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Original poster

stupid school have wrongly charged me for school dinners...

156 replies

mumatron · 05/03/2012 14:40

and apparently there is nothing I can do except pay it.

£271.

My dc changed schools a year ago, a few weeks later I had a letter from the local council addressed to 'parents of DS' with a bill for the above amount.

obviously I phoned to query it, the man from the council said he would look into it. I also called the school who apologised and said it must have been an error on their part.

My ds had been in the school for 4 years and had never had dinners, I have never qualified for the free dinners scheme.

since then I have periodically had letters threatening baliffs etc, each time I call the council I am told it is sorted.

Friday I came home from work to find a hand delivered letter from a baliff saying they will be coming on 09/03/2012 to remove goods. This is the second time this has happened. Called the council again and have just been told that after speaking to the school the debt is actually mine and as they have invoices I have no option but to pay it. I can make an appointment with the school to see the invoices they have. what good is that going to do? unless they have pictures of him eating £271 worth of dinners.

I should also add the school never once sent a letter home from school to say that there was any amount outstanding, or that they had needed to give him dinners for any reason.

Any suggestions as to where the hell I go with this?

TIA

OP posts:
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Feenie · 06/03/2012 18:54

Could you speak to a solicitor and get some advice? This could surely be construed as fraud on behalf of the school - they are fraudulently claiming money from you. It would surely take just one telephone conversation from a solicitor to make the school realise that a) you mean business and b) they have got it wrong.

Fayrazzled · 06/03/2012 19:31

I'm surprised the council are refusing to get involved. In my son's primary school it is the council School Meals service that provides the school meals. I pay a cheque to the council each half term. School does not handle the money other than passing it on to the council. Each morning my son has to answer "hot dinners or packed lunch" and the teacher marks a register accordingly.

Who provides the school meals at your child's school? Does the school have an in-house kitchen or are they provided by the council? If the latter, then the council should be dealing with you re. the debt and don't be fobbed off.

LemonMousse · 06/03/2012 19:48

I too am puzzled as to why the council keep referring you back to the school - the fact that they (the council) were 'chasing' you for the debt suggests that it is a council run meals service. School refers long term outstanding debts to the council who are then responsible for obtaining payment/taking legal action.

Agree with Feenie - re seeking legal advice. This is just so strange Hmm

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 06/03/2012 19:49

This is horrendous OP and sure case of ad financial management within the school.

Like a poster further down we are not allowed to carry more than two weeks arrears so how they have managed to supposedly run up a debt of this size is beyond me. Sounds like someone at school has might a right balls of it.

prh47bridge · 06/03/2012 23:00

Feenie - No it isn't fraud. That requires criminal intent. This is just maladministration. Not that it makes it any better for the OP.

Feenie · 07/03/2012 07:01

How do you know the head isn't on the fiddle? It happens. Ok, I think it's unlikely to, but the counter suggestion from a solicitor may make them check their position more carefully.

Feenie · 07/03/2012 07:02

How do you know the head isn't on the fiddle? It happens. Ok, I think it's unlikely to, but the counter suggestion from a solicitor may make them check their position more carefully.

NoMoreRoom · 07/03/2012 07:18

I am Shock that they allowed such a time to pass before they decided that you owed for so many school dinners. Regardless of the fact you don't owe - I'm sure they would have started letters after just a week.
That makes me think they have the wrong child because I feel that the parents of the child who's had the 'free' dinners and needs to pay will have already been contacted.

They're probably sat at home right now pleased that the school have stopped persuing them!

SoupDragon · 07/03/2012 07:48

Stop being passed between members of staff and insist on dealing with the head.

Llareggub · 07/03/2012 07:53

I haven't got time to read the whole thread, but in your shoes I would:

Email the Chief Exec of the Council, with a cc to your local MP and also Portfolio holder/cabinet member for Childrens Services in the council. DOn't make it a ranty email, just point out the facts, what you have tried to do and what needs to happen. Things happen when CXs are emailed and their PAs usually have excellent noses for following things up and hassling the right people.

Then, press as a last resort.

tantrumsandballoons · 07/03/2012 12:29

Op have you spoken to the courts? If there is a court order(distress warrant) the ONLY people who can cancel this is the court.

My advice would be to ask the bailiff for your client reference number , the court it was issued from and the date it went to court and he HAS to provide you with this.

Then contact the issuing court, explain the situation that you did not even know it had been to court etc and they will give you 28 days to deal with this matter.

What you will then have to do is go to the head teacher, get all the invoices they say they have and copies of dinner register etc plus any forms you have supposedly filled in and look at all of this and proceed from there
Good luck, keep us posted.

alorsmum · 07/03/2012 12:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tantrumsandballoons · 07/03/2012 12:50

you will always be notified of a court date, the outcome etc. It is possible you did not receive it but they will have a record of sending it.

The school have refereed the debt to the council so it is their business but I would definitely advise you to have all the paperwork the school has before you go to the council.

I would also advise you to speak to the bailiff and find out what his timescale is, so you know what is going to happen next and how to stop it.

You also need to find out what type of warrant the bailiff has, they will not break in and take your stuff but if it is a magistrates warrant they have power of entry so it would be irrelevant if you invite them in or not, technically they are entitled to use a locksmith to gain entry one they have confirmed residence (very rare they use this power though)

tantrumsandballoons · 07/03/2012 12:51

but your first step should be to contact the court as they can and will hold off the bailiff officially if you explain, it will give you time to sort it out.

Original poster
mumatron · 07/03/2012 14:09

Busy, busy day so far but briefly. I have spoken to the bailiff again, he wasn't in the office so couldn't check specifics but his theory is that the court letters may have gone to my previous address. Not sure about that myself as other letters regarding this have got here. he is going to check o that and call me again to let me know. annoyingly I can only speak to someone in their offices between 8am-10am.

have called school and have given them until 4pm tomorrow to give me copies of invoices and dinners registers. Spoke to head and have told him that if I don't get this by tomorrow I will be seeking legal advice.

My dc have not been at this school for more than a year so I'm not sure a teacher or dinner lady would remember what they had for lunch tbh.

have to post and run as dd2 has horrific earache and we are off to the doc again.

thanks for the support.

OP posts:
wheredidiputit · 07/03/2012 15:10

I would also ask for the chair of governors name and put it writting to them your complaint.

Even if the head can/does come back with the answers, I would complain about how they have handled this issue with you.

alorsmum · 08/03/2012 21:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

prh47bridge · 08/03/2012 21:22

Feenie - I don't know that the head is not on the fiddle but getting the LA involved in a legal case against a parent for payment for meals they have not taken with the intention of pocketing the money for his/her personal benefit would be so incredibly stupid that I don't see that as credible. I think this is a c*ck up.

Feenie · 08/03/2012 21:23

I don't think it's credible either. But the counter suggestion that there claim is fraudulent may pull them up short and make them start checking more carefully.

Feenie · 08/03/2012 21:24

their tsk

Original poster
mumatron · 08/03/2012 21:25

The school have all info ready for me, I've arranged to go and see it (and pick up a copy) tomorrow.

If I don't get any sense from that I will ask to see his teacher, maybe even the dinner ladies.

I can't wait for this whole stupid thing to be over, it's so draining.

OP posts:
Feenie · 08/03/2012 21:34

I don't think they would necessarily let you - but at least they are on the hop now, having to prove their claim. I hope you can get it sorted, OP.

Original poster
mumatron · 08/03/2012 21:39

the classrooms open up onto the playground so it's quite easy to speak to the teachers at home time.

thanks feenie it's good to have a place I can vent if needed. no doubt I would have paid up by now if if I hadn't posted here.

OP posts:
Feenie · 08/03/2012 21:41

Don't you dare! Vent away Smile

I think the school may take exception to you trying to talk to the teachers though, given your position.

LetsKateWin · 08/03/2012 21:48

Good luck mumatron. I hope your DD's earache is getting better.