School dinners owing- parents bankrupt

squashy

Can anyone help?

I work in a primary school administrating dinner money. After several reminders I have finally managed to speak to a parent who by now owes over £100 in dinner money. She was really apologetic and explained that she was going through bankruptcy and that her house was being sold (last Friday 11th May) after which she would be paying all her debts. We still haven't heard, in the meantime her son is accruing more and more debt as he is eating the food! I do feel really sorry for her as it must be a horrible thing to go through but at the end of the day her son is being fed for free- we can't very turn him away from the canteen, it's not his fault. When I spoke to her she said she did not want to put him onto packed lunches. It is a shame she ignored the reminders for so long too as it is a lot of money for a school to be out of pocket.

Anyway, can anyone advise on what I can do to get this debt back, as I now believe we may have to register as a creditor to claim what she owes? And how do I check she is telling the truth ie that she is/will be bankrupt?

Amanda65

If they are financially so badly off surely they would qualify for benefits, including income support, which would give her son free school dinners. Although this would not help with the outstanding monies at the moment it would prevent any further debt building up.

Periodically our school sends out letters informing parents about free lunch entitlement - do you have something that you could refer her to? Maybe she just doesn't realise

greyteam1959

To be fair to other parents and your school you should stop supplying meals to the child.
Yes I know its hard but in the long run the school and therefore all the other kids that pay on time are going to be the losers here.
I hope you realise that if the lady does go bankrupt and you are one of the creditors you may only receive 2p or 3p for every £1 that is owed ???

alice's_mum

Hi I work in a primary school and part of my job is exactly this. We have parents who between them owe the school over £5K - all from before I took over the job!!! But we have got really tough now and after easter if they hadn't made any effort to pay for the first few weeks of term the head sent letters saying pay for week in advance or bring a packed lunch. Guess what they either pay up or the bring a packed lunch. But without getting this tough they would have done like this mum has done and just ignored it. You have to decide what to do and stick to it. If he doesn't want packed lunch mum has to pay or take him home at dinner time.

It's not easy or pleasant though is it? But we have to remember that most parents are paying and it's not fair on them.

Mark7799

So she doesn't have a REAL reason for not wanting to put him onto packed lunches in the OP's case then?

Savvy_Sue

Does the local authority have any guidance on this, or do they leave you to it?

I would certainly be saying "Tough" to the "I don't want to put him on packed lunches." Of course you don't if you can get away without paying for school dinners!

You should, I think, make sure the head is aware of the situation, because you may need their backing for any action you take. Sometimes parents think they can get away with anything if it's 'only' the school admin staff: a stiff letter signed by the head (even if you wrote it!) may have some results.

seashore321

You never want to submit a child to any embarassment, but I am inclined to agree that this person may be taking the michael. I hope I am wrong. I would send a letter stating that due to outstanding balnce of.... that as of input date...meals will be stopped and packed lunches must then be provided, unless payment is received before ....again input date.

Good luck not a nice position to be in.

Sarahsaver

I presume their income may be low enough now to get free school meals? Suggest they go down this route but in the mean time they must NOT be allowed to carry on, it's not fair on the school.
Also this is a good time to look at school policy of how much arrears anyone can accrue before meals are withdrawn. £100 is way too much, let them get that far in arrears and you have unwittingly been a pushover! I personally would favour payment in advance for school meals;)

Chocmonster7

I wonder if the Mothers thinking behind not putting him on packed lunch is that with no money available to her the meal he is getting at school is the only decent one he will get in a day?

As others have said there must be a way to help her get free school meals however if she is going though such a tough time then this won't be the top of her "to do" list. At a time like that she needs help, not more people nagging her for money which she obviously doesn't have.

Yes, it's a mess but surely the welfare of the child should be above the outstanding cash?

As for checking out her story I suggest looking in the local papers and contacting the court as they will have records of her bankruptcy hearing being registered.

Savvy_Sue

Chocmonster7 wrote: »

Yes, it's a mess but surely the welfare of the child should be above the outstanding cash?

It's a delicate balancing act between ensuring the welfare of one particular child and the sound fiscal running of the school. Ofsted aren't going to be impressed by the school dinner account being in debt, and a poor Ofsted report is to the detriment of ALL the children. As is the withdrawal of the school caterers because their bills can't be paid, or the subsidising of this child's meals by other parents who may be in equally dire straits.

yes, the mother needs help, but someone is going to have to lay it on the line to her, because the current situation is untenable.

spankymonkey_2

maybe taking the parent to one side and explaining that the school cannot provide a cooked meal for their child until the debt is cleared. and if they need help in funding for the free meals option maybe you could give them the paperwork needed to apply. just be apologetic but fair.