Hellobee Boards

I would be totally freaked out!!!!! That's like a Lifetime movie waiting to happen.

I would be as conflicted as you. How very weird and creepy but at the same time I totally get where she's coming from (if she's for real! Although the key really proves something even though that is totally creepy too).

How long have you lived in that house?

Ick. That's really weird! I would not do anything-- I wouldn't let knowingly let her use it, because then you are involved in the fraud, but at the same time, I wouldn't call the high school or anything. I would just act like she never came by.

I did have a former coworker, who didn't have health insurance, ask me to use my prescription card because she really needed some prescription she couldn't afford. I ended up feeling so guilty that I let her but felt really weird about it, and then I saw that she used it again after she'd left the job and I hadn't heard from her in years-- I noticed it because she got an Rx for a medicine I am allergic to. It was really weird.

@autumnlove: Ohhhh. Good point. Maybe if you ever get mail from the school return it with a note saying that person doesn't live here.

@eeh: yep, I'd do this too. just return the mail to the school like you have no idea!

@eeh: that's a good idea- just return the mail!

That is soooo creepy and weird but at the same time I kinda sympathize with her. I would be so conflicted like you!! I like the other PP's suggestion of just pretending it didn't happen

that sucks. for you, and for her, and for her son =( he's halfway through his junior year so they'd really only need to keep up whatever they have going on until he's signed up for classes this fall (or at least around here kids are allowed to finish the year at their school once they've started even if they move during the school year) and if he's playing on certain teams it could mean losing scholarships to college. i'm not saying what she did was right, but i can see her desperation to keep it up for the time being.

are you planning on using any school related services before the fall? early intervention, head start, public preschool, etc? if so, i could see there being an issue with two families with the same address within the school system. if i were in that situation and wasn't anticipating using any school related services within that timeframe, i'd let it go. i wouldn't do anything to support it- like agree to anything with her or having any contact with them, but i wouldn't report it or return mail. he's so close to being done and it doesn't sound like she has more younger ones she plans on doing this with, so i wouldn't see a point in taking the school & whatever benefits it has away from the kid just because his mom and your home's former owner made some shadey arrangement.

@mrs. bird: that's what I was thinking. He's SO close to finishing high school - just one more year!!

Still sucks for autumnlove to be in this position though

Here in Texas, high school sports are a HUGE deal. We had a local team nearly have a seasons record wiped clean due to issues of kids not really living in the district but playing on the team. The school elected to not allow the kid to play and I think the kid did have some scholarship impacts.

It's unfortunate to see this kid have to change schools but his family should have never put him in this situation to begin with.

What she is doing is illegal. Not only is she sending her child to a different school that she is not allowed to, she is commiting mail fraud.

Where I grew up this happened alot DC/MD. When the schools caught wind of it they would remove the child or charge the parents tuition even if it was a public school.

I would definitely not participate and if mail came for her I would leave it in the mailbox with a note "does not live here/ not a resident." Just because you do not accept her mail does not mean the school will learn she lied (from you anyway).

I would not go as far as contacting the school because she does know where you live and I believe in karma.

Too bad the schools are not better in her neighborhood, but your taxes help support your schools. Her taxes do not.

This is such a tough situation and it sucks that you have to deal with it. I would be worried about going to the school considering she knows where you live. I would definitely get a new lock for the mailbox. I would also document any mail you receive from the school. I would write "return to sender" or "not a current resident" and just leave it in the mail box. I would document the day you received it, the day you sent it back, and I would also probably take a picture of it with the "return to sender" written on it. That way you have your bases covered and proof that you are not covering for this lady.

I'd report it. It's outright fraud and who know what the repercussions could be for you if you knowingly allow this to continue?

This is so very Beverly Hills 90210!

I think I would do a couple of things:
1) Let the previous owners know. They created the problem and they can help get the lady out of the bind (maybe by finding another friend in the neighborhood whose address they could use).
2) Ignore. I wouldn't go to the school and expose the situation and I'd just let the situation play out without your intervention. That way you are not liable nor have you aided in any way.

@autumnlove: Oh, and a nice thing to do is to cross out the address on the mail and say "Please Forward" instead of "Return to Sender". It might help mitigate the impact.

I think it's really disgusting that people do this kind of thing, especially after reading all of the posts about parents who have to test their kids into their own district schools, submit their kids into lotteries, etc, because there simply isn't enough room.

I personally would call the school. I think now that you know, if you don't report it, it could cause problems for you down the road if this fraudulent behavior is found out. Like it or not, you're now a part of the fraud. I mean, it's not like a huge crime here, but it's a huge problem and maybe if kids are kicked out of their high schools for parents doing this crap it will scare others into not doing the same thing.

Look, if the kid is some huge sports star, his new school will be happy to take him. Otherwise, I don't think you'll be ruining any chance of little Johnny getting a college scholarship if all he is is a third string benchwarmer. And as far as his education goes, a high GPA will not be affected if he has to transfer schools. His education is not your responsibility, and his future ability to get into a good college is not going to be affected if he's a good student, contrary to the pack of lies that woman told you.

I would also get all of the locks changed on your house and mailbox, stat.

Uhm, yes, she didn't have to give you back the key, but she should't have had it in the first place. This isn't a simple thing. I don't know how she thought it was okay to come and contact you. That, to me, is a red flag. Yes, I hate that the child is in the middle, but he knows what is going on. Otherwise, why would he be driving two towns over to go to school. You shouldn't have to "pay" for him to go to school. People should move to get in the district they want or deal with the school that they go to---not commit mail fraud and hurt other kids' chances of going to that school. What if someone does this when your child goes to kindergarten and when you register your child, they can't take her because there isn't enough room? Then, your child has to be bussed to another school because someone was cheating about where they lived.

I would report her. It is fraud. This is costing all the residents in your town more money, and could affect other kids in the district. It is a bad lesson he is learning. It is totally unfair to put you in this situation. If they want to continue to send him there, they need to pay for it rather than freeload and lie. They can move into the district, just like anyone else.