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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that I shouldn't be left out of pocket by this teacher's incompetence?

14 replies

giddykipper · 14/11/2009 11:42

DSD is going abroad on a school trip.

At the first meeting I told DSD to tell the teacher that her passport isn't in the same name as she's registered at school (passport in mother's name, she has since changed by deed poll to father's name). DSD came back from the meeting saying "I told her and she told me not to worry, it would be fine".

I wasn't convinced. I tried to call the teacher numerous times but she wouldn't ring me back. In the end I sent her a letter pointing out the issue and could she please make sure that she did the flight booking in the right name as I didn't want DSD stuck at the airport.

You can guess what has happened can't you.

To make matters even more ridiculous though, not only has she made DSD's booking in the wrong name, there are also 7 other kids' names she has got wrong.

DSD came home from school yesterday with the message that the teacher had been able to change the bookings but that we would have to pay for the amendments; she would "be in touch" with the parents. I looked on the airlines website and changing details is E35 per flight, hence about £70 in total.

I want to refuse to pay. Poor woman is going to £350 out of pocket though.

OP posts:

RnB · 14/11/2009 11:45

she should have done it properly! How on earth could you get 8 names wrong?!

YANBU

nickelbabe · 14/11/2009 11:45

YANBU.

she should have booked the flights in the correct names.
that she didn't, means that she should pay for the mistake herself.

Arwenwasrobbed · 14/11/2009 11:45

Ohhh thought this was going to be a paint on an expensive white polo shirt thread... No you should not be responsible and not sure I would like my kids to go anywhere with someone that sloppy!

Hassled · 14/11/2009 11:48

Talk to the Head. The teacher cocked up, but she was working on the school's behalf. There's no way you should pay. I'm wondering if any part of the school's insurance would pay, but I don't suppose incompetency is covered in their policy.

EvilTwins · 14/11/2009 11:51

The school should cough up for it. Absolutely not your responsibility. I don't expect they'll make the teacher pay out of her own money, as it's a school thing - they ought to have had some kind of contingency fund (and probably do) to cover things to do with trips.

You must definitely refuse to pay.

MollieO · 14/11/2009 11:53

Good job you put it in writing. There is absolutely no way you should be expected to pay when you have done everything possible to ensure that the teacher knew what name to book the flight in.

SoupDragon · 14/11/2009 11:58

I would refuse to pay given that it was pointed out once by your DSD and once by you in writing.

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/11/2009 12:04

one name wrong maybe but 8 in all

the teacher/school is in the wrong and should pay

Morosky · 14/11/2009 12:04

The school should pay up, it may not have been the teacher we are not supposed to do this type of things. We all have admin assistants to deal with things like this, I am a great teacher but have crap admin and organisational skills.

violethill · 14/11/2009 12:10

The school should pay, but I am surprised by this, like Morosky. What you describe is an admin job.

piscesmoon · 14/11/2009 12:17

I think the school should pay. I would write a list of the phone calls you made and a copy of your letter and point out that since you told her the problem you don't then expect to pay when she failed to act on it.

Original poster

giddykipper · 14/11/2009 13:25

There was one meeting that I went to where she thanked me for bringing the issue to her attention. If I hadn't, then the other 6 kids would have been sitting at the airport unable to get on the plane.

The other 'wrong names' are where she has essentially made a booking in the kids nickname, rather than full name. For example, Lizzie rather than Elizabeth, Joe rather than Joseph.

I'm glad you all agree, I do feel sorry for her, but it really is a basic admin error.

OP posts:

Morosky · 14/11/2009 13:28

I am not saying that you are wrong to be annoyed, I would be fuming.

I just know that my average working day during the week is 12 hours plus, often basic admin is enough to push me over the edge which is why teachers should not be doing it.

I am sure the school will pay.

RustyBear · 14/11/2009 13:33

I agree it's an admin thing, and a failure of their basic procedure - when DD went on trip abroad, the original form we returned had a space specifically asking for her name as shown on her passport, to make sure it wasn't wrong.

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