School dinner debt - cheque bounced 6 months ago

[LarissaJ]

Sorry if I've posted this in the wrong section,

 

I had a look around and this seemed the most appropriate, please move it if it's in the wrong place.

 

the story is that 6 Months ago I paid a cheque for £90 for school dinner money.

 

This cheque was not from my bank account and I hadn't realised that it had bounced.

 

The school never informed me either.

 

However, last week I was sent an overdue invoice for £100, when I queried it, they mentioned the cheque. First time they have mentioned it.

 

I checked and yes, it did bounce, I am willing to pay this money as it is owed.

 

However, I can't pay it all at once and have told them this.

 

I have offered to pay £30 a month and top it up with more if I can.

The school will not accept that and have said that it must be paid by Monday or no school dinners!

 

I am quite furious with this tbh, because I have not received a sealed letter with this info,

I have heard it through the teacher writing in the home/school book.

So all the teachers and teaching assistants are aware of it.

Plus, my daughter goes to a childminder and they also have read this.

 

I feel it should be confidential information.

My daughter has special needs and will not eat a packed lunch,

I'm afraid that they are going to make her skip lunch!

[LarissaJ]

Can they just demand this money with such short notice? I am not refusing to pay it, I will pay it, just can't afford it all at once!

[cerberusalert]

Have you thought of having a word with your local Councilor or MP about their threat of withholding meals from your daughter?

 

Also you mention she has special needs, do you have access to a caseworker who can intervene?

 

Other than that you could apply for a crisis loan from the DWP.

[LarissaJ]

Thanks for your reply! She goes to a special school, so all the professionals are based there. I never thought of going to my MP, but I suspect this will be more of a long process, and I hope to have paid the debt off within 3 months, hopefully sooner. I am quite annoyed that they gave me such short notice and are now not allowing any extra time to pay it, also because it's not been kept confidential.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

There is recourse to the board of guvernors available the management must be called to answer for not informing you personally and immediately of the bounced cheque.

The fact that the informationa has negligently been passed to others is a breach of the DPA.

A formal Complaint to the chairman of the board is what must be done.

 

(Brig, Chair of a board)

[cerberusalert]

I don't know whether your local Councilor is as approachable as mine, his name's in the 'phone book and accepts calls to his home from constituents.

 

Given both your and your daughter's circumstances I find it abhorrent that the school has the temerity to threaten to withhold meals from her. A debt may well be owed, but to use this as a weapon for debt recovery is absolutely disgusting & I would be tempted to contact my local paper & get them to report it.

 

Who is it who is refusing payment in installments, the Head or one of the office minions?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Yes Cerbs you are right, this is disgusting as a school guv. I would be horrified if this was put before me someone here is verging on vindictiveness and should be removed.

[LarissaJ]

How do I address the board of governors, by letter? Sorry to be naive, but who is the chairman of the board, will that be the headteacher?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I'll put a letter together for you during the evening!!

I find this disguting, so I'll calm down first.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

The Chair is usually a parent or sometimes a person from the local community who has an interest in the running of the school can be involved.

 

So if you are not aware of the name don't worry just address the complain to the Chair.

 

So>...........

 

The Chair of the the Guvs

xxxx School.

 

Formal Complaint/ Mismanagement of school administration.

 

Sir/Madam.

 

I am the parent of xxxxx xxxxxxx and I have to make a formal complaint regarding the conduct of those involved in the administration of the school the facts of my complaint are as follows.

1. On xx xxxx I made a payment of £xx for my daughters school dinners unfortunately without my knowledge this cheque was returned by the bank unpaid, the shool did NOT inform me of this at any time.

 

On xx xx xxxx I was presented with an overdue invoice for £100.00 some 6 months after the cheque was returned.

 

I approached (name or position of person) and offered to repay this account at £30 per month as I was unable to afford to pay £100 in full at this time.

 

It was stated by xxxxxxxxxxx thai I must pay this money by (date) or my daughter will not be permitted to have school meals at no time did any memeber of the school staff

approach me reagrding this matter and I have since discovered that this matter has been entered into a document that has been seen by various personnel including my child minder.

 

That such a matter should be published in a ''book'' that is seen by all members of the teaching staff and teaching assistants has causec me imence embarassment.

 

The threat it cannot be described otherwise that my daughter will be denied her food is abhorrent I have offered to pay the debt and have been denied the opportunity to do so.

 

My feeling is that punitive disciplinary action is required in regard to the conduct of the school staff.

 

I expect this matter to be dealt with expediantly, and subject to the outcome I reserve the right to report this matter to the Education Authority without further reference to the school.

 

Send the letter by redorded delivery to the school . addressed The Chair oof Governors ** PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL**

[LarissaJ]

Thank you so much for that Brigadier2jcs that's very kind of you to do that letter for me, it's brilliant

[cerberusalert]

I would still contact your local councilor from that list I PMd you. The school governors won't receive that letter for a few days whereas if you email your councilor he will get the message tomorrow and may well be able to intervene forthwith.

[citizenB]

I cant believe I am reading this. It is absolutely disgraceful..

 

Please keep up to date..

[lookinforinfo]

LarissaJ, you seem to have that side pretty sorted out now which is great.

 

Do you have any means to get the original cheque repaid?

[stu007]

Hi

 

Agree with all advice and Brigs letter is great.

 

Now just a suggestion I would also add:

 

That you require copies of the following:

 

1. Schools Complaints Policy and Procedure.

2. Schools Equality Policy and Procedure.

3. Schools Dinner Money Policy and Procedure.

4. Schools Data Protection Act Policy and Procedure with full details of the Data Controller.

5. Schools Registered Body.

[LarissaJ]

Hi all, sorry for the late update, the school have now decided to let me pay it in installments So I'm happy now and have already paid half of it! It turned out that it was the council (who provide the meals) that have set down the rule that anybody in arrears must take in a packed lunch and not the school. The school too were only informed of the bounced cheque a few weeks ago, so they couldn't inform me earlier. Thanks for all your help!

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

A satisfactory result!!

[ploddertom]

I'd be interested to see if it is the Council doing this or whether it is someone like Capita doing it?