Not believing dc

[Mumtoteenagers26]

My boys (13, 10) went to buy something recently that works with an honesty box system. I have used it several times with no issues.
It was actually my youngest who wanted to go but I said his bother had to go with him. I gave them the money and they came back with the items and that was that.

Then the next day I see their pictures on Facebook, saying they haven’t paid the correct amount and if anyone recognises them etc.

welll, I didn’t react great I was very angry with them and marched them there to pay the money owed.

It’s only now I’m home and a bit calmer that maybe I think I over reacted, they are both insisting they paid, my youngest is SO upset and oldest is angry more than anything.
I’ve asked the person for their cctv footage as on the still they posted you can see he has the money in his hand, despite them answering my other messages quickly they haven’t responded to my request.
I’m not saying they have done anything on purpose but I wonder if they have made a mistake accusing them?
Unless I get to see the footage I will never know, but I’m not sure what to do. Should I take my boys word that they are telling the truth (I can usually tell when they are lying- which is not often really, they are good kids).

I am not sure the best way to navigate this.

Oh that’s tough. I would want tp see the footage tbh. Given that your son is angry with you for not believing him. I would be pushing hard on the honesty box people. But explain it’s ok if they made a mistake. Google the court case where a family sued a pub for slander for posting pictures of them on social media accusing them of not paying when they did pay. I would have reacted like you tbh.

Why did you instantly assume your kids are liars and thieves? And react with anger and accusation without even considering it could be someone else? That’s horrible. What did the people say that you marched them over to? Did they seem certain it was your kids too?

Oh I see you saw their pictures… I still think your reaction is horrible, the people could have made a mistake or an assumption based on it being teen boys. Do your kids have form for stealing?

could it have been a mistake? maybe they thought they left the correct amount but didn’t?

really difficult situation but if they are generally good children then I think you should back them up over the word of a stranger.

Yes I think my reaction was horrible too, hence my post. They don’t have any previous for stealing although they can both not be honest about things.

The person who owns the honesty box says they were the only cash payers that day and showed me the money they supposedly left (some silver coins amounting to about £1)

Have you apologised for your reaction?

How much should they have paid? Did you give them the money in small change?

Yes I’ve apologised to them and explained that my initial reaction isn’t what it should have been. I’ve told them that I believe they paid if they said they did.

I gave them mostly pound coins and a small amount of silver too.

I have had a response about the cctv, they say they only took stills of it and it’s a small SD card so probably doesn’t cover them visiting now… which tbh if you are going to post photos of children accusing them of theft, surely you would save that footage?

How legal is it to post pictures of children on FB and accuse them of theft? They don't even have any evidence now!!!!

Whoever is selling whatever it is shouldn't have an honesty box if this is how they're going to treat it, like they are CSI's hunting down hard criminals. Poor kids.

I guess they didn’t need to keep the footage once you’d taken your kids there, agreed it was them
and made them pay. They were really wrong to do what they did, your reaction was also wrong. The kids have learnt that being teen boys means people will automatically assume they are up to no good. Lessons to be learnt all round.

I believe your kids.