The Calgary Board of Education is using a collection agency to wrangle more than $500,000 in unpaid school and bus fees from more than 3,000 families.

In an attempt to remind parents of payments letters are sent home, payment plans offered and fees are forgiven for families hit by sudden hardship.

According to The Calgary Herald, the unpaid feeds come with the penalty of a tainted credit rating for parents.

The school board says hiring an agency is a last resort and some parents disagree with the decision, calling it bullying.