Consumer rights when a school is the retailer.

mo786uk

mad-dan wrote: »

Not sure this is the right place to be asking these questions, but i've been searching for an answer for nearly 18 months now, and found nothing, so hopefully someone will be able to offer some advice or pointers.

To cut a long story short, the high school my kids go to has changed from a normal high school to what they now call a "Community Comprehensive with Specialist School Status" But i'm not quite sure what this means.

the various issues i currently have, and which make me feel like i am been forced to spend money i shouldnt have to are...

1- School uniform, while i know there is no problem with school uniforms, the issues i do have are..

1a- The correct uniform which must be worn at all times (even in the blistering heat we have had recently) comprises of a jumper, Tie and blazer, all of which MUST be purchased off the school at hugely inflated prices. The jumper currently costs £22, an identical item without the school logo on would cost around £5, same deal for the tie and blazer.

The biggest problem i have with this is you are forced to buy the items off the school at what ever price they want to charge, as the uniform MUST have the logo on, you have no other option.

2b- As the uniform must be purchased off the school you would expect them to carry a stock of items? NO, you have to order them, the problem with this is, how do you know the exact size to order, and if when the item comes it doesn't fit, they school charges you £6 to change it for a different size, surely there is some kind of distance selling regulations in force or something.


My next problem is a change in school policy which now stops the children leaving the school property in their lunch hour, this now means the children are forced to purchase their dinner from the school canteen, again at hugely inflated prices

I do have various other issues along the same lines with the school, but I'll just start with these.

I look forward to any advice people can offer me so i can address these things with the school.

Local Authorities can be businesses but it depends if they are carrying out a statuory function or not - remember you are only a consumer when the other party is a business and you only get the rights enshrined in law

To answer your points:

1) Requiring you to wear the logo is not a consumer issue

2) Requiring you to buy them fro m1 shop is not a consumer issue but it may be competition issue (sure this ahs been looked into before so you need to search).

Ultimatley if you cannot afford it and can just buy equivalent clothing without branding what are they going todo?

3) If the item is not as described the SOGA could apply - difficulty is that sizes can vary. I would say that a school selling uniform is NOT carrying out a statuory function so that element could be a business. I think they should repalce for free if they are at fault - can they not offer some form of measuring service?

4) Leaving the school at lunchtime is a non issue. They can buy their food in the morning. We were not allowed out either.

pinkshoes

Why don't you get together with other parents and complain???

Or find a company that can sew the school logo on?

You haven't answered the question about taking a packed lunch that several have asked.

arcon5

Set up ltd company in case they argue copyright issues, find a company that can sew the logo, have it sowed on to the cheaper stuff, sell to other parents and watch the schools prices come down and watch them sweat as they lose their massive source of income.


These prices are ridiculous, from the clothes to the £4 school lunch! Not sure they are doing anything illegal though but still doesn't mean you can't kick up a fuss.

browneyedbazzi

DSRs probably won't apply in this situation because it is unlikely that the school is using an organised distance sale or service provision scheme (unless you order the uniform using a form on their website or they send a catalogue/form home with the kids and you post back the order?).

As for Sale of Goods Act - if you ordered the wrong size then a return would not be considered faulty and covered under SOGA unless you were given measurements for the item which were not correct (ie the school said size x blazer fits a 32" chest, but when it arrives you measure and it's only 28") or were otherwise given assurances by the seller that the item would fit.

I would suggest to the school that they keep one of each item in each size available at the school for pupils to try on to check the fit before ordering - that will save parents the cost of returns and the school the faff of doing it. If enough parents make the suggestion they should see sense.

Have you considered getting together with other parents to organise a group to sell/swap second hand uniforms?

Sparhawke

mo786uk wrote: »

2) Requiring you to buy them fro m1 shop is not a consumer issue but it may be competition issue (sure this ahs been looked into before so you need to search).

Schools are not covered under the competitions act of 1998 as of 7 years ago, but maybe someone knows different? (this is something that should change)

http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2006/135-06#.UfzCzOGoEpo

The whole thing is wrong in my own opinion though, forcing people into a situation where they can only buy a product from one outlet vastly increasing the prices and extorting people is wrong, maybe you should lead a well thought out argument against the school about this and raise a petition where they have to hear your feedback and those of others?

Fishingtime

tomwakefield wrote: »

OP

Could you not try on the jumpers at this place where you found identical ones for £5. At least then you'd know the correct size and minimize the risk of having to reorder for the £6 penalty.

Surely you must know that the sizes change from one shop to another

dibuzz

I don't see why each child would need 2 blazers and 3 jumpers, that's just spending money for the sake of it.

ThumbRemote

Have you spoken to the parent governors about these costs? Isn't part of their remit to reflect parents concerns?

ThumbRemote

arcon5 wrote: »

These prices are ridiculous, from the clothes to the £4 school lunch! Not sure they are doing anything illegal though but still doesn't mean you can't kick up a fuss.

Although the uniform costs are expensive, £4 for a school lunch doesn't sound high to me. I'd guess that's a healthy cooked meal - you'd struggle to get that anywhere else at that price.

shegirl

mad-dan wrote: »

No I'm sorry, you clearly not read my post, or i've not explained it correctly.

I have 2 children in this school.

per child i need 3 jumpers at £22 each

2 Blazers at £86 each

1 tie at £10

1 full PE kit at £110

that comes to £358 per child, 2 children £716

children grow, and the uniform wears out, it all needs replacing at least once a year which comes to £1432 a year.

this excludes pants, shoes and shirts, which cost another £200 a year

this is £1632 a year.

it costs £4 per day on public transport to get my kids to school and each child needs £4 per day for a meal, £12 a day which is £60 a week and they spend 38 weeks a year in school, £2280 which, with the uniform comes to £3912 a year.

so, £3912 a year, and this is before we get into school trips, or money for cooking stuff for their cooking lessons.

I feel that this is far to expensive when a large amount of it is an expensive which could be made much cheaper.

You don't NEED 2 blazers each.Most kids have one.Instant saving of £172.

You don't NEED 3 jumpers each (seriously!for five days a week?!?!wear one wash one!),two is plenty,even one if needs be.Instant saving of £44 - £66.

PE kit,can't say whether savings can be made there.

Pants,shoes and shirts cost £200 a year?!?!?! I know teens grow but still! Yesterday I ordered ds (14 and also with school changing uniform-why a special school has gone with blazer,shirt,clip on tieand now black trousers,from jumper,polo an grey trousers I'll never understand!) two pairs of trousers for £10,two short sleeved shirts and two long sleeved shirts for around £14 the lot.New school shoes,discount website for £15.That's £39.Anything that needs replacing over the year will cost the same as I've just paid.

Don't like the school dinner costs?Make packed lunches.You'll save at least £4 a day,£760 a year.

No idea how far school is,but if you are so desperate with the cost send them on their bikes

You don't NEED to spend what you are spending.You are CHOOSING to spend so much.

Edited to add: blazers,especially two,generally do not need replacing throughout a school year.Jumpers or shirts do sometimes,that's another reason not to buy so many in one size!!!

Don't suggest that every year the entire multiples of uniform are always grown out of or worn down to the point of needing to replace throughout the school year.