Whatever happened to good ol cash?
Recently introduced to schools is ParentPay, no longer is it an option to pay for school dinners/trips with cash/cheque but instead it's ParentPay, in other words, you have to log onto ParentPay, log an account, give them all you nice bank details along with your home address and allocated password(s) the school have given you and you can then go pay for the school dinners/trips and whatever else it is the school want to ply your childrens school bags with for when they bring them home for you to read.
Of course ParentPay state they're just the data processor and don't use any of the details given by Parents as that responsibility is the Schools who have already registered as
the Data Controller? Whats not to believe? Pah! and of course none of the Data ParentPay process will be looked at by the Govt...no of course not another Pah!
You speak to the school and ask them the reasons for it and one given is 'we're not insured to carry cash any more' uh huh, so does that mean that teachers come to school cashless themselves? and what about Cheques? the reply? 'er....I'll get back to you'
I'm all for streamlining services to make them more efficient but of late it's all slated on collecting more and more data from us in doing so.
So add in that when you visit the school beyond the school door, say for a visit to a teacher they now want the name of the person your visiting, your own name/address/d.o.b and numberplate of your car (even though the school does not have it's own car park) and when you've stuck all that in and press enter it snapshots you, takes a pic and prints out a badge for you at the same time as texting the teacher you've gone to see and where does all that data go? how long is it stored for? You ask and you have to send in a written request under the Data Protection Act or similar, go figure ( I've sent in that request mind )
This isn't about streamlining services or becoming more efficient, it's about ceding your power as a parent and your parent/pupil finances to the school and the likes of ParentPay, who the latter and without it you can no longer pay for your childs journey through school for such stuff as trips/dinners.
Britian Today? No thanks!
Join the most popular community of UK swingers now
Login
More Snooping by the powers that be? ParentPay
No ones details are safe anymore regardless what any company promises.
And working at these data companies are dirty men who loves snooping around your details, passing anything on to some evil scum for cash.
They link to your Facebook or whatever and see your family photos,what you own, use google earth to locate you etc.
They are clever in using data this is why they get these jobs.
They want to know all your up to and have a toss under the desk so happy are they
Think I'm crazy?
My company recently had its site breached and information about myself taken from it.
I got another company in who claimed once they had set up better security things would be fine.
They renamed the server to hack this.
Within a day someone in China changed its name to 'challenge excepted'
And working at these data companies are dirty men who loves snooping around your details, passing anything on to some evil scum for cash.
They link to your Facebook or whatever and see your family photos,what you own, use google earth to locate you etc.
They are clever in using data this is why they get these jobs.
They want to know all your up to and have a toss under the desk so happy are they
Think I'm crazy?
My company recently had its site breached and information about myself taken from it.
I got another company in who claimed once they had set up better security things would be fine.
They renamed the server to hack this.
Within a day someone in China changed its name to 'challenge excepted'
Sex God
waits for gulstonroad to appear :scared:
Yet another email from number 4 childs school announcing that they are switching to a Biometric System for payment for school dinner/cafeteria etc. Letter attached which we have been asked to sign giving our consent :think: If we dont consent where does that leave our option for paying for our children to use the cafeteria, are they still taking cash or not??? All very confusing!!!
With Parent Pay (used by number 5 childs school) I have registered on there, but for school trips I tend to say to them please ask my ex husband (who happens to work there) and he can sort out payment for it - that way i dont have to hand over bank details and also means he is contributing for something (rare occurance). I really dislike this Big Brother way of doing things, i want to go back to taking the money in with the permission slip and getting my change out of the tupperware boxes from the school secretary - I'm happy to stay a Luddite ;)
With Parent Pay (used by number 5 childs school) I have registered on there, but for school trips I tend to say to them please ask my ex husband (who happens to work there) and he can sort out payment for it - that way i dont have to hand over bank details and also means he is contributing for something (rare occurance). I really dislike this Big Brother way of doing things, i want to go back to taking the money in with the permission slip and getting my change out of the tupperware boxes from the school secretary - I'm happy to stay a Luddite ;)
Thankfully my daughter has now left school. However I can see the logic of all this. They don't want children having money in their pockets. I know from my days, bullies did used to pick on some and weasel their dinner money out of them !! If cash is handed into a teacher, what proof is there ? The teacher could technically pocket it and say no never received, or the pupil could pocket it and swear blind he had handed it to the teacher. By doing this electronically, there is proof for both sides. Also I know from my business account, that I am now getting charged 50p for every cheque I receive. Once again, this can add up, but with electronic transfers this charge is not levied. We may not like it, but these things are introduced for a reason.
As for the problem with giving name and address when visiting the school...well I am more than glad they do. I would certainly be asking for identification of anyone visiting a school. It is about 10 years ago now, but a machete wielding manic entered a school in Wolverhampton. We have seen attacks in other countries on schools. I am more than pleased to go through any security checks required, to ensure the safety of the kids. Its a bit like airports, we now have to get half undressed to get through security...and take no liquids, and switch on electronic devices. At times a bit of a pain, but it is the times we live in, and if this ensures my safety, I am happy it is being done.
As for the problem with giving name and address when visiting the school...well I am more than glad they do. I would certainly be asking for identification of anyone visiting a school. It is about 10 years ago now, but a machete wielding manic entered a school in Wolverhampton. We have seen attacks in other countries on schools. I am more than pleased to go through any security checks required, to ensure the safety of the kids. Its a bit like airports, we now have to get half undressed to get through security...and take no liquids, and switch on electronic devices. At times a bit of a pain, but it is the times we live in, and if this ensures my safety, I am happy it is being done.
Quote by deancannock
Thankfully my daughter has now left school. However I can see the logic of all this. They don't want children having money in their pockets. I know from my days, bullies did used to pick on some and weasel their dinner money out of them !!
For older children where they're given a card to use at school (swipe vending machines for whatever) the ability to bully still exists, the card just replaces the money, the bully still bullies and in 'your days' they probably still had rickets *youthful look*
Quote by deancannock
If cash is handed into a teacher, what proof is there ? The teacher could technically pocket it and say no never received, or the pupil could pocket it and swear blind he had handed it to the teacher.
Cash isn't given to teachers, it's handed in at reception and dealt with accordingly, I have zero problem with teachers not wanting responsibility for handling cash in school as you say it's easy to make mistakes.
Quote by deancannock
By doing this electronically, there is proof for both sides.
It's called a receipt and easily given by the school at the point of payment.
Quote by deancannock
Also I know from my business account, that I am now getting charged 50p for every cheque I receive. Once again, this can add up, but with electronic transfers this charge is not levied.
Digital transactions are free? Paypal for the most part isn't free when making transfers (unless it's sent as a gift) and whilst mainstream banks may be free you really think it's going to stay like that? The more finances are brought online and High St banks decline the more of a surety it will be that they'll soon levy online charges.
Quote by deancannock
We may not like it, but these things are introduced for a reason.
I'm happy for change and of course we don't like every change made, but sometimes you see something and think 'nah' and in this instance and when giving it a bit more thought I just don't think 'nah' I think 'f*ck you' I've read the terms and conditions of ParentPay, it's quite scary with what they will and wont don't do and how they appear to absolve themselves of any responsibility if things go wrong from payments to data to details.
As of yet ( I've written to them) the school have not given their reasons for introducing ParentPay to the school but I'm pretty sure none of the reasons are for the overall good of the Pupils/Parents but more so to be seen to be 'doing the right thing' for the Education Dept and the Govt? When they switched to Academy status the sweeteners on offer from the Govt were in abundance, it's probably the same again.
Quote by deancannock
As for the problem with giving name and address when visiting the school...well I am more than glad they do. I would certainly be asking for identification of anyone visiting a school.
They're asking for details of Parents, the receptionist knows most if not all parents by sight, what was wrong with the old system of acknowledging the parent and pressing the buzzer to let them through? The system is flawed in as much as you can give any details and once you hit enter it prints your pic and details and lets you through the door.??
No problem with visitors signing it, most places will do that and if they have a car-park then for sure reg details given just in case the car needs moving or there is a fire etc etc, but when there is no car-park and no cameras in the street then what is the point? But the bigger issue is not the details they ask but the collection/storage of those details. It's not only stored at the school but also at the Education dept and as such accessible by just about any Tom/Dick/Kim Jong Un (think Sony) but for what reason? I've asked, we'll see what they say.
Quote by deancannock
It is about 10 years ago now, but a machete wielding manic entered a school in Wolverhampton. We have seen attacks in other countries on schools. I am more than pleased to go through any security checks required, to ensure the safety of the kids.
Jeepers time flys, it was 18 years ago (thanks google) he didn't enter the school itself and no security in place would have prevented it, he jumped over a fence and got into the playground before injuring pupils and staff. Not many mind giving some amount of detail when visiting a school but as stated previous it's about the amount/content of detail supplied and where and who gets to see it and for what purpose?
Quote by deancannock
Its a bit like airports, we now have to get half undressed to get through security...and take no liquids, and switch on electronic devices. At times a bit of a pain, but it is the times we live in, and if this ensures my safety, I am happy it is being done.
Nothing wrong with a little discomfort when going through customs, but have you been to the US of late? ESTA'S along with API's and thats before you board? They have a leaking border with Mexico (methetco) and yet if a born and bred Blighty citizen wants to visit the good ol U S of A they have to jump through a plethora of mighty hoops just to be able to get onto the plane let alone the country...never again.