to?

Re the previous damage, your son left the locker in an unsafe way, the previously dented lockers do not look unsafe and unusable.

I think that is incredibly cheap and I'd pay it and move on.