“This is not the greatest topic in the world… this is just a tribute”

I’d say that you are perfectly in the right. The only hiccup could be if there was a contract of some sort?

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What a weird world we live in. I’ve received rebates/refunds/adjustments during lockdown from one or 2 companies on monthly bills, where it was obvious and their business process maybe allowed for changing it. Some I evaluated based on the situation and the 3rd party, eg. the maid wouldn’t normally get anything, that’s a shit situation to be in, in SA, so we chose to pay her anyway.

Does it make a difference, that it’s your kids school? Meaning, it’s not some one off or random company that you care nothing for? Does it feel like they’re being greedy? Or is paying for a service, that’s suspended, normal in this weird era we’re surviving?

So much to think about, but at the end of the day, you can either take it up with the principal mask to mask, or just pay it and be done with it? I honestly don’t know how I’d handle it. I would not feel bad either way, and when right is not obvious, you do what you think is best to survive COVID.

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I’m with @aldyr on this. What is right is not obvious to me.

Another side to think about: Does the school employ dedicated bus drivers whose salaries are paid out of the fees that parents pay? Were the bus drivers still being paid their full salaries during lockdown?

I’m not trying to make a statement or a point here, but I know that the answers to those questions would influence how I think about paying the fee.

@PsychoFish! (:notes: This was a triumph :notes:)

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Thanks for the feedback @DarthMol/ @aldyr and @SIGSTART, much appreciated.

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Looks like schools can be more unreasonable than anyone else sometimes. There was also a case of parents paying some sort of upfront fee to guarantee a kids place in a school and then before school was due to start they got relocated due to work. The school refused to give the deposit back saying it was non refundable. Ok fine, but it does really start to look like many are using these things as money making side hustles.

I can almost guarantee (I could also be wrong) the costs for fuel should be on par if not more than salaries for the driver.

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We had a similar thing at our school, but this was for aftercare. We know that the aftercare did not happen (obviously) and there are no dedicated staff (they take turns). I assume the teachers get a little extra for aftercare. The school charged for this, we asked for it to be refunded, and they were aghast that we could ask for this during this critical time.

So they eventually refunded April’s. Then charged us for May… Another phone call, and argument later and they refunded. But I now stopped the debit order and I will have to receive invoices and pay them each month.

I was also careful in holding money back but in this case I felt this is certainly not negatively affecting anybody.

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Yeah, I wouldn’t say we paid to guarantee a spot, but it was a requirement to do so before he was accepted (same thing I guess).

I prefer being control ad opt for this method too.

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Same here, with everything pretty much. This mentality started when we started our business, as I wasn’t guaranteed of income at the end of (or even beginning of) each month. I didn’t want debit orders to bounce, so I switched to invoice + manual payments for everything I can ever since.

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Morning

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morning people of the palace

Hope you all have a good day

Currently waiting for a furniture delivery for the brat - why it couldnt be dropped at his house no one knows. And at 10:30 we have to go and find parking at the docs so that we can see how mums knee is doing

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I feel like i jumped onto the road and got hit by a bus

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What did you do!?!

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nothing much woke up super late

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The time of the week where when you plan supper for your family you are trying to convince yourself that making butternut fritters is actually healthy because anything else is just too much damned work.

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I have a pot of oxtail/butternut soup on the stove, the problem is the father figure wants a properly cooked meal - soup doesnt count for dinner

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I’ve decided on chicken pie for dinner. Sitting at the entrance of the hospital now waiting for the mum

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greetings, i feel depleted

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Aw, why do you feel depleted @DohcWP?

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one word, WORK !

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Fair enough. I’m really struggling to focus on work today.

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