So I’m only writing this because the app kept asking me for reviews and a rating so here I am. Not really sure what constitutes a great and wonderful school meal balance app but I figure if my kid eats then it seems like it’s working as intended although I do have an issue with schools forcing parents to pay for food, I mean prisoners usually get a meal and since school is legally required, the kids technically fall under the definition of a prisoner. So anyway, I wonder how many characters I get for this review? Am I able to write a book? Will this be my manifesto? Does anyone actually read these? I have this app 5 stars! Isn’t that crazy!? I normally don’t even rate or review but it’s gotten to the point the app was demanding a review every time I logged on and I just started adding enormous amounts to the account just to avoid logging on for longer periods…. I shouldn’t have to log back on to this app for at least another 3 months and we’ll see if I get accosted for another review. If so, I’ll lower my star rating to like maybe a 2 star and rewrite the review. I figured I had a few moments and wanted to do some good in the world. So here I am in all my wondrous glory using only 2 thumbs to tap this out like at record speeds. Are the school teaching speed typing on mobile devices yet? Is there a program for speed texting on small keyboards? Anyone remember having to take typing class? One time I was up to like 90 wpm. I was a rock star and was rewarded with additional typing. Which wasn’t fun but made me realize that often times, people are rewarded for efficient work with more work…while the slower workers are rewarded by doing the bare minimum. Does school curriculum follow that same pattern? Are we sending our kids to school to learn how to be functional workers? Critical thought is immensely important and needs more attention within the school system. I can’t believe they allow this many characters on this review, it’s like there’s no end… I’m calling it. You win with all your room for characters. I’m done. Life is short, enjoy time with others, enjoy time alone, smile more and get outside once in a while. Peace!

This app was somewhat functional a couple years ago, never great but was at least a better interface than using the MSB website. Over the past year or so it’s gotten progressively more glitchy and is basically unusable. I’ve added funds to my kids’ lunch accounts maybe 3 times since the beginning of the current school year, and I just realized that each time I’ve ended up having to use the website to actually get my payment to process lol. The app will freeze up often, so it seems to take 10-20 minutes just to get to the checkout screen, finally get there and click on the payment button just to get a message saying the system is unable to process at this time. So I hop on the website and make my payment there. I figured I just had a bad connection or maybe there was a random glitch at the particular times I was using it, but going forward I’ll just assume the app doesn’t work and go straight to the website. One new feature I found today is the payment history is now limited to the past 30 days. It used to show several months, maybe even a year, which could be kind of useful to look at. Limiting it to 30 days is basically the same thing as not having a payment history screen. And of course there’s the ridiculous transaction fee, but that isn’t the fault of the actual app, so it’s not really relevant in a review of the app. Besides, the app is capable of being garbage all on its own lol, no need to pile on complaints about program fees here. I give it a solid 1 star rating.

Using the MySchoolBucks app is convenient and often a necessity for working parents to ensure their child's school lunch and other fees are paid on time. However, somebody will eventually report this company for not including a 'no-fee' transfer option from a checking account. So as not to gouge struggling parents in a poor economy, recommend this app have a 'no-fee' payment option just like other selling apps (eBay, Mercari, Poshmark) that do not charge a fee to transfer money, so long as it's transferred via checking account routing number. Even though it can take up to 3-5 days, it must be an option as the MySchoolBucks app is a necessity for dual working parents due to lack of free time to run by the school to make a payment. The notification reminder can be set to ensure the balance is replenished, when low, given 3-5 days more to credit the account. Also, recommend the MySchoolBucks app include an option for interested (anonymous) patrons to donate money to lunch accounts for specific or multiple schools by district or even donate toward the app, so struggling parents don't have to pay any fees to use an app. No child should go hungry in the USA, ever and this app could help ensure that!

Perhaps my complaint should be more with my local school district in Clever, MO opting out of doing a part of what the school staff is paid to do and has been doing until recently - HANDLING SCHOOL LUNCH AND OTHER FEES IN HOUSE. But complaints to the crappy district have already been made. HOWEVER, as other parents have noted in several reviews, the GREED of the company behind this app is unbelievable. “Processing fees” all over the place, need to add cash for school lunches? PROCESSING FEE. Need to pay for your child to use a nigh-useless and outdated Chromebook at their school (a Chromebook which has been paid for BY TAX PAYERS ALREADY)? PROCESSING FEE. Incredible. Processing fees for everyone! The fees themselves don’t hurt me financially, but in a country suffering economically and with food prices skyrocketing and inflation still incredibly high, the schools partner with this developer to CHARGE PARENTS MORE?? What about parents with limited income? Or single parent households?? There isn’t even a “fee-free” direct-from-bank method option! The “processing fee” should (and normally does, with honest developers and honest people) refer to a CREDIT CARD processing fee - not a parent trying to use their routing number to pay for their children’s food for school! The partnering schools? Abhorrently lazy and inept. The heads behind this app? SHAMEFUL AND DISGUSTING.