Who was right in this case? The customer or the management?

[Trush Jodie]

So it was closing day in the school that I work. I am the school accountant. On that day, we are to issue academic results for the term to parents. Debtors are not to get the academic results. A certain parent had paid fees and it was left with $1. He has two kids in the school. He was owing school fees of just $1. And he came to meet me that he wants his children's academic results.

I told him of his $1 debt to the school. He said that he would clear it maybe later in the day. I gave a clearance for the class teacher to release the academic result to him. But the management stopped the class teacher. Said he must clear everything before he would get the result.

The man got angry. And he created a very big scene in the school premises. He almost went physical with the head of management.

My take: This is the man's third year in the school. He doesn't usually owe. The management should have released the result to him.

What is your take on this? Who was at fault in this? The parent who is the customer or the school management?

 

[Starmix]

One dollar is too small why is it that the parent wasn't understood? He could have the balance paid in the next school year that is if his child isn't graduating. That father might lack money. The school could have suggested to write a promisy note. I understand the action and the impulsive reaction of him.

 

[Suba]

Initially, it was the fault of management, or the school's lack of wisdom in making decisions, especially regarding underprivileged parents, especially since their two children attend the same school. The parents' mistakes led to anger and almost a fight. The parents should have reported the school's indiscretion to the Department of Education.

 

[eLdavis]

Two wrongs cannot make a right, if the parent really had the intention of paying later in the day, he would have simply left to pay instead of fighting. The management is simply following rules and regulations though they might have handled it a little wrong.

 

[Fidelia]

The school management is completely wrong. You don't embarrass a customer that has a good history because of a dollar deficit.

 

[Min George]

I understand that there might have been a policy that the academic report should not be given to parents that are owing. But management should have been more sensitive there.

 

[Augusta]

The parents would have realised that business is business and should have waited until he has made the final payment. This issue is just too petty

 

[Kera]

The parents would have realised that business is business and should have waited until he has made the final payment. This issue is just too petty

For a school that he has never owed till that day? He has been three years patronizing the school with two kids? If anyone was being petty here, it is the school. If I were the one, I would have withdrawn my child from that useless school.

 

[Augusta]

For a school that he has never owed till that day? He has been three years patronizing the school with two kids? If anyone was being petty here, it is the school. If I were the one, I would have withdrawn my child from that useless school.

Well, different strokes for different folks. Some business owners believe that everyone needs to be professional with their conduct

 

[Fidelia]

That school doesn't value the parents who are their customers. There are certain things that you handle with wisdom. The management could have easily paid $1 for such a good parent and have them reimburse them later.

 

[Springtime]

I think the management should give out the academic result and let him sign a promissory note. Afterall, the parent has a good record before.

 

[Fire&Rain]

Both share some blame. The parent should have settled the balance promptly to avoid any problem. Management, however, could have handled it with more discretion given his good payment history. Holding results over $1 feels petty. The real loss here was not money but goodwill between the school and a long standing parent.