WWYD? School Field Trip

[Lilacs4Me]

I just got a email a few minutes ago from DS10's teacher:

We are checking on the field trip payments and you listed that you paid online. However, A is not on the list of who paid online. This could be an error, but I would need to see the receipt. It was for $15

So, they just instituted a new online pay store this year for his and DD's middle schools. I went to go pay the first day I got the permission slip and nothing was showing up, so I couldn't. Then DD brought home a field trip thing which I tried to pay and again couldn't - come to find out that particular trip wasn't "payable" online and we needed to send money in. That was about 2 1/2-3 weeks ago.

Add in a weeklong business trip last week leaving DH alone with the kids for the week, a high schooler with multiple issues going on, one of which requires PT a few times a week, DS10 having problems throwing up every day and needing to go to the ER while I was gone, DD needing money for an after school club, and the list goes on and on and on just like it does for every single one of us, and I totally forgot there even WAS a field trip.

FFW to today. I get this email, so I start to research when the trip is because DS10 will be out for 2 days next week for a scope and biopsy procedure at the hospital and might not even be there the day of the trip.

Come to find out, the trip was YESTERDAY - he was absent because he was in the hospital getting an Upper GI series done! He didn't even go on the trip. And I never paid for it.

I get the fact that tickets may have been paid for in advance, etc, etc, but I never paid for the trip in the first place, so why would they have not questioned this before today, AND he obviously didn't attend the trip with his class yesterday, so why would she be emailing me TODAY about the money if it isn't because she is trying to collect it!

WWYD? Respond and pay, or say that he didn't go, why would I have to pay? And I'm not looking for "well, it's ONLY $15...." responses. I know how much it is! I am irritated at the principle of it!

 

[cabanafrau]

First did you indicate he would be going on the trip and that you had paid online? Important because it seems like it dictates a lot of what should happen now. If you did, and particularly if tickets were purchased in advance, I think you say oops, and pay the $15.

If not, you're not obligated I suppose to pay. But I'm sure you understand why pushing that option might make some things awkward, especially as the year just started.

I hope all is well with your kids soon. I'm sure that is stressful.

 

[mousehockey37]

He didn't go and the trip wasn't paid for from you... Common sense says you owe nothing. I'd call the Principal and talk to him/her and explain that 1. the online system is crap and 2. your child was out with medical issues and wasn't going to be attending the trip anyway so 3. why are you being reached out to, to collect upon a "debt" that you don't owe.

Being a former teacher, I will go to bat for the teacher somewhat and hypothesize that perhaps the trip was paid for out of her department/classroom budget and the kids making their payments is reimbursing her classroom account, so if she's coming up short of breaking even, she's reaching out to those that there is no record of payment. This is just one possibility but there's only one way to find out, just call the school and talk to a member of the administration.

 

[jba2]

I don't think you should have to pay, nor should it come out of the teacher's pocket. The school should cover the $15 if a ticket
was purchased.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

He didn't go and the trip wasn't paid for from you... Common sense says you owe nothing. I'd call the Principal and talk to him/her and explain that 1. the online system is crap and 2. your child was out with medical issues and wasn't going to be attending the trip anyway so 3. why are you being reached out to, to collect upon a "debt" that you don't owe.

Being a former teacher, I will go to bat for the teacher somewhat and hypothesize that perhaps the trip was paid for out of her department/classroom budget and the kids making their payments is reimbursing her classroom account, so if she's coming up short of breaking even, she's reaching out to those that there is no record of payment. This is just one possibility but there's only one way to find out, just call the school and talk to a member of the administration.

For sure - if it was a prepaid thing and we are on the hook just for saying he was going, that's one thing - I mean, non-refundable is non-refundable. We paid $65 for DS16 to go to Medieval Times in 6th grade and he came down with a nasty ear infection the day before and couldn't go. We knew the tickets were non-refundable upfront, so it wasn't even a question!

But this - something doesn't seem right. They were going to a museum. She had three weeks to contact me to see if he was going (totally NOT her job, I know, but I am a director/coach of children and it comes with the territory when you are dealing with kids and families - I do it weekly with my teams!). But I don't know how to teacher classroom budget thing works, so it could very well be that kind of issue. I can email and ask.

Thanks

 

[powellrj]

I would get in touch with the teacher. To be honest, can you call her instead of emailing her? Sometimes you can get something done with one phone call that would take several back emails to get figured out. It may be a simple over site. I think its too early to go to the administration. Give the teacher a chance to find out first.

 

[Allison]

Well, the email says there could be an error. Simply respond that he didn't attend and you had not paid. No big deal.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Well, the email says there could be an error. Simply respond that he didn't attend and you had not paid. No big deal.

True! Maybe I'm just overthinking it.

 

[sam_gordon]

I just got a email a few minutes ago from DS10's teacher:

We are checking on the field trip payments and you listed that you paid online. However, A is not on the list of who paid online. This could be an error, but I would need to see the receipt. It was for $15

So, they just instituted a new online pay store this year for his and DD's middle schools. I went to go pay the first day I got the permission slip and nothing was showing up, so I couldn't. Then DD brought home a field trip thing which I tried to pay and again couldn't - come to find out that particular trip wasn't "payable" online and we needed to send money in. That was about 2 1/2-3 weeks ago.

Add in a weeklong business trip last week leaving DH alone with the kids for the week, a high schooler with multiple issues going on, one of which requires PT a few times a week, DS10 having problems throwing up every day and needing to go to the ER while I was gone, DD needing money for an after school club, and the list goes on and on and on just like it does for every single one of us, and I totally forgot there even WAS a field trip.

FFW to today. I get this email, so I start to research when the trip is because DS10 will be out for 2 days next week for a scope and biopsy procedure at the hospital and might not even be there the day of the trip.

Come to find out, the trip was YESTERDAY - he was absent because he was in the hospital getting an Upper GI series done! He didn't even go on the trip. And I never paid for it.

I get the fact that tickets may have been paid for in advance, etc, etc, but I never paid for the trip in the first place, so why would they have not questioned this before today, AND he obviously didn't attend the trip with his class yesterday, so why would she be emailing me TODAY about the money if it isn't because she is trying to collect it!

WWYD? Respond and pay, or say that he didn't go, why would I have to pay? And I'm not looking for "well, it's ONLY $15...." responses. I know how much it is! I am irritated at the principle of it!

First the rule.

Second, is it not possible the teacher made a mistake (misread an online report)?
Is it not possible the email was typed a couple days ago but got "caught" in the interwebs somewhere and just made it to you?
Is it not possible the email was autocreated from the website and just not got sent?

I personally would do one of two things. Either ignore it or send an email back "Dear Ms Teacher, Teddy wasn't able to go on the field trip because he was at the doctor. As such, I shouldn't have to pay. Thank you."

 

[Lilacs4Me]

First the rule.

Second, is it not possible the teacher made a mistake (misread an online report)?
Is it not possible the email was typed a couple days ago but got "caught" in the interwebs somewhere and just made it to you?
Is it not possible the email was autocreated from the website and just not got sent?

I personally would do one of two things. Either ignore it or send an email back "Dear Ms Teacher, Teddy wasn't able to go on the field trip because he was at the doctor. As such, I shouldn't have to pay. Thank you."

Haha, I was just about to delete. just kidding.

I always copy the original post!

And yes, possible for at least one of the above. Thanks!

 

[mousehockey37]

For sure - if it was a prepaid thing and we are on the hook just for saying he was going, that's one thing - I mean, non-refundable is non-refundable. We paid $65 for DS16 to go to Medieval Times in 6th grade and he came down with a nasty ear infection the day before and couldn't go. We knew the tickets were non-refundable upfront, so it wasn't even a question!

But this - something doesn't seem right. They were going to a museum. She had three weeks to contact me to see if he was going (totally NOT her job, I know, but I am a director/coach of children and it comes with the territory when you are dealing with kids and families - I do it weekly with my teams!). But I don't know how to teacher classroom budget thing works, so it could very well be that kind of issue. I can email and ask.

Thanks

Don't e-mail, well, you can, but I would call as well. Perhaps e-mail the teacher, get the paper trail and if there's no resolution then take that paper trail to the administration. I just threw out the classroom budget thing because when I took my music kids to NYC, we used part of our budget to do so.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

If you returned a permission form saying he was going, and he did not, they still bought a ticket for him. I think you owe the money.

 

[mjkacmom]

So, you signed you ds up for the field trip, meant to send in a check, didn't write it on the calendar, forgot about the check, he missed the field trip, and now you want the school to eat the price of his ticket? At our schools, teachers and PTO's aren't going to hound parents about payment, so not to piss them off. After the event, they then have to gently remind parents of the payment that is due (my good friend was in charge of a camping trip and skating party, it took several weeks after the event to collect most of the money). And yes, kids that signed up, but didn't attend for whatever reason were still expected to pay, since the money was fronted for them.

 

[Allison]

Wait-Did you sign him up for the trip? If yes, then I would agree you owe the money. We all get busy and I understand forgetting things but you are still responsible if you sent back permission to attend the trip.

The first thing to do though is get in touch with the teacher and get all the facts. Good luck.

 

[gotomu212]

If you signed the permission slip for him to go why wouldn't you pay? If you had been able to pay online would you now be asking for a refund?

I guess you could dispute the charge, and the teacher may not argue just to avoid any hassle, but the money was spent (whether on the school bus, the museum tickets, a lunch, whatever) so not paying for your son's space means your school is out $15 and that means it comes out of the schools budget which supports all the kids.

It sounds like your family and your son could use a lot of extra support this school year, and I just think it's bad to start the year off being the family that didn't pay for the field trip they signed up for.

 

[wenrob]

Wait-Did you sign him up for the trip? If yes, then I would agree you owe the money. We all get busy and I understand forgetting things but you are still responsible if you sent back permission to attend the trip.

The first thing to do though is get in touch with the teacher and get all the facts. Good luck.

These are my thoughts. If you had every intention of sending him on the field trip and the ticket was already purchased then you owe the money. I hope your DS is on the mend soon and I'm sorry he missed the trip.

 

[LilyWDW]

Did you tell the teacher that your son would be going? Did you send the permission slip back as a yes but just didn't send the money with it? The answer to that would make the difference in my response.

 

[msjprincess]

I have the same question as previous posters. If you sent in a permission slip saying your son was going I think you owe the money.

 

[tvguy]

I'd ask if the fact that he did not go on the field trip makes a difference.

 

[CarolAnn856]

I'll echo what others have said. If you told them he was going, you owe the money, regardless of whether he actually went. How much you have going on right now and how difficult the payment process is, IMHO, irrelevant. But please don't think I don't sympathize! I'm in pretty much the same boat at the moment, so I do understand how crazy things can be. I just wouldn't hesitate to send in payment if I'd told them he was going to go. If you never said he would be joining, then no, I wouldn't feel an obligation to pay.